Key facts
- Electric and hybrid vehicle sales now match traditional petrol car sales in Australia.
- EV market share hit a record 21.03% and plug-in hybrid share reached 10.58% in the April-June quarter.
Electric and hybrid vehicle sales in Australia have reached parity with traditional petrol cars, with EVs doubling their market share in the months following a fuel price spike. This shift coincides with the end of federal fuel excise reductions.
The shift in consumer preference towards EVs and hybrids highlights a significant change in the Australian automotive market, driven by fuel price volatility and potentially influenced by environmental concerns. This transition impacts the automotive industry, energy consumption patterns, and government policy related to emissions and fuel taxes.
Australians are increasingly opting for electric and hybrid vehicles, with sales now matching traditional petrol-powered cars. This trend accelerated in the April to June quarter, following a spike in fuel prices and the subsequent end of federal fuel excise reductions. The Australian Automobile Association's latest EV Index shows that electric vehicle (EV) market share reached a record 21.03%, with plug-in hybrids at 10.58%. Battery electric vehicle sales more than doubled in the second quarter of 2026 compared to the previous three months. Concurrently, sales of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles fell to their lowest-ever market share of 50.84%, marking the largest quarterly drop for petrol-powered vehicles. When the AAA began tracking data in 2022, ICE cars represented nine out of every 10 sales.