Musk Congratulates Tesla Australia — August EV Gross sales Replace

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In a latest publish on X, Elon Musk lauded Tesla Australia in response to this publish from Tesla Australia and New Zealand: “For the primary time ever, EVs outsold ICE autos in Australia 🇦🇺 Mannequin Y was the #1 car & Tesla the #3 best-selling model general for the month of August.”

“Congrats Tesla Australia!” Musk responded.

It wasn’t only a triumph for Tesla. Over 35% of all autos bought within the month of August in Australia had a plug! Out of the 109,000 vehicles bought, 27,000 have been BEVs (up 170% YOY) and 10,591 have been PHEVs.

Even the mainstream media is taking discover. The next chart appeared on SBS “On the Cash.”

CarExpert ran the next headline and subheading: “VFACTS August 2026: EVs outsell petrol, diesel and hybrid new autos in bumper month. The Tesla Mannequin Y topped the charts in a month the place electrical autos outsold all different powertrain sorts for the primary time, attaining document market share.”

It then added: “For context, a complete of 25,824 deliveries have been of petrol-powered autos, adopted by 23,608 diesels, 18,662 hybrids.”

The Australian Broadcasting Fee (ABC) got here out to our humble espresso morning and interviewed Adam Nelson, Chair of the Australian Electrical Car Affiliation—Qld, and myself. They have been on the lookout for some “B” footage for a puff piece on EVs and acquired extra info and enthusiasm than they bargained for. The journalist promised a hyperlink when the footage goes to air. I’ll share it when it’s obtainable.

If you have a look at the highest ten best-selling autos in Australia for August 2026, 3 are Battery Electrical. I keep in mind seeing this on the Chinese language stories, the place the highest ten autos and the highest ten electrics merged. Looks as if Australia is on the identical trajectory. Are you able to inform that I’m excited! Bear with me as we discover this additional.

The highest ten autos bought in Australia in August of all drive trains have been:

1. Tesla Mannequin Y — 6,414
2. Toyota RAV4 — 5,470 (a few of these will likely be HEVs and PHEVs)
3. Toyota HiLux — 4,833
4. Toyota Prado — 2,475
5. Ford Ranger — 2,440
6. BYD Sealion 7 — 2,213
7. Chery Tiggo 4 — 2,012
8. GWM Haval Jolion — 1,891
9. Zeekr 7X — 1,748
10. Isuzu D Max — 1,708

Lurking simply out of the highest ten however able to pounce have been the Jaecoo J5, the BYD Shark, and the Geely EX2. What we actually want are some good electrical utes. Then will probably be recreation over. “Each Chinese language model within the high 10, plus Tesla, was up YoY; each different model, in distinction, was down.” Each different model! In Australia, legacy auto is doing it powerful. As we’ve requested prior to now, can legacy auto survive with out export markets? Learn our evaluation right here. Time is working out. Are they lifeless manufacturers strolling?

Based on CarExpert, over half of the Mannequin Ys bought not too long ago have been the Mannequin Y Lengthy. In July, 2,429 Mannequin YL have been delivered (outselling the usual 5-seat Mannequin Y, which moved 2,215 items). In August 2026, there have been 3,236 deliveries (once more beating the usual 5-seat Mannequin Y’s 3,178 items).

We had enjoyable testing the Mannequin YL on the Tesla dealership. A couple of years in the past, when all 5 of our youngsters have been nonetheless dwelling at dwelling, we might have been tempted. As a substitute, we needed to make do with a Toyota Tarrago. Listed here are some pictures of the latest model of the Mannequin Y:

I assume I’ve saved you ready lengthy sufficient. Drum roll….

The highest ten greatest promoting battery electrical autos in Australia for the month of August have been:

1. Tesla Mannequin Y — 6,414 | 12 months thus far 31,454
2. BYD Sealion 7 — 2,213 | 17,277
3. Geely EX5 — 1,947 | 10,737
4. Zeekr 7X — 1,748 | 9,172
5. Omoda Jaecoo J5 — 1,672 | 8,910
6. Geely EX2 — 1,279 | 1,753
7. Tesla Mannequin 3 — 1,271 | 4,597
8. BYD Atto 2 — 1,122 | 7,737
9. Kia EV5 — 612 | 4,213
10. Kia EV3 — 515 | 3,977

No Japanese? No Europeans? Toyota got here in at about quantity 15, with the BZ4X promoting simply over 400 items. I’m wanting ahead to its full electrical lineup turning into obtainable. The Mazda 6e is off to a strong begin, with 382 items bought. Even sellers appear to be stunned by the brand new electrical Mazda from China. The perfect the Europeans may handle was the Volkswagen ID.4 at quantity 20.

Within the battle of the manufacturers, BYD is #1, however not by a lot, main Tesla by solely ~3,000 vehicles — that’s solely half a shipload! Quantity 3 is Geely, at just one third of the numbers, adopted by Zeekr and Kia.

Politicians are taking credit score for the “structural change,” saying it’s as a result of New Car Effectivity Normal. My opinion is that it is because of value-for-money Chinese language autos, and the rising insecurity of the petrol and diesel provide — regardless of the persevering with bitter campaigns of misinformation within the media. Regardless of the purpose, it’s a trigger for celebration within the Australian EV group.

Each time Australia takes a step ahead with EV penetration, we hear the identical caveat: “There aren’t sufficient public quick chargers.” So bleats the FCAI. My lived expertise is that the charging community is doing very properly, thanks, and anybody who needs the arduous information can take a look at Open Cost Map. See the map right here or right here.

A latest survey by the NSW from the NRMA (Nationwide Roads and Motorists Affiliation) factors to a shiny future for electrical autos, with solely 17% of individuals surveyed saying that they might not think about shopping for an EV. The main driver in the direction of EV possession is now not a priority concerning the atmosphere, however price. Electrical energy price at 34¢/kWh vs a petroleum price of $2.50 a litre. The principle considerations look like “how lengthy will the battery final?” “The place does it go when it fails?” FUD has carried out its job properly. Extra info will likely be wanted to allay these fears.

Can we attain 40% penetration in Australia by Christmas? With document photo voltaic and battery deployment, inexpensive, tech-packed electrical vehicles, the Australian motorists’ future is shiny and electrical.