Tesla EV sales ease off in Australia in June, Polestar also down

Sales of Tesla EVs in Australia have eased in the month of June, compared to year ago figures, with the refreshed Model Y also failing to push further ahead after a rebound in May that followed a poor start to the calendar year.

Data released on Wednesday by the Electric Vehicle Council, which publishes figures for Tesla and Polestar, who are no longer members of the main car lobby group FCAI, shows fall in June for both companies, compared to year ago figures.

Tesla recorded total sales of 4,589 EVs in the month of June, a slight fall of two per cent compared to the same month a year ago, although still down 38 per cent for the year to date.

Most of its sales came from the newly refreshed Model Y, which sold 3,457 units in June, which is a rise of 19 per cent over the previous June, and will make it – yet again – by far the best selling EV in Australia.

But, contrary to the hopes of some Tesla bulls, who had confidently predicted a much higher number in June because it is the last month in the quarter – when Tesla sales normally do well – and because it was the first full month with the new Model Y, its numbers did not swell.

The figures for the Model Y remained below the 3,580 recorded for the Model Y in May, and well below the recent peak of 4,379 for the Model Y in March last year.

The Tesla Model 3 sedan performed better than in recent months, lifting its sales for June to 1,132 – that’s down from 1,777  in the same month a year ago, but up from just 317 and 220 in the last two months, and its highest monthly total since December last year.

The lower sales are still the subject of huge debate in EV circles. Many had predicted that the refresh would take the Model Y to new peaks, but apart from a rebound from its recent low, that has failed to eventuate.

Some blame increased competition from Chinese brands, others the impact of Elon Musk’s political interventions. The reality is probably a mixture of both.

The Polestar results were mixed, with 174 sales of the Polestar 4, its highest this year, and 30 of the Polestar 3. The Polestar 2 sold 135 units, down from 356 a year ago.

Data from the FCAI, using figures from most of the other car makers operating in Australia, are expected to be released on Thursday.

See also: Tesla bounces back in Norway and Spain, as EV market surges across Europe

And: Australian electric vehicle sales by month and by model in 2025