VFACTS May 2026: Tesla Model Y tops the charts as EV sales surge in Australia's new-vehicle market

The Australian new-vehicle market was down in May, but electric vehicles (EVs) more than pulled their weight in preventing a larger overall decline.

Per data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC), a total of 106,887 new vehicles were delivered in May 2026, down 2.3 per cent on May 2025.

However, EV sales were up 111.6 per cent year-on-year to 21,303 units, accounting for a record 19.9 per cent share of the market, while plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sales grew even more, albeit from a lower base – they were up 202.3 per cent YoY to 9315 units.

Conventional hybrids still outsold PHEVs with 19,024 deliveries, but posted a more modest increase of 11.3 per cent. Add EVs, PHEVs and hybrids together, and they accounted for 46.4 per cent of all new-vehicle deliveries.

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The popularity of EVs pushed Tesla up to sixth place, tied with June 2023 for its highest placing ever in the top 10. Though it offers just two models in Australia, one of them – the Model Y mid-size electric SUV – was Australia’s best-selling vehicle for the first month ever, and the only EV to ever become Australia’s best-selling vehicle.

BYD was Australia’s second-best selling brand for the second month in a row, up 154.6 per cent YoY thanks to both fresh new models and strong YoY increases for most of its carryover range.

“The evidence increasingly demonstrates that NVES is encouraging manufacturers to bring more low emissions vehicles to Australia, increasing both consumer choice and technology availability,” said FCAI chief executive Tony Weber in a press release.

“Regulatory stability and growth in public charging infrastructure is now critical to maintaining investment, consumer confidence and continued growth, particularly during a period of global economic uncertainty.”

Brands

Toyota still took the top spot as usual, but was down 30.7 per cent YoY despite May marking the first month it has had the full new-generation HiLux range available, including new electric and extra-cab variants. Overall, the HiLux was down 19.1 per cent YoY.

Indeed, almost its entire range posted double-digit YoY declines, apart from the bZ4X (203 units, up 181.9 per cent), Camry (1034 units, up 12.5 per cent), HiAce (1001, up 4.3 per cent), plus the more niche Tundra and Supra.

Toyota posted significant double-digit declines elsewhere, with the Prado tumbling by 63.9 per cent to 987 units due to supply issues and the Kluger plummeting by 70.7 per cent to 400 units. Even thrifty models like the Yaris and Yaris Cross were down significantly.

Where Toyota fell, BYD soared. Only its Dolphin hatch and Shark 6 ute slumped, while its Sealion 7 rose by 215.2 per cent YoY to 1538 units – a great showing, but not enough to topple the Tesla Model Y. Overall, BYD was up by 154.6 per cent YoY, with its Atto 1 comfortably becoming Australia’s best-selling light car.

Ford remained on the podium with 7195 units, down 15.0 per cent. Larger vehicles like the F-150 and Transit posted increases.

Hyundai pushed past sister brand Kia again, with a 4.5 per cent increase to 7007 units. Its SUV range did much of the heavy lifting, with the Kona up 17.4 per cent and holding the title of Australia’s best-selling small SUV despite cheaper Chinese competition; the Tucson up 27.5 per cent to become Australia’s third-best-selling mid-size SUV; and the Palisade and Santa Fe also posting double-digit increases.

Kia sat in fifth with 6761 units, down 2.1 per cent despite the brand having rolled out the Tasman over the past 12 months. With just 436 units, the Tasman was Kia’s ninth-best selling vehicle.

As mentioned, Tesla sat in sixth place, while erstwhile podium finisher Mazda was stuck in seventh with 5698 units, down 27.4 per cent YoY. All of its models posted double-digit declines apart from the CX-60 (506, up 32.5 per cent) and MX-5 (82, up 22.4 per cent).

The top 10 was rounded out by GWM, Chery and MG, all of which were up YoY.

Mitsubishi fell out of the top 10, sitting in 11th place, just ahead of Isuzu Ute. Finishing in 13th, Geely had its best month yet in Australia, as did Omoda Jaecoo which placed 14th and had Australia’s second-best selling small SUV.

Models

The Tesla Model Y finished in first place overall, the first time it has managed this feat in Australia.

As usual, the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux finished on the podium, with the Toyota RAV4 just missing out on the bronze.

A new arrival in the top 10 was the Jaecoo J5, with Omoda Jaecoo’s entry-level small SUV narrowly outselling its corporate rival, the Chery Tiggo 4.

Much like the Geely brand itself, the EX5 mid-size electric SUV narrowly missed out on a top 10 position.

Hyundai, BYD, Ford and Mitsubishi each had two vehicles in the top 20, while overall the top 20 consisted of seven models from Chinese brands, and eight Chinese-built vehicles overall.

Segments

• Micro cars: Kia Picanto (548), Fiat/Abarth 500 (14)
• Light cars: BYD Atto 1 (768), MG 3 (601), Suzuki Swift (248)
• Small cars under $45,000: Toyota Corolla (1069), Mazda 3 (659), Hyundai i30 (590)
• Small cars over $45,000: MG 4 (580), Volkswagen Golf (182), Audi A3 (162)
• Medium cars under $60,000: Toyota Camry (1034), Tesla Model 3 (828), BYD Seal (581)
• Medium cars over $60,000: BMW 3 Series (136), Mercedes-Benz C-Class (123), Mercedes-Benz CLA (101)
• Large cars under $70,000: Skoda Superb (7), Citroen C5 X (1)
• Large cars over $70,000: MG IM5 (63), Volvo ES90 (27), BMW 5 Series (19)
• Upper large cars: Porsche Panamera (7), Mercedes-Benz S-Class (3), BMW 7 Series (2), BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe (2)
• People movers under $70,000: Kia Carnival (857), Hyundai Staria (90), Ford Tourneo (16)
• People movers over $70,000: Volkswagen ID. Buzz (108), Volkswagen Multivan (36), Mercedes-Benz Vito Tourer (18)
• Sports cars under $90,000: Honda Prelude (142), Ford Mustang (127), Mazda MX-5 (82)
• Sports cars over $90,000: BMW 2 Series Coupe (94), Mercedes-Benz CLE (47), BMW 4 Series two-door range (45)
• Sports cars over $200,000: Porsche 911 (61), Ferrari two-door range (9), Mercedes-AMG GT (7)

• Light SUVs: Mazda CX-3 (782), Suzuki Jimny (656), Toyota Yaris Cross (635)
• Small SUVs under $45,000: Hyundai Kona (2291), Omoda Jaecoo J5 (2172), Chery Tiggo 4 (2123)
• Small SUVs over $45,000: Kia EV3 (531), BMW X1/iX1 (482), Mercedes-Benz GLA (311)
• Medium SUVs under $65,000: Tesla Model Y (5605), Toyota RAV4 (3865), Hyundai Tucson (2287)
• Medium SUVs over $65,000: Zeekr 7X (966), BMW X3/iX3 (526), Mazda CX-60 (506)
• Large SUVs under $80,000: Ford Everest (1876), Isuzu MU-X (1062), Toyota Prado (987)
• Large SUVs over $80,000: BMW X5 (429), Land Rover Defender (390), Lexus RX (183)
• Upper large SUVs under $120,000: Toyota LandCruiser (1262), Nissan Patrol (428), Denza B8 (296)
• Upper large SUVs over $120,000: BMW X7 (162), Lexus GX (67), Lexus LX (64)

• Small vans: Volkswagen Caddy (101), Peugeot Partner (19), Renault Kangoo (18)
• Medium vans: Toyota HiAce (1001), Ford Transit Custom (284), Hyundai Staria Load (248)
• 4×2 utes: Isuzu D-Max (580), Ford Ranger (423), Toyota HiLux (320)
• 4×4 utes: Ford Ranger (4051), Toyota HiLux (3685), Isuzu D-Max (1336)
• Large pickups: Ford F-150 (203), Ram 1500 (177), Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (170)

Sales by category

Includes Tesla and Polestar sales.

Top segments by market share

Includes Tesla and Polestar sales.

Sales by region

Excludes Tesla and Polestar sales.

Sales by buyer type

Excludes Tesla, Polestar and heavy commercial sales.

Sales by fuel or propulsion type

Excludes heavy commercial sales.

Sales by country of origin

Includes Tesla and Polestar sales.

MORE: VFACTS January 2026: Australia’s new-vehicle market up… just
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MORE: VFACTS April 2026: Rising EV, PHEV demand boosts new-vehicle market, BYD takes second spot