Australian deliveries of Tesla and Polestar electric vehicles climbed sharply again in August, with the two brands recording their second-highest combined monthly result.

According to the Electric Vehicle Council’s latest monthly sales report, Tesla and Polestar delivered a combined 7821 battery-electric vehicles during August 2026, up 148 per cent from 3156 in August last year.

Importantly, the EVC figures do not represent Australia’s entire electric vehicle market. The monthly report currently captures Tesla and Polestar vehicles supplied directly to the organisation and excludes other major EV brands. Deliveries are also recorded when vehicles reach customers rather than when orders are placed.

1

August’s result was second only to June 2026, when the two manufacturers delivered 8924 vehicles.

Tesla accounted for 7685 August deliveries, representing a 163 per cent increase compared with the same month last year.

Once again, the Model Y was responsible for most of the volume, recording 6414 deliveries – up 176 per cent year-on-year. The Model 3 contributed another 1271 vehicles, its strongest monthly performance since January.

The result follows a strong July, when Tesla and Polestar combined for 4921 deliveries, more than four times the 1147 recorded in July 2025.

Combined year-to-date Tesla and Polestar deliveries have now reached 37,532 vehicles, 91 per cent higher than during the first eight months of 2025.

Growth has been particularly strong in NSW, Queensland and South Australia, where year-to-date deliveries have more than doubled. Other states and territories recorded increases ranging between 45 and 93 per cent.

South Australia produced the most dramatic August increase, with 347 Tesla and Polestar deliveries compared with just 28 in August 2025.

1

The EVC figures coincide with new Australian Bureau of Statistics data showing vehicle purchases increased 10.3 per cent during the June quarter as households continued shifting towards EVs. The ABS said there were record electric and hybrid vehicle sales during the quarter, while GDP increased 0.4 per cent.

EVC chief executive Julie Delvecchio said the figures indicated a longer-term change in buying behaviour, with running costs increasingly influencing vehicle choices.

“Environmental and economic considerations are coming together, changing what Australians buy and how they spend,” Delvecchio said.

The broader picture of Australia’s EV market will become clearer with the release of industry-wide August new-car sales figures, which include manufacturers not represented in the EVC report.