EV Sales Hit Record High in April 2026 Despite Overall Market Downturn

Electric vehicles have again reached a record share of Australian new-car sales. In April 2026, one in six new vehicles sold was fully electric. That is the highest EV market share ever recorded in Australia.

This comes despite a fall in total car sales. The overall market dropped to 91,062 vehicles in April 2026, down from 105,065 in April 2025. Yet EV numbers held firm, with 15,459 battery electric vehicles sold.

EV Market Share Hits New Record

Battery electric vehicles made up 17.0% of all new car sales in April 2026. That is up from 14.6% in March 2026 and more than double the 6.6% recorded in April 2025.

Total EV sales of 15,459 units were slightly below March's 15,839. But with fewer cars sold overall in April, the share of EVs in the market actually rose. Petrol and diesel sales fell sharply, down 30.1% and 21.7% year-on-year respectively.

Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) also grew strongly, up 263.2% year-on-year to 9,628 units. Hybrids rose 27.1% to 18,162. Together, ‘electrified’ vehicles now make up nearly half of all new car sales in Australia.

BYD Leads, Tesla Posts Low Numbers

BYD Sealion 7 was the top-selling EV in April with 1,780 deliveries. The Geely EX5 came in second with 1,202 units, ahead of the Zeekr 7X on 973. The Kia EV5 rounded out the top five with 794 sales.

Tesla Model Y recorded just 822 deliveries in April. That placed it 34th overall. This is not unusual. Tesla does the bulk of its deliveries at the end of each quarter. April is the first month of a new quarter, so numbers are typically low. The Model Y had 2,818 deliveries in March, which was a quarter-end month.

BYD had four models in the top 10: Sealion 7, Atto 3, Atto 2, and Dolphin. That is a strong result for a single brand. Geely and Zeekr both posted strong month-on-month growth, up 98.3% and 43.3% respectively.

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Why Tesla Numbers Are Low in April

Tesla's 822 Model Y deliveries in April look low compared to March's 2,818. But this is a known pattern. Tesla ships and delivers the bulk of its vehicles in the final weeks of each quarter. March, June, September, and December are always Tesla's strongest months.

April is the start of a new quarter. Inventory is low and deliveries are slow. This is not a sign of falling demand. Tesla's year-to-date total of 6,719 units still puts it among the top EV sellers in Australia for 2026.

EV FBT Exemption Extended: What It Means for Buyers

EV sales will continue to grow following the extension of the Electric Vehicle Fringe Benefits Tax (EVFBT) exemption. The exemption has been confirmed to run through to the end of March 2027. This means eligible EVs used for work purposes remain exempt from FBT, making them significantly cheaper for salary packaging.

The exemption has been one of the biggest drivers of EV uptake in Australia. Removing it would likely slow growth. Its extension gives buyers and fleet managers more certainty when choosing an EV.

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Overall Market Down, But EVs Hold Firm

Total new car sales in April 2026 came in at 91,062, down from 105,065 in April 2025. That is a 13.3% fall year-on-year. Petrol sales dropped 26.8% and diesel fell 21.0%. The overall market is clearly under pressure.

EVs bucked that trend. With 15,459 units sold, BEV volume was only slightly below March's 15,839. As a share of the market, EVs actually grew. This shows that EV demand is more resilient than the broader market.

Hybrids also held up well, rising 1.2% year-on-year to 18,162 units. PHEVs were the standout, up 17.2% to 9,628. Together, electrified vehicles now account for nearly half of all new car sales.

Chinese Brands Continue to Grow

Chinese brands are taking a larger share of the EV market. BYD had four models in the top 10 EV sellers. Geely's EX5 nearly doubled its deliveries month-on-month. Zeekr's 7X posted 973 units, its strongest month yet in Australia.

These brands offer a wide range of models at competitive prices. That is helping them win buyers who might otherwise have chosen a petrol or diesel vehicle.

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What to Expect in the Months Ahead

EV sales are likely to keep growing. The EV FBT exemption extension removes a key uncertainty for buyers. Fuel prices remain elevated, which continues to push buyers toward electric and hybrid vehicles.

Tesla's numbers will likely recover in June, the end of the next quarter. BYD, Geely, and Zeekr are all growing fast and adding new models. The competition in the EV market is increasing, which is good news for buyers.