UPDATE: Official sales figures for the Australian automotive industry show Tesla has not only topped the EV sales charts but the Model Y has become the first EV to top the local sales charts in a month.

The Model Y’s 5605 sales meant it outsold traditional top sellers such as the Ford Ranger (4474) and Toyota Hilux (4005) as well as the RAV4 (3865)

Some other interesting facts from the May 2026 vehicle sales figures:

• EVs outsold hybrids for the first time
• 19.9% of all new vehicles sold were EVs, 17.8% were hybrids
• China was by far the top supplier of vehicles to Australia, with 34.8% of the market
• Sales of petrol vehicles dropped 30%
• Sales of diesel vehicles dropped 26%
• Plug-in hybrids grew 202%, now 8.7% of the market
• Former number 2 brand Mazda was 7^th
• The Jaecoo J5 sold 2172
• Market leaderToyota sold only 202 EVs
• SUVs hit a record 64.1% market
• Medium SUV sales jumped 26%
• Large SUV sales fell 24%
• Sales drops: Toyota -31%, Ford -15%, Mazda -27%, Kia -2%, Mitsubishi -31%, Nissan -36%, Subaru -16%, Volkswagen -22%
• Sales gains: Geely +416%, Omoda Jaecoo +729%, Chery +60%, GWM +9%, Hyundai +4.5%

Check our detailed sales figures below to see how the May 2026 market performed.

ORIGINAL STORY: 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.

May 2026 vehicle sales

Top 20 vehicle sales – May 2026

Rank	Make/Model	Sales
1	Tesla Model Y	5605
2	Ford Ranger	4474
3	Toyota Hilux	4005
4	Toyota RAV4	3865
5	Hyundai Kona	2291
6	Hyundai Tucson	2287
7	Omoda Jaecoo J5	2172
8	Chery Tiggo 4 Pro	2123
9	Isuzu D-Max	1916
10	Ford Everest	1876
11	Geely EX5	1814
12	Kia Sportage	1797
13	GWM Haval Jolion	1674
14	Mitsubishi Triton	1449
15	Mitsubishi Outlander	1403
16	Mazda CX-5	1368
17	Toyota LandCruiser Wagon	1262
18	BYD Shark 6	1244
19	Chery Tiggo 7 Pro	1202
20	MG ZS	1136

Top 20 mid-sized SUVs – May 2026

Rank	Vehicle/Brand	Sales
1	Tesla Model Y	5605
2	Toyota RAV4	3865
3	Hyundai Tucson	2287
4	Geely EX5	1814
5	Kia Sportage	1797
6	BYD Sealion 7	1538
7	Mitsubishi Outlander	1403
8	Mazda CX-5	1368
9	Chery Tiggo 7 Pro	1202
10	GWM Haval H6	1192
11	Nissan X-Trail	942
12	Geely Starray EM-i	822
13	BYD Sealion 6	802
14	Subaru Forester	706
15	BYD Atto 3	627
16	BMW X3/iX3	526
17	Honda CR-V	452
18	MG HS	439
19	Kia EV5	437
20	Polestar 4	202

Top 20 SUVs – May 2026

Rank	Make/Model	Sales
1	Tesla Model Y	5605
2	Toyota RAV4	3865
3	Hyundai Kona	2291
4	Hyundai Tucson	2287
5	Omoda Jaecoo J5	2172
6	Chery Tiggo 4 Pro	2123
7	Ford Everest	1876
8	Geely EX5	1814
9	Kia Sportage	1797
10	GWM Haval Jolion	1674
11	BYD Sealion 7	1538
12	Mitsubishi Outlander	1403
13	Mazda CX-5	1368
14	Toyota LandCruiser Wagon	1262
15	Chery Tiggo 7 Pro	1202
16	MG ZS	1136
17	Toyota Corolla Cross	1069
18	Isuzu MU-X	1062
19	Toyota Prado	987
20	BYD Sealion 8	928

Top 20 Selling Brands – May 2026

Rank	Make/Model	Sales
1	Toyota	16342
2	BYD	8211
3	Ford	7195
4	Hyundai	7007
5	Kia	6761
6	Tesla	6433
7	Mazda	5698
8	GWM	4660
9	Chery	4401
10	MG	3872
11	Mitsubishi	3307
12	Isuzu Ute	2978
13	Geely	2636
14	Omoda Jaecoo	2570
15	BMW	2417
16	Subaru	2178
17	Volkswagen	1996
18	Nissan	1780
19	Mercedes-Benz	1694
20	Honda	1332

SOURCE: Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries and EV Council.