Sales of electric vehicles continued to surge in Australia in the month of May, reaching an all-time high of 20 per cent of all new vehicles sold, beating the previous record of 16.4% in April which was set after the jump in petrol and diesel prices.
EVs accounted for 21,303 sales in the month of May, as total sales were lower at 106,887, with diesel utes such as the Toyota Hilux and the Ford Ranger suffering sharp falls.
The electric surge was led by Tesla, which boasted its best ever monthly sales of 6,443, as we reported on Tuesday. The star was the Model Y electric SUV, which sold 5,605 units – making it by far the best-selling car of any type in Australia.
But it wasn’t the only one to shine, with the Omoda Jaecoo J5 surging into second place with sales of 2,126, and the Geely X5 also posting a record monthly sales total of 1,814 sales. All three EVs ranked in the top 11 selling models in the country.
EV companies have been seeking to cash in on the surging consumer interest, offering multiple incentives and cash backs, even though some have wait times of many months.
BYD is also sending an extra 30,000 EVs to Australia, with the first ship arriving this week containing, 4,900. BYD was the third-best selling brand in the country, and had five EVs in the top 10 electric car models. It also sells plug in hybrids such as the Shark 6.
The stunning lift in sales and market share represents a doubling from the year ago figures, when EVs accounted for just 9.2 per cent of the market. Sales of diesel utes were down 16.4 per cent from a year ago – and Toyota is now taking orders for its electric Hilux – and diesel SUVs were down more than 40 per cent.
EV Sales Breakdown – May 2026
| FCAI vFacts | 14,662 |
| EVC (Polestar + Tesla) | 6,681 |
| EV Sales Total (FCAI + EVC) | 21,303 |
| Total Vehicle Sales (FCAI + EVC) | 106,887 |
EV sales over the first 5 months of 2026 in Australia now total 71,144, more than twice the 33,976 recorded over the same period in 2025. A further 9,315 plug in hybrids were also sold in May, taking the YTD total to 38,173, double the number of a year ago. A further 19,024 hybrids were sold, for a YTD total of 84,138.
Among the other best-selling EVs were the BYD Sealion 7, with 1,538 sales, and the Zeekr 7X, which took the fifth spot at 966 sales.
The best-selling EVs in May 2026 were:
- Tesla Model Y – 5,605 sales
- Omoda Jaecoo J5 – 2,126 sales
- Geely EX5 – 1,814 sales
- BYD Sealion 7 – 1,538 sales
- Zeekr 7X – 966 sales
- Tesla Model 3 – 828 sales
- BYD Atto 2 – 778 sales
- BYD Atto 1 – 768 sales
- BYD Atto 3 – 627 sales
- BYD Seal – 581 sales
- MG MG4 – 580 sales
- Kia EV3 – 531 sales
The Driven is waiting to hear back from various manufacturers regarding sales of some EV models, and this will be updated once they are received. See full details of EV sales for each month of the year in our database here.
The Electric Vehicle Council is hailing the record month as a breakthrough for the EV industry in Australia.
“More Australians are choosing electric,” CEO Julie Delvecchio said. “When fuel prices hurt, people look for alternatives. Electric vehicles offer exactly that – no trips to the servo, no price spikes at the pump, savings of around $3,000 a year,” she said.
FCAI CEO Tony Weber also said the shift is particularly evident in the SUV segment, given the huge slump in diesel SUV sales.
“Consumer preferences are changing rapidly,” he said. “Today’s SUV buyer is increasingly choosing hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric options.”
He repeated his warning that charging infrastructure must become a priority. “Continued investment and enabling policy settings will be essential to ensure infrastructure keeps pace with consumer adoption,” he said.
What is likely to follow is that brands with EV stock and large shipments, such as BYD, will see a large number of first-time EV buyers become customers, especially as we approach the busiest period of the car sales calendar, EOFY in June.
See The Driven’s detailed EV sales data here: Australian electric vehicle sales by month in 2026; by model and by brand.
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