Australia’s Highest Selling Electric Vehicles (EVs) for 2022
Australia’s EV market soared to new heights in 2022 with electric vehicle sales (almost) doubling figures recorded in the preceding 12-month period of 2021.
According to data released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) on the 5th of January 2023, Australia recorded 33,310 electric vehicle sales in 2022.
The figures represented a 94% jump from the 17,242 EV units sold in 2021 and means that electric vehicles now account for 3.1% of new car sales in Australia.
While the numbers may seem modest in the overall market share, there has been a definite shift in consumer buying patterns as EV pricing becomes more competitive, fuel prices continue to soar, and Australia’s rudimentary electric vehicle charging infrastructure expands.
The Driving Force Behind Australia’s EV Sales
While Australia’s EV market continues to grow, it’s hard to ignore the elephant in the room – the Tesla Factor.
Of the 33,310 electric cars sold in Australia in 2022, 19,594 of them came complements of Elon Musk and Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory. For the third year in a row, the Tesla Model 3 led EV sales in Australia with 10,877 units.
However, while Australians continue to enjoy the Model 3 sedan, it is the Model Y – which scratches Australia’s insatiable mid-size-SUV itch – that took the market by storm in Q4 of 2022.
Priced from $69,300 (depending on your state of residence, configuration, and Tesla’s price fluctuations), the Model Y SUV is projected to claim top trumps for EV sales in Australia in 2023.
Overall, Tesla is now the 16th highest selling vehicle manufacturer in Australia across all brands. Based on current growth and the overwhelming early success of the Model Y, it is entirely possible that Tesla could crack into the top 10 vehicle manufacturers by sales volume in 2023.
Australian Electric Vehicle Sales By Make & Model 2022
A complete breakdown of electric car sales recorded in Australia in 2022 listed by make, model, units sold, and the overall market share of that model.
| Make |
Model |
Units Sold |
% of Total EV Sales |
| Tesla |
Model 3 |
10877 |
32.56% |
| Tesla |
Model Y |
8717 |
26.09% |
| BYD |
Atto 3 |
2113 |
6.32% |
| Polestar |
Polestar 2 |
1524 |
4.56% |
| MG |
ZS EV |
1119 |
3.35% |
| Hyundai |
Kona |
1096 |
3.28% |
| Volvo |
XC40 Recharge Pure Electric |
983 |
2.94% |
| Hyundai |
Ioniq 5 |
756 |
2.26% |
| Mercedes-Benz |
EQA |
624 |
1.87% |
| BMW |
iX3 |
593 |
1.77% |
| Hyundai |
Ioniq |
580 |
1.74% |
| Kia |
EV6 |
564 |
1.69% |
| Volvo |
C40 Recharge |
491 |
1.47% |
| BMW |
iX |
477 |
1.43% |
| Mini |
Cooper SE |
455 |
1.36% |
| Porsche |
Taycan |
430 |
1.29% |
| Kia |
Niro EV |
385 |
1.15% |
| Nissan |
Leaf |
331 |
0.99% |
| Mercedes-Benz |
EQC |
318 |
0.95% |
| BMW |
i4 |
207 |
0.62% |
| Mercedes-Benz |
EQB |
141 |
0.42% |
| Audi |
E-Tron |
129 |
0.39% |
| Genesis |
GV60 |
114 |
0.34% |
| Lexus |
UX300e |
82 |
0.25% |
| Mercedes-Benz |
EQS |
70 |
0.21% |
| Mazda |
MX-30 Electric |
55 |
0.16% |
| Renault |
Kangoo ZE |
49 |
0.15% |
| Genesis |
Electrified GV70 |
44 |
0.13% |
| Jaguar |
I-Pace |
23 |
0.07% |
| Genesis |
Electrified G80 |
16 |
0.05% |
| Audi |
E-Tron GT |
13 |
0.04% |
| BMW |
i7 |
10 |
0.03% |
| Mercedes-Benz |
EQV |
10 |
0.03% |
| LDV |
eDeliver 9</ |
5 |
0.01% |
| BMW |
i3 |
3 |
0.01% |
| LDV |
Mifa 9 |
2 |
0.01% |
| LDV |
eT60 |
2 |
0.01% |
| Mercedes-Benz |
eVito Van |
2 |
0.01% |
| Cupra |
Born |
1 |
0.01% |
| Ford |
E-Transit |
1 |
0.01% |
| Mercedes-Benz |
eVito Tourer |
1 |
0.01% |
Top Line EV Sales Insights for Australia in 2022
- Electric vehicles accounted for 3.1% of all new car sales in Australia in 2022.
- 79% of all new electric vehicles sales in Australia in 2023 were sourced from China. Led by Tesla, other EV manufacturers such as Polestar, Volvo, and MG also source their vehicles from China.
- Australia’s love affair with Tesla was cemented by the launch of the Tesla Model Y in Q3 2022 which is projected to become the highest selling EV in Australia in 2023.
- Tesla continues to dominate the EV market in Australia with a combined 58% of market share thanks to the Model 3 and Model Y.
- BYD made a bold entry into the Australian market in 2022 with the competitively priced Atto 3 claiming a 6% market share in Australia – outperforming established brands such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi.
Australia’s Luxury EV Sales Insights for 2022
- With the top-of-the-line Model X (SUV) unlikely to reach our shores in 2023, Tesla’s biggest play will come in the mid-level price bracket.
- The absence of Tesla’s Model X EV means that Tesla is leaving the door open for premium brands including Audi, Porsche, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz to take a large market share in the Premium EV ($100,000+) category in Australia.
- In spite of Tesla’s absence in the luxury EV category, luxury brands such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Jaguar are yet to capture a significant portion of the Australian market and will need to wait for lower-end models to launch locally in order to bolster overall EV sales in Australia.
Australia’s Commercial EV Sales Insights 2022
- Commercial EV Sales in Australia are yet to catch on with LDV and Mercedes-Benz’s eVito and eDeliver 9 models accounting for less than 0.03% of EV sales.
Australia’s EV Sales Data – Who Lost Out in 2022?
- In spite, of their strong market share, MG’s EV sales took a step backwards in 2022 with a 19.4% drop in overall sales compared to 2021.
- Production woes meant that Porsche’s flagship EV, the Taycan fell by 19% on sales recorded in the preceding 12-month period.
- Australia’s said farewell to BMW’s futuristic looking i3 as the German manufacturer looks to step up their EV appeal with electric adaptations of their mainstream, ICE-powered SUVs.
- Despite a 76% increase in sales since 2021, it seems that Australians are still on the fence about PHEVs with local sales numbers reaching just 5,937 in 2022.
A Look Ahead at EVs in Australia for 2023
The Australian EV market is projected to continue its meteoric growth in 2023 with more models from mainstream, established ICE manufacturers increasing their EV offering in Australia over the next 12-months.
Lower initial outlay expenses (purchasing price, EV charger installation cost) and a growth in Australia’s EV charging infrastructure is likely to quell Australia’s bullish position on EVs and promote further adoption in 2023.
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