Has the EV shift arrived? Sales double in March, as oil crisis woes continue to plague Australia

Battery electrical automobile gross sales bear nearly doubled to 14.6 p.c in March 2026, up from 7.5 p.c 365 days prior, as an international oil disaster leaves petrol and diesel prices skyrocketing and provide unsure.

A complete of 15,839 electrical vehicles had been provided closing month, from a complete of 108,703 provided nationally, per mixed figures from the FCAI alongside with Polestar and Tesla gross sales data from the Electric Vehicle Council.

The general gross sales replicate a 3.3 p.c dip over closing 365 days, a downward pattern moreover mirrored in a an identical ability by gross sales-leader Toyota which seen fewer RAV4 deliveries than anticipated, even supposing the emblem provided 16,574 vehicles across its model vary.

Kia followed in a a ways away but unexcited impressive 2nd pickle with 7320 gross sales, enticing sooner than EV and hybrid huge BYD (7217), enticing nudging sooner than Mazda (7156) and Ford (7149).

Ford’s Ranger ute remains Australia’s most smartly-appreciated automobile with 4452 gross sales, followed by the recent-generation Toyota Hilux 4167, which has expanded its model vary in recent months.

The third and fourth most smartly-appreciated vehicles had been the carefully associated Nissan X-Path (2438) and Mitsubishi Outlander (2318), followed by the Hyundai Kona (2316), a microscopic SUV provided in petrol, hybrid and fully electrical forms.

The Chery Tiggo 4 Legitimate (2258) took sixth space, sooner than the Isuzu D-Max (2167) in seventh, Hyundai Tucson (2042) in eight, Haval Jolion (2013) in ninth and the BYD Sealion 7 to spherical-out the high ten.

EV demand could taper off, enterprise warns

Federal Chamber of Car Industries (FCAI) chief govt Tony Weber has suggested that the noticed amplify in battery electrical automobile gross sales would be short-lived, whereas stressing the necessity for added charging infrastructure to enhance the take-up of EVs.

“It is a ways too early to settle whether this represents a structural shift within the market. More customers are fascinated about EVs as a outcome of the disruption to gas supply precipitated by struggle within the Middle East, alongside with the overview into the fringe advantages tax concession for EVs,” Weber stated in a statement.

With the bulk of Australia’s automobile rapidly unexcited working on combustion engines, the Albanese authorities has moved to halve the gas excise tax for 3 months starting from April 1st, 2026, in a transfer aimed at serving to motorists place 26.3 cents a litre.

Petrol and diesel live stylish for now

Petrol unexcited reigns supreme because the most smartly-appreciated drivetrain kind in Australia with 31.9 p.c market section, followed by diesel at 26 p.c, even supposing both are down on figures from closing 365 days.

Hybrids and disappear-in hybrids are up, accounting for 16.5 p.c and 7.6 p.c respectively. Outright EVs (continuously identified as battery electrical vehicles) absorbed 14.6 p.c of gross sales as stated above. Hydrogen vehicles accounted for zero gross sales in March, 2026.