Daily Chart Highlight: Leading Electric Vehicle Brands in Australia
In the ever-evolving Australian electric vehicle (EV) market, Tesla's early dominance is facing significant challenges, particularly from Chinese manufacturers. This shift has been marked by the rapid growth of BYD, which has become a formidable competitor.
Giles Parkinson, the founder and editor of The Driven, Renew Economy, and One Step Off The Grid web sites, has been closely monitoring this development. Parkinson, who owns a Tesla Model 3, has witnessed the changes unfold in the Australian EV landscape.
As of mid-2025, Tesla still holds the largest single-model market share in Australia's EV market, primarily due to the Tesla Model Y. However, Tesla's overall dominance is being challenged, with BYD making significant strides. BYD accounted for about 25% of total EV sales in 2024 and has grown further into 2025.
BYD's surge means the combined share of Chinese EV makers, including BYD, MG, and Geely, now constitutes over two-thirds of the Australian EV market. In fact, by July 2025, BYD outsold Tesla's Model Y by nearly three times for that month.
Kia is also gaining ground in the Australian EV market, with the release of the EV5, EV3, EV9, and other models. Although Kia's share is smaller compared to Tesla and BYD, its growth is noteworthy.
The growth of BYD's market share could be sustained due to its increased model availability. The success of the SeaLion 7 has played a crucial role in BYD's progress.
Tesla's sales figures have not reached the highs of 2023 and 2024, and its share of Australian EV sales has decreased significantly, currently at less than one third of the market. The electric vehicle sales in Australia reached a record share of 10.3% in June, but the overall penetration has since fluctuated around 6.9%.
For those interested in the progress of the top five EV brands in the Australian market, The Driven has collected data on Tesla, BYD, Kia, BMW, and MG. The EV Models page provides a list of electric vehicle models available in Australia.
This reflects a rapidly evolving and competitive Australian EV market where Tesla's early dominance faces strong challenges, particularly from Chinese manufacturers leveraging affordability and localized strategies.
- The Tesla Model Y is responsible for Tesla's largest single-model market share in Australia's electric vehicle (EV) market as of mid-2025.
- BYD, a Chinese manufacturer, accounted for about 25% of total EV sales in 2024 and has continued to grow its share in 2025, challenging Tesla's dominance in the market.
- The combined share of Chinese EV makers, including BYD, MG, and Geely, now constitutes over two-thirds of the Australian EV market.
- Kia, with the release of models like the EV5, EV3, and EV9, is also gaining ground in the Australian EV market, although its share is smaller compared to Tesla and BYD.
