Electric record set

Australia’s automotive market remained strong in August, with Chinese manufacturers occupying half of the top 10 brands and demand for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) remaining at elevated levels.

VFACTS recorded 100,939 sales last month, up 0.4 per cent on the same month last year, reports the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI). Year-to-date deliveries reached 811,388, broadly consistent with the same period in 2025.

Across all reporting sources, 27,089 BEVs were sold during August. This represented 24.9 per cent of the new-vehicle market for a 171 per cent increase compared to August 2025. It was the highest number of BEVs sold in one month in Australia.

Within VFACTS, plug-in hybrids represented 10.5 per cent of last month’s registrations, while conventional hybrids accounted for 18.5 per cent.

Toyota remained the market leader, reporting 19.5 per cent of sales and five Chinese brands ranked among the top 10. BYD, GWM, MG, Geely and Chery recorded combined 26,610 sales, or 26.4 per cent of the market. Other brands in the top 10 were Kia, Mazda, Hyundai and Ford.

Manufacturers based in China also supplied five of the 10 highest-selling models – the BYD Sealion 7, Chery Tiggo 4, Geely EX5, pictured, GWM Haval Jolion and Zeekr 7X.

The FCAI’s chief executive, Tony Weber, said the August results showed the market is undergoing a significant structural shift.

“The sustained level of BEV sales, together changing brand preferences, shows how quickly consumer choice and competition are reshaping Australia’s new-vehicle market. These changes continue to reinforce the need for infrastructure settings that keep pace with the market. 

“Accessible and dependable charging will remain critical to consumer confidence, particularly on highways in rural and regional areas and for motorists without access to charging at home.”