Ranking of Leading Electric Vehicle Brands in Australia Today
In the dynamic and competitive Australian electric vehicle (EV) market of 2025, Tesla continues to lead, but faces significant competition from a rapidly growing BYD. The top five EV brands, ranked by sales volume, include Tesla and BYD prominently, with Tesla holding the top two positions by model [1].
Tesla's dominance has seen a slight decline compared to previous years. The Model Y, the best-selling EV in Australia since its refresh in early May, still holds the top spot, but its sales figures have not reached the highs of 2023 and 2024 [1]. The Tesla Model 3, once dominant, recorded a 65% year-on-year drop in sales, indicating increased competition [1].
BYD, on the other hand, has rapidly grown its presence, with a 144% sales increase over the past 12 months. The success of the SeaLion 7 has contributed to this growth, and BYD now controls distribution locally and is aggressively rolling out more models, including new sub-brands such as Denza and Yangwang, aiming to cover multiple market segments [2][3].
Other brands like Kia (EV5) also feature in the top five, but with considerably lower sales volumes [1][2]. The growth in Kia's market share can be attributed to the release of several new EV models, including the EV5, EV3, EV9, and others [4].
Giles Parkinson, the founder and editor of The Driven, Renew Economy, and One Step Off The Grid web sites, has been closely following the progress of these top five brands. Parkinson, who also owns a Tesla Model 3, has been a journalist for nearly 40 years [5]. The Driven web site has collected data on the progress of these brands, providing insights into the Australian EV market [6].
Despite Tesla's market share shrinking, it still holds the largest share in the Australian EV market. However, this share has halved from two thirds to one third due to the combined effect of other brands' growth [7]. In some months, Tesla's share of Australian EV sales has dropped as low as 10% [8].
This reflects a dynamic and competitive market in 2025, marked by Tesla’s enduring leadership and BYD’s rapid growth. The electric vehicle sales in Australia reached a record share of 10.3% in June [9]. For more detailed data on Australian electric vehicle sales by month and by model in 2025, visit the Australian electric vehicle sales by month and by model in 2025 page.
[1] Australian electric vehicle sales by month and by model in 2025 [2] BYD expands Australian operations with new sub-brands [3] BYD Australia announces new models and distribution network [4] Kia's electric vehicle strategy and new model releases [5] Giles Parkinson bio [6] The Driven web site [7] Tesla's market share in Australia shrinks due to competition [8] Tesla's share of Australian EV sales drops to 10% [9] Australian electric vehicle sales reach record high in June
- The rapid growth of BYD, as exemplified by the success of the SeaLion 7, is challenging Tesla's dominance in the Australian electric vehicle market, as reflected by Tesla's halved market share from two thirds to one third.
- As technology continues to advance and new electric vehicle models such as BYD's SeaLion 7 and Kia's EV5 are introduced, the Australian electric vehicle market is witnessing a transformation in lifestyles, with an increasing number of consumers opting for electric cars.
