Record sales for Tesla! EV heavyweight has huge May. Now we wait for the full results

Tesla has recorded its strongest month of sales ever in Australia, delivering a record 6433 vehicles in May as the country’s largest electric vehicle brand continued the momentum that has already produced two exceptionally strong months for EV sales.

The result, revealed in the latest monthly sales report from the Electric Vehicle Council, eclipses Tesla’s previous monthly record of 6017 deliveries set in March 2024 and comes ahead of the release of full May industry sales figures due imminently.

While the EVC data only captures sales from Tesla and Polestar, and therefore represents only a share of Australia’s total EV market, Tesla’s performance is particularly significant because it remains the nation’s leading battery-electric vehicle brand.

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Most EV brands operating in Australia report sales through the monthly VFACTS figures released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, meaning the EVC report does not include major players such as BYD, MG Motor, GWM, Kia Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company and numerous other brands.

With March delivering a record month for EV sales and April seeing battery-electric vehicles account for almost one in every six new vehicles sold nationally, Tesla’s May result suggests Australia’s EV market could be heading for another standout performance when full VFACTS figures are released.

Tesla accounted for 6433 of the 6681 combined Tesla and Polestar deliveries reported by the EVC, meaning the Elon Musk-led brand represented more than 96 per cent of the total.

The Tesla Model Y was again the key driver of the result, recording 5605 deliveries and accounting for 84 per cent of all Tesla and Polestar sales captured in the report.

Tesla Country Director for Australia and New Zealand Thom Drew said the company’s strong performance reflected both repeat buyers and new customers entering the brand.

“Tesla has had another strong month in May, driven by the continued loyalty of our existing customers and a growing number of Australians choosing Tesla for the first time,” he said.

Drew also highlighted the contribution of the six-seat Model Y L, which recently joined the Australian range.

While Tesla dominated the figures, Polestar also reported continued growth. The Swedish brand delivered 248 vehicles during May, with the Polestar 4 remaining its best-performing model.

Polestar Australia managing director Scott Maynard said demand for EVs remained strong.

“It is pleasing to see a sustained level of strong enquiry on electric vehicles through the month, with Polestar closing on a year-to-date growth rate of 14 per cent,” he said.

Combined Tesla and Polestar deliveries were up 61.4 per cent in May 2026 compared with the same month last year and 358 per cent higher than April. Year-to-date sales reached 15,866 vehicles, an increase of 52.7 per cent on the first five months of 2025.

Electric Vehicle Council chief executive Julie Delvecchio said the figures highlighted the growing appeal of EVs as fuel prices rise.

“May 2026 is an important moment for Australia’s EV transition – the strongest month on record for combined Tesla and Polestar sales,” she said.

“When fuel prices hurt, people look for alternatives. Electric vehicles offer exactly that – no trips to the servo, no price spikes at the pump, savings of around $3000 a year.”

The strongest year-to-date growth among the states was recorded in Queensland, up 65.1 per cent, followed by New South Wales at 63.3 per cent and Victoria at 61.9 per cent.

Attention will now turn to the full May VFACTS results, which will reveal whether strong performances from Tesla and Polestar have been matched across the broader EV market and whether Australia can extend the record-breaking run established in March and maintained through April.