Australia’s new vehicle market recorded its strongest June on record, with sales reaching new highs as electric vehicles continued to gain market share and Chinese brands strengthened their presence.
New data released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) showed 131,134 vehicles were reported through VFACTS during June, up 7 per cent on the same month last year. When combined with Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) reporting, total sales from all sources reached 140,058 vehicles, making it the highest monthly sales result ever recorded in Australia.
Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for 23.3 per cent of total sales during the month, continuing a steady increase in market share throughout the first half of 2026.
EV market share continues to climb
BEV market share nearly tripled during the first half of 2026, rising from 8.4 per cent of total new vehicle sales in January to a record 23.3 per cent in June.
The FCAI said rising fuel prices and global economic uncertainty had contributed to changing consumer purchasing behaviour.
“The Australian automotive market has shifted on its axis during the first months of 2026. This year is likely to represent a significant turning point for the Australian automotive industry,” said Tony Weber, Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries.
“Global uncertainty, including conflict in the Middle East and volatility in petrol prices, appears to have sharpened consumer interest in vehicles that reduce exposure to fuel prices.
“While these factors have had a short-term impact, part of the EV growth would appear to be a permanent structural shift.”
China becomes Australia’s largest vehicle source
China remained Australia’s largest source of new vehicles during June, accounting for more than one-third of vehicle sales. The result reinforces China’s growing influence in the Australian market, ahead of traditional manufacturing hubs including Japan and Thailand.
| Country of Origin | Sales | Market Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | 46,592 | 35.5% |
| Japan | 27,098 | 20.7% |
| Thailand | 23,297 | 17.8% |
| Korea | 14,863 | 11.3% |
| Germany | 5,731 | 4.4% |
The FCAI data showed China supplied 46,592 vehicles during June, while Japan remained the second-largest source with 27,098 vehicles, followed by Thailand with 23,297.
Toyota retains top spot as BYD closes the gap
Toyota remained Australia’s best-selling brand in the VFACTS data with 19,124 vehicles delivered during June. BYD followed closely with 18,881 sales, while Ford, Kia and Hyundai rounded out the top five.
| Brand | Sales |
|---|---|
| Toyota | 19,124 |
| BYD | 18,881 |
| Ford | 9,181 |
| Kia | 8,005 |
| Hyundai | 7,480 |
Tesla Model Y tops overall vehicle sales
When registrations from both VFACTS and the Electric Vehicle Council are combined, the Tesla Model Y was Australia’s highest-selling vehicle in June, recording 8,072 deliveries, the highest monthly sales result for any model across all reporting sources.
Within the VFACTS data, the Ford Ranger remained the highest-selling model with 5,999 sales, followed by the Toyota HiLux 4×4 and BYD Sealion 7.
The strong performance of the Tesla Model Y highlights the growing influence of battery electric vehicles in the Australian market, while the VFACTS rankings show continued demand for utes and SUVs across traditional and emerging brands.
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