New Savvy analysis comparing EV uptake across 16 countries found Australia’s battery electric vehicles share has grown more than tenfold since 2021, when electric cars accounted for just 1.6% of new vehicle sales. Australia now has a higher BEV market share than the US, Canada, Japan, Spain and Italy, and sits only slightly behind New Zealand at 17.1%. One of the biggest changes has been the arrival of lower-cost Chinese EVs from brands including BYD, Geely and Zeekr. BYD Australia Chief Operating Officer Stephen Collins summed up the shift earlier, this year, saying: “Chinese car brands went from zero to 20 per cent market share in five years.”

BYD overtook Tesla as Australia’s biggest-selling EV brand in the first half of 2026, while the BYD Atto 1 recently became Australia’s cheapest new car at $19,990 driveaway. High petrol prices and government policy have also helped accelerate the shift, but charging access remains a major hurdle for renters and apartment residents. Savvy’s 2026 EV Sentiments Survey found 58% of apartment owners said they couldn’t install home charging, highlighting a potential constraint as EV ownership moves further into the mainstream.

“Australia’s EV uptake since March has blown everything open. We’ve recently opened our first car dealership and are aiming to stock it with as many used EVs as possible. There will still be a place for petrol and diesel vehicles especially in the used market, but at the moment we’re seeing families desperately wanting to add an EV to the family garage.” Savvy Managing Director Bill Tsouvalas commented. For More Information.For More Information.