EV sales July 2023: Tesla still clear leader as electric hatchbacks wait in wings
04 August, 2023
Australia’s EV market share halves amid record car sales, but Tesla remains a favourite as vanguard of electric hatchbacks begin trickling onto market.
July 2023 saw a total of 6,846 pure battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales, making up 7% of the total vehicle sales for that month according to Vfacts data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries,
Tesla continues to dominate the Australian EV market, although the influx of all-electric Atto 3s from Chinese carmaker BYD brought Tesla’s EV market share down to what is a comparative low for the Texas-based brand - just 57%.
Being the first month of the financial year, this saw Tesla sales (that is, deliveries) take a dive from 7,018 in total to just 3,934. This was not unexpected - a record 16 ships with Tesla electric cars arrive in June, as Tesla undertook its characteristic end-of-quarter rush.
This saw official sales figures almost halve in the all-electric arena, from 11,042 the prior month. Nevertheless, Tesla held onto #8 spot for year-to date sales in the broader market, having delivered sixfold (29,511 sales) what it sold for the same period in 2022.
Related: EV sales in June 2023
What was Australia’s best-selling electric car in July 2023?
The Tesla Model Y has not only been the best-selling EV but also the best-selling passenger vehicle in the country, previously a title held by the Toyota RAV4. In July however, its place was usurped by the MG ZS, of which 3,852 were sold (just 6% of these were pure electric.)
BYD, a Chinese automaker, also saw a healthy continuation in sales of its Atto 3 electric SUV, albeit a substantial dip compared to June as with Tesla (1005 down from 1532.)
The Atto 3 accounted for almost 15% of all EVs sold in July, claiming #2 spot in the EV leaderboard ahead of the Tesla Model 3 (604 sales.
Interestingly, this is the second consecutive month that the Atto 3 has overtaken Tesla's Model 3, highlighting the growing popularity of electric SUVs in Australia. However, it remains at #3 year-to-date after the Tesla Model 3s strong first year numbers.
Volvo and Polestar sales take off
Volvo, the Swedish brand aiming to sell only EVs in Australia by 2026, has been a quiet achiever. With just two models – the XC40 Pure Recharge and the C40 – Volvo has contributed 2444 to the total electric vehicle sales in Australia this year. The brand is expected to create a new buzz in the premium electric SUV market with upcoming model refreshes and more affordable offerings like the Volvo EX30, which is promising to be a favourite.
Polestar, Volvo's performance brand, is also gaining traction with 1453 sales of its Polestar 2 sedan so far this year. This is partly thanks to its best month to date (306 sales,) which propelled it into the top 5 on the EV sales charts - just behind the Mercedes-Benz EQA which sold a record 464 units for the month tipping it over 1000 for the year to date.
Future outlook
The surge in EV sales is a clear indication that Australians are increasingly looking to make the switch to cleaner, more sustainable modes of transport. With nearly 50,000 new EVs on the road this year, Australia is paving the way for a future with fewer emissions and a reduced carbon footprint.
The Australian EV market is set for an exciting end of year, with more affordable models like the Ora now trickling into the market and highly anticipated hatchbacks like the BYD Dolphin and MG’s MG4 soon to enter the market. These new entries are expected to make the next few months transformative and exciting for those considering making the switch to electric vehicles.
