Electric vehicle sales reached a record share of the Australian new car market in March 2026, according to the latest VFACTS data, as consumer interest surged despite an overall decline in total vehicle sales.

A total of 15,839 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) were sold during the month, representing 14.6 per cent of all new vehicles delivered. This marks a significant increase from March 2025, when EVs accounted for just 7.5 per cent of total sales, effectively doubling their market share year-on-year.

The broader market, however, softened slightly. Overall vehicle sales in March totalled 105,058 units, down 3.3 per cent compared to the same period last year.

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Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) chief executive Tony Weber said the figures highlight strong growth in EV demand but warned against interpreting the surge as a long-term trend.

“It is too early to determine whether this represents a structural shift in the market,” Mr Weber said. “More consumers are considering EVs due to the disruption to fuel supply caused by conflict in the Middle East, along with the review into the fringe benefits tax concession for EVs.”

Mr Weber added that while the industry would welcome sustained growth in EV adoption, several external factors may be temporarily influencing buyer behaviour.

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“The automotive industry would welcome a sustained shift to EVs, given its substantial investment in bringing more than 100 EV models to the Australian market and the industry’s efforts to meet ambitious NVES targets,” he said.

He also emphasised the importance of infrastructure development to support continued growth.

“A long-term shift to EVs will require Australian governments to sharpen their focus on public charging infrastructure, particularly in regional areas and locations where home charging is not practical,” Mr Weber said.

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“Ensuring infrastructure keeps pace with consumer demand will be critical to enabling sustainable growth in EV adoption beyond short-term influences.”

In the overall market, Toyota retained its position as the top-selling brand with 16,574 units, followed by Kia (7,320), BYD (7,217), Mazda (7,156) and Ford (7,149).

Australia’s best-selling models for March were the Ford Ranger (4,452), Toyota HiLux (4,167), Nissan X-Trail (2,438), Mitsubishi Outlander (2,318) and Hyundai Kona (2,316).

Additional data from the Electric Vehicle Council further highlights the scale of demand, with Tesla leading EV sales in March with 3,485 deliveries, taking its year-to-date total to 7,260. Polestar recorded 160 sales for the month, reaching 465 units so far in 2026.