In a significant shift in consumer preferences, electric and hybrid vehicles made up nearly half of all new car sales in Australia from April to June 2026. This trend reflects a growing move away from traditional petrol-powered vehicles, driven by the unpredictability of fuel prices.
Data from the Australian Automobile Association reveals that battery electric vehicles (EVs) achieved a landmark 21.03% of the market share during this period. Notably, sales of battery EVs more than doubled, climbing from 34,435 units in the year’s first quarter to 69,414 in the second quarter.
Plug-in hybrids also saw a substantial presence, capturing 10.58% of the market. This increase in the adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles coincides with the decline in the popularity of traditional petrol-powered cars, whose market share fell to a historic low of 50.84%.
The shifting dynamics come as Australia braces for another potential increase in fuel prices. This expectation follows the conclusion of the federal government’s temporary reduction in fuel excise, which had provided some relief to consumers facing the volatile fuel market.