Model Y becomes best selling SUV in Australia, as EV sales hit record

The Tesla Model Y has become the best-selling SUV in Australia, and the third best selling car of any type, in a record breaking month for the EV market and overall new car market.

The latest data from the Federated Chamber of Automotive Industries shows that Tesla sold 3,178 units of the Model Y in May, helping it overtake the Toyota RAV4 as the best selling SUV.

The only models to beat the Model Y were the Toyota Hi-Lux (5,772) and the Ford Ranger (4,110) utes. Both cars are now available as electrics by conversion specialist ROEV.

Electric  car sales hit a record monthly total of 8,124 although its share declined slightly from 7.9 per cent in April to 7.7 per cent in May because the overall new car market had a bumper month of 105,694 deliveries, a record for May.

Sales of EVs so far in Australia in 2023 have reached 30,050, or 7 per cent of the overall new car market.

Tesla has dominated the market again, selling a total of 18,559 EVs in the first five months of the year, which nearly exceeds Tesla’s 2022 total national sales of 19,594.

But other EV makers are also doing well. China’s BYD had its best-sales month yet with 1,448 deliveries of  the Atto 3 electric SUV. This brings the total year-to-date sales to 4,664. Significantly, the Atto 3 also overtook the Tesla Model 3 in May, pushing the previous market leader into third place.

On the pure EV front, best-selling vehicles included:

1. Tesla Model Y – 3,178 sales
2. BYD Atto 3 – 1,448 sales
3. Tesla Model 3 – 1,298 sales
4. MG ZS EV – 276
5. Volvo XC40 – 266 sales
6. Polestar 2 – 226 sales
7. Volvo C40 – 165 sales
8. Mercedes Benz EQA – 124 sales
9. Kia EV6 – 104 sales
10. BMW iX – 86 sales

With EV uptake maintaining elevated levels, it’s clear that Australians want to get behind the wheel of an electric vehicle. 

Many more electric car models have just been announced for arrival later in 2023 which includes the more affordable electric hatchbacks like the MG 4, GWM Ora Cat and potentially even the BYD Dolphin, it’s looking almost certain that the surge in electric car sales will continue.