Australia’s EV sales storm as fuel crisis bites
Australian electric vehicle sales boomed in March, accounting for a massive 14.6 per cent of total sales – almost double the 7.5 per cent EV market share achieved in March 2025.
There’s no doubt what is driving interest and demand, with fuel prices skyrocketing and several hundred service stations across Australia running out of fuel, and especially diesel.
In total, 15,839 EVs were sold across March, out of a total 105,058 vehicle sales nationwide. Another 8215 plug-in hybrid models found homes, while hybrids accounted for 17,953 sales.
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The question, asked the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, is whether the fuel crisis has sparked a permanent shift in buying preferences, or whether the EV boom will prove a blip.
“It is too early to determine whether this represents a structural shift in the market. 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,” says FCAI chief executive, Tony Weber.
“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.
“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.
“Ensuring infrastructure keeps pace with consumer demand will be critical to enabling sustainable growth in EV adoption beyond short-term influences.”
The boom in EV sales also helped lift BYD (admittedly a multi-powertrain manufacturer that also sells plug-in hybrids) to a stunning third on Australia’s best-seller list in March, with a total 7217 sales. Also impressive was the result of the booming Tesla Model Y, which managed 2818 sales in March. All-EV brands Polestar and Leapmotor managed 160 and 170 sales respectively.
