BYD closing on Tesla in Australia: Achieves 40,000 sales in less than three years, aims beyond 40K in 2025 alone!
Chinese electrified brand BYD has sold its 40,000th vehicle in Australia after less than three years on-sale.
It now says it expects to sell 40,000 vehicles or more in Australia in 2025 alone.
That sort of sales result puts BYD in reach of EV champion and global arch-rival Tesla’s best result of 45,000 Australian sales in 2023.
BYD has also reached the 40,000 sales milestone in Australia far quicker than Tesla, which took about 10 years.
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Of course, BYD and its local distributor EVDirect are offering a wider range of plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles than Tesla, which relies on two BEVs, the top-selling Tesal Model Y and Model 3.
Not to forget, it wasn’t until 2019 when the Model 3 launched that Tesla had a model that could generate meaningful sales volume.
And as impressive as that 40,000 sales target is for BYD, it actually undershoots the 50,000 2025 sales target EVDirect CEO David Smitherman articulated for the brand last year.
Originally launched back in 2021 under Nexport with the E6 and T3 models, BYD’s sales didn’t take off until the arrival of the Atto 3 small SUV in 2022 under the stewardship of EVDirect.
Today BYD’s line-up includes the Dolphin, Seal, Atto 3, and Sealion 7, as well as the Sealion 6 and Shark 6 plug-in hybrids.
It’s the latter that is expected to see BYD hit unprecedented volumes, already gaining a valuable head start on the Ford Ranger PHEV in the ute market.
In the first three months of 2025 BYD has sold 8767 vehicles according to official VFACTS numbers. That’s an average of 2922 sales per month against the 3333 sales average it needs to hit to achieve the 40,000 number.
However, in March it easily overshot the target with 4811 sales, propelled by the 2810 sales for the Shark 6.
So far in 2025, Tesla has sold 5160 vehicles, although the upgraded Model Y Juniper is yet to impact on sales numbers.
With FBT exemptions for PHEVs ending March 31, the question will be whether those sorts of sales numbers will be sustained.
Of course, more volume-selling models will be introduced by BYD in Australia this year, potentially including a new compact SUV and a seven-seat family SUV.
Later this year BYD will also launch its luxury Denza brand that will be introduced as part of a factory-backed operation without the involvement of EVDirect.
Smitherman, who has recently been in China viewing future product was bullish about YD’s achievements and future in Australia.
“BYD is where the action is,” Smitherman said.
“What we’re providing Australian customers is a choice they haven’t previously been able to enjoy. With the Shark 6, Sealion 7, and soon the Essentials range, we’re introducing new vehicles in segments and at pricepoints never seen before.”
“It makes me smile to see so many BYDs on Australian roads, because I know just how good these vehicles are – and having spent the past week in China, I can tell you we have no plans to slow down. This really is a new energy vehicle revolution.”
