Car sales March 2026: EV sales nearly double amid high fuel prices, battery electric vehicles more than one in every seven sales

Predications that surging fuel prices would drive more Australians towards electric vehicles were proven correct in March 2026, with new data showing a sharp spike in EV sales.

New data released today by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) reveal sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) were up a whopping 88.9 per cent year-on-year, with 15,839 leaving showrooms in March 2026 compared to 8385 the year prior.

This EV growth comes amidst a slight overall downturn in the market, with 108,703 new cars finding homes in March (down 2.6 per cent). This total comprises 105,058 reported sales from the FCAI (down 3.3 per cent) and 3645 provided by EVC (up 2.6 per cent), which handles reporting of electric-only brands Tesla and Polestar.

Capitalising on frustration at the bowser, Chinese electric vehicle (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) specialist BYD also entered the top three brands overall.

Let’s take a closer look at what has been a chaotic swing in new-car buyer sentiment in Australia. 

Top-selling car models in Australia in March 2026

Unshaken by rocketing diesel prices, the Ford Ranger takes the top spot as Australia’s best-seller for a third time in as many months in 2026. Sales totalled 4452 across its variants in March, down 9.7 per cent compared with last March.

Trailing it in second place is the Toyota HiLux, which is yet to top the sales charts in 2026. Toyota moved 4167 HiLux units in March, up 2.1 per cent. Unusually, the HiLux marks the only entrant from Toyota in the top 10.

The Tesla Model Y placed third overall in March, with its result perhaps the most significant statement of changing buyer sentiment among fuel insecurity. Up a whopping 63.4 per cent on March 2025, 2818 units of the electric SUV were snatched up.

Taking a surprise fourth, 2438 Nissan X-Trail SUVs left dealerships in March (up 25.3 per cent), perhaps affirming the brand’s local arm’s decision to slim-down its line-up.

The remainder of the top 10 is firmly in SUV territory, with the Mitsubishi Outlander and Hyundai Kona taking fifth and sixth place, with 2318 and 2316 sales respectively (down 22.3 and up 15.2 per cent).

Despite the Model Y’s enormous year-on-year growth, the title of biggest-growing top 10 model goes to the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro, which places seventh with 2258 sales and up 80.4 per cent, proving the model’s rise into the top 10 earlier this year was not a one-off.

Isuzu’s D-Max is the only other ute to appear in the top 10, nabbing eighth with 2167 sales (up 3.8 per cent), while the Hyundai Tucson and Haval Jolion close out the top 10 with 2042 and 2013 sales, up 11.5 and 28.4 per cent respectively. 

Top 10 best-sellers March 2026

Sales by segment: the most popular types of cars in Australia in March 2026

A quick glance at the section above leaves no surprise that SUVs reigned as the most popular segment type for new vehicle purchases in March: SUV body styles made up 63.1 per cent of new-car sales, up 2.6 per cent, with 66,329 sold.

Only 21,990 light commercial vehicles (including the best-selling Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux) moved, representing a 20.9 per cent market share and down 1.7 per cent on last March.

The passenger segment (comprising hatches, sedans and wagons) fell -0.5 per cent, totalling 13,101 sold and now taking a 12.5 per cent slice of overall sales.

Best-selling SUVs and utes in March 2026

In the light SUV segment, Mazda’s CX-3 claimed gold with 1161 sold (down 4.8 per cent), followed by the Suzuki Jimny (751 sold, down 12.0 per cent) and the Toyota Yaris Cross (723 sold, down 18.5 per cent).

Moving to the small SUV segment, the Hyundai Kona stands atop the podium, moving 2316 in March with 15.2 per cent growth. The Chery Tiggo 4 Pro takes a close second place with 2258 (up 80.4 per cent), leading the GWM Haval Jolion in third with 2013 sold (up 28.3 per cent).

Moving to the medium SUV class, top 10 overall entrants the Tesla Model Y, Nissan X-Trail and Mitsubishi Outlander take the top three spots, posting sales of 2818 (up 63.4 per cent), 2438 (up 25.3 per cent) and 2318 (down 22.9 per cent) respectively.

In the large SUV segment, the Toyota Prado just edges the Ford Everest with 1850 sales versus 1805, representing declines of 35.6 and 14.0 per cent respectively. Third place goes to the Isuzu MU-X with 1358 units sold, down 4.4 per cent.

In the dual-cab ute space, the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux and Isuzu D-Max nab first through third. The Ranger tops with 4452 sold (down 9.7 per cent), the HiLux posted 4167 sales (up 2.1 per cent) while 2167 D-Maxs moved (up 3.8 per cent). 

Which car brands performed best in Australia in March 2026?

Despite having just one model in the top 10, Toyota yet again takes the top spot for brands in March 2026 with 16,574 cars sold (down 19.3 per cent).

Second place is taken by Kia with 7320 sold (up 0.2 per cent), while Chinese EV and PHEV specialist BYD takes bronze with 7217 and an impressive 50.0 per cent growth.

Mazda, Ford, Hyundai, GWM, Mitsubishi, MG and Chery close out the top 10 – the latter with huge upside of 84.1 per cent. 

EV and hybrid car sales in Australia in March 2026

The real talking point of Australian new-car sales in March 2026 has been Australians’ willingness to transition to electric vehicles amid high fuel prices and lack of security for oil. 

BEV sales were up 88.9 per cent in March (from 8385 to 15,839), but the story doesn’t end there. Sales of PHEV models all climbed from 6932 to 8215 (up 15.7 per cent), while already-historically-popular hybrid models grew from 16,830 to 17,953 up 6.3 per cent.

What’s important to remember here is this growth comes among an overall market downturn, with a total of 42,007 electrified vehicles sold in March now representing a market shake of 38.6 per cent.

BYD was the big winner in March, claiming third overall for brands with 7217 vehicles sold (up 50.0 per cent), helped by its Sealion 7 (1970 sold), Shark 6 ute (1314 sold), Sealion 8 (836 sold), Atto 2 (572 sold), Sealion 6 (489 sold), Atto 3 (466 sold), Sealion 5 (372 sold), Seal (337 sold).

Tesla moved the needle the right way in March, up 23.2 per cent with 3485 sold. Its wildly popular Model Y was responsible for 2818 of the sales, with its Model 3 lagging at just 667.

Geely posted strong numbers at the one-year anniversary of its arrival to Australia, with 1208 vehicles sold. Zeekr and Jaecoo moved 709 and 1010 respectively.

Despite rising fuel costs, Polestar recorded a weak March, with sales falling 12.1 per cent to just 160 units.