Best Selling Electric Cars in Australia in 2025: Models, Month-By-Month Sales Trends & What’s Driving the Market

Australia’s electric vehicle (EV) market is evolving rapidly in 2025. While growth has slowed compared to previous years, there are still clear winners among the best selling EVs. Below is a breakdown of the top selling electric cars, key market trends, and what makes certain models stand out in the competition.

The Big Picture: EV Market Trends in 2025

• In the first ten months of 2025, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for about 8.4% of all new car sales, with ~83,834 EVs delivered.
• That share is slightly up from the same period in 2024 (+14.8%). While the market continues to grow, it is cooling somewhat, possibly due to economic pressures, rising interest, and/or competition from hybrids and plug-in hybrids.
• Chinese manufacturers are making strong inroads: several of the top selling electric cars in Australia are now from BYD, MG, Geely, and Kia (Chinese-oriented or with strong manufacturing links).

Top Selling Electric Cars (Australia, 2025)

October Overall Market Trends

• Overall Market Down 6%: The total market fell from 103,117 to 96,716, indicating a broadly softer month for vehicle sales, potentially reflecting economic headwinds or supply fluctuations.
• Petrol Fell 10%: This was the largest volume decline of any fuel type (a drop of 4,066 units), significantly dragging down the total market figure and continuing the long-term trend of declining market share for traditional petrol engines.
• Hybrids Surged 20%: Hybrids were the clear winner, adding nearly 3,000 units. This robust growth highlights them as the preferred transitional technology for buyers seeking immediate fuel savings without Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) infrastructure concerns.
• BEV Sales Dropped 39%: The dramatic fall of over 4,700 units is primarily the "Tesla effect," where a massive end-of-quarter push in September creates an artificial peak and a steep trough in October, masking the underlying demand from other brands.

October Biggest Losers (Month-over-Month)

• Tesla Model Y (-81%): The drop from 3,927 to 735 units is the most significant in volume and percentage. This is characteristic of Tesla's concentrated end-of-quarter delivery cycles rather than a loss of demand.
• Tesla Model 3 (-75%): Similarly, the Model 3 fell from 736 to 181 units, reinforcing the quarterly delivery pattern narrative.
• BYD Sealion 7 (-29%): While still posting a very strong 1,341 sales in October (making it one of the top-selling EVs), it saw a significant drop from its September high, likely due to shipment or delivery timing.
• BYD Seal (-42%): A notable drop for BYD's mid-size sedan, falling from 450 to 259. This could indicate a shift in buyer preference towards SUVs, including potential cannibalisation from the Sealion 7.

October Notable Growers & Consistent Performers

• Kia EV5 (+11%): In a month where most models declined, the EV5 grew from 307 to 340. This consistent performance highlights its successful entry into the competitive medium SUV segment and strong market acceptance.
• Geely EX5 (+23%): A solid grower, moving from 279 to 343. Along with the EV5, it shows that well-priced, new medium SUVs from newer brands are gaining significant traction.
• Volkswagen ID.4 (+11%): Steady growth from 177 to 197 shows the ID.4 is maintaining a stable and slowly growing presence in the market.
• Volvo EX30 (+13%): An increase from 108 to 122 is positive for Volvo's new small electric SUV, suggesting a steady build-up of deliveries and demand.

YTD Trends in 2025

• The table below breaks down month-by-month EV sales by model. These are sales for BEV (full electric) models only.
• The Tesla Model Y remains the best selling electric car overall in Australia for 2025, even though its share of sales has dropped compared to prior years.
• Chinese EVs are increasingly among the top selling electric cars, with models like the BYD Sealion 7, BYD Atto 3, BYD Seal, Dolphin etc.
• The market is seeing more model diversity: more SUVs, more mid-size options, more variations in price and feature sets. The “best selling EV” is no longer just about brand or prestige. Value, range, design/size options, and after-sales support are increasingly important.

Top Selling EV Brands (Australia, 2025)

• The below table breaks down month-by-month EV sales by brand. These are sales for BEV (full electric) models only.
• Tesla continues to lead but its market share of 30% is substantially lower than previous years when it used to comprised up to ~60% of EVs sold in prior years.

What’s Driving Success Among the Best Selling EVs

Several factors are helping certain electric cars become top sellers in Australia in 2025:

• Range + Usability: SUVs tend to be more popular (space, perceived versatility), and models that balance good range with everyday usability tend to do well (e.g. Model Y, EV5). Medium SUVs for example comprise over 50% of EV sales.

• The following list show best-selling models by segment:

• Price / Value Proposition: Lower entry price or strong features for the money is increasingly essential. Some Chinese brands are undercutting traditional premiums.
• Brand Trust & Support Network: Owners care about dealerships, service centres, charging support. Tesla remains strong here; newer entrants are catching up.
• Charging Infrastructure & Policy Incentives: Access to charging (home and public), plus incentives (or policies like tax treatments) affect consumer decision. The removal or weakening of some incentives is cited in slowing growth.
• Model Freshness / New Releases: Newer models tend to attract more attention and orders, especially when they hit good pricing and have modern features. The success of BYD Sealion 7 and Kia EV5 is partly due to them being fresher models in the market.

MORE▶️ A Guide to Public EV Charging Providers in Australia

Challenges Facing the EV Market in 2025

While the best selling EVs are doing well, there are headwinds:

• While EV sales continue to grow, EV deliveries are up 10% year-on-year, growth is slowing.
• Rising competition from hybrids / plug-in hybrids as alternatives. Some consumers still wary of range / charging concerns. The increasing divergence between EVs on the road versus available public charging infrastructure will continue to hamper sales. Some estimates have EVs to charge points at 68:1.
• Rising cost of living pressures will continue to impact new car purchases, despite the immense tax benefits from the EV FBT exemption.

Lists

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Outlook: Who Will Continue to Lead?

• The Tesla Model Y is likely to remain the best selling EV in Australia for much of 2025. In addition to being a strong product it benefits from brand recognition and infrastructure presence.
• But BYD is closing the gap quickly, especially with newer models such as the BYD Sealion 7 and the soon to be launched BYD Atto 1 and 2. They may challenge Tesla more aggressively toward the end of 2025.
• Emerging brands such as Geely and MG, and others are positioned well to win over buyers seeking value and balance (not just prestige).
• If policy support and charging infrastructure improve, we may also see further growth from mid-market EVs as opposed to premium segments.

Conclusion

In summary, the best selling electric car in Australia for 2025 remains the Tesla Model Y, but the landscape is becoming much more competitive. Newer models (especially from BYD and Kia), price competitiveness, and value are pushing several strong contenders into the top slots. The list of top selling electric cars is no longer dominated solely by Tesla's historical brand value; customers are increasingly making decisions based on real-world utility, total cost of ownership, and after-sales support.

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