EVs and hybrids approach half of Australian new car sales amid ongoing fuel crisis
Summary
Electric and hybrid cars now make up nearly half of new car sales in Australia, as people respond to rising fuel prices. Sales of battery electric vehicles doubled in the second quarter of 2026, while traditional petrol car sales dropped to their lowest level ever.Key Facts
- Nearly 50% of new cars sold in Australia from April to June 2026 were electric, plug-in hybrid, or hybrid vehicles.
- Sales of battery electric vehicles more than doubled from about 34,000 in the first quarter to over 69,000 in the second quarter of 2026.
- The combined market share for electric vehicles (21.03%) and plug-in hybrids (10.58%) reached record highs.
- Sales of traditional petrol-powered cars dropped from 64.23% to 50.84% in that period, marking their lowest market share ever.
- The rise in electric and hybrid car sales coincided with rising fuel prices, which peaked in March 2026 due to instability in the Middle East.
- The Australian government reduced the fuel excise tax temporarily from March 30 to ease the impact of high fuel prices.
- When the Australian Automobile Association began tracking in 2022, petrol cars made up about 90% of new car sales.
- Hybrid car sales also hit record levels but were surpassed by the sharp rise in electric vehicle purchases.
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