These Are the Best-Selling EVs in Australia in 2025

Australia’s electric vehicle market has hit a speed bump in early 2025, with first-quarter EV sales down nearly 30% compared to the same period last year. According to new VFACTS data, just 17,937 EVs found homes between January and March, a 29.6% drop that’s got industry watchers raising eyebrows.

Here’s a fun fact for enthusiasts: eight of the 10 best-selling EVs in Q1 2025 were Chinese-made. Love it or not, the value and availability of Chinese EVs continue to drive their dominance on Aussie roads.

Electric Car Sales Fall, PHEV Sales Skyrocket

Top 10 Best-Selling EVs in Australia – March 2025

1. Tesla Model Y – 1,725 sales
2. Tesla Model 3 – 1,104 sales
3. BYD Sealion 7 – 573 sales
4. Kia EV5 – 478 sales
5. MG4 – 444 sales
6. BYD Atto 3 – 358 sales
7. Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV – 219 sales
8. BYD Seal – 194 sales
9. Geely EX5 – 188 sales
10. Kia EV3 – 186 sales

Tesla Tumbles, Model Y Still on Top

The biggest drag? Tesla, the brand that put EVs on the map for many Aussies, saw its deliveries plunge by 59.6% year-on-year. That sharp fall has skewed the overall figures, and all eyes are now on whether the facelifted Model Y can reverse the trend when it lands later this year.

Still, even with its tough quarter, the Model Y remains Australia’s best-selling EV, with the Model 3 holding on to second place. These two Teslas are doing the heavy lifting for the brand, even as newer competition piles on.

BYD Beats Tesla in EV Sales For Second Quarter in A Row

MG vs BYD: Chinese Brands Battle for Second Place

Just behind Tesla, it was a tight race between MG and BYD. MG narrowly snatched second place overall, though both brands posted double-digit declines in EV deliveries. MG’s strong performance was helped by consistent demand for the MG 4, which ranked as Australia’s third-best selling EV, a title it also held for the full 2024 calendar year.

BYD’s numbers tell an interesting story. EV deliveries were down 58.8%, despite the debut of the new Sealion 7 SUV. But overall, the brand grew by 95.6%, thanks to a surge in plug-in hybrid sales. It’s clear BYD is broadening its strategy, even if pure electric volumes are lagging.

The Sealion 7 still cracked the top five best-selling EVs in Q1, just behind Kia’s newcomer…

Australia's EV Market Surges in March

Kia Rides High with the EV5

Speaking of surprises, Kia jumped to fourth place in overall EV sales, thanks to the strong debut of the EV5. Sales of Kia’s electric models grew 71% year-on-year, defying the broader market trend and earning the EV5 a spot in the top five best-selling EVs for the quarter.

BMW, too, is holding steady in the premium space, shifting almost 600 more EVs than Mercedes-Benz in Q1. The i4 in particular stood out, with EVs making up nearly 97% of all 4 Series Gran Coupe sales.

▶️MORE: Australia's EV Market Set or Massive Growth in 2025

How Electrified Are These Models?

Some models are essentially full-electric under the hood, even if they share a badge with combustion siblings. For example, 96.9% of all BMW i4/4 Series GC sales were electric. The new Leapmotor C10, despite a low overall volume, had 90.6% of its sales as EVs. And the BMW i5 (part of the 5 Series line) was 74.1% electric.

Others like the Hyundai Kona, MG ZS, or Ford Transit Custom still see EVs make up a small slice of total deliveries, with percentages ranging from 4% down to less than 1%.

▶️SURVEY: Elon Musk's Influence Turning Australians Away from Tesla

Some Brands Still in the Shadows

It’s also worth noting that Cadillac, Deepal, and Xpeng don’t report to the FCAI or Electric Vehicle Council, so the true EV sales picture might be broader than these numbers suggest.

Q1 2025: Best-Selling EVs in Australia

➡️MORE: Home charging guide for Tesla Model 3 & Y

EV Share by Model – Selected Highlights

▶️BEFORE YOU GO: Try Zecar's EV cost calculator that helps you find estimated cost of maintaining an EV

Despite a rocky start to 2025, there’s a clear silver lining: more choice, stronger models from Korean and Chinese brands, and plenty of movement among up-and-coming players. As the year rolls on, all eyes will be on Tesla’s next move, whether Kia can keep its momentum, and whether Aussie buyers will warm to new EV options in a changing market.