EV uptake reaches new highs as Tesla deliveries play catch up, BMW trumps Mercedes

EV Uptake in Australia reached a new monthly high in January 2023, with EVs making up 5.7% of all vehicles sold nationwide. This has meant that Australia’s EV uptake has now surpassed 70,000 EVs and the momentum is building.

Today I explore some of what January’s data shows for our national EV uptake along with some winners that are making up that trend.  

EV Uptake surpasses 72,500 vehicles

After what many may say has been a slightly slower start to Australia’s EV uptake, things are starting to ramp up. 

January’s data showed just that with EVs making up 4,852 sales helping the entire EV fleet surpass 72,500 vehicles.

Breaking the figures further down shows Tesla making up over 40,000 of these vehicles so far and the January sales figures didn’t disappoint.

Tesla delivers thousands once again

Tesla EV sales kickstarted the year with 3,313 Tesla Model 3 and Model Ys adding to the total EV tally. According to vFacts, 2,927 Tesla Model 3 sedans were sold nationally. 

carloop’s Tesla market analysis data shows that many of these vehicles that were delivered in January were orders from as far back as March 2022. 

The majority of these vehicles Tesla Model 3s were built in December 2022 and delivered to customers in January. 

This also reflects in Tesla’s efficient supply chain and logistics efforts to deliver EVs as quickly as possible to its customers. 

With demand for Tesla’s EVs on the rise in Australia, we will be seeing many more months of high sales in 2023.

Nissan Leaf lives on with 875% year-on-year growth

Nissan Leaf has been considered one of the very first mass-market EVs to hit Australia. After being in the market for 10 years, January 2023 saw it have a massive jump in year-on-year sales. 

Sales grew by 875% to 39 of these electric hatchbacks compared to only 4 in January last year. This might just be a monthly adjustment but it’s the highest month of sales since May 2022 when 46 were sold.

With more affordable electric hatchbacks on the way like the BYD Dolphin, MG 4 and the Ora Funky Cat, 2023 could be the year of electric hatchbacks in Australia. 

Nissan Leaf sales could go either way as we settle into 2023 and see the impact of the upcoming national EV strategy.

BMW’s iX sells more than the entire Mercedes EV line-up

BMW iX had a bumper month in January 2023. The large electric SUV from BMW sold 95 units which are the highest it’s been since its launch back in late 2021.

This is a year-on-year increase of 171.4% when compared to January 2022. In that month, BMW iX sales hit 35. 

Last month’s sales of the BMW iX were nearly twice as many as the entire Mecedes-Benz EV line-up which managed to get 53 sales collectively. The line-up now includes EQA, EQB, EQC, EQE and EQS.

With the BMW iX1 launch pencilled in for the first quarter of this year, it’d be a big year for the brand in EV sales compared to previous years.

EV uptake will be driven by the models available

2023 has already had a great start for Australian EV uptake. With many more models on the way along with the ramp-up of local EV sales from existing ones, we look forward to many more months where EV sales surpass 5% of total sales.