EVs outsell petrol cars in August 2026

Electric vehicles have surpassed petrol and diesel cars in new vehicle sales for the first time in Australia, marking a significant shift in the automotive market. In August 2026, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) captured a record 24.9 percent of the Australian new car market, with 27,089 units sold. This figure exceeded sales of petrol vehicles, which totaled 25,824, and diesel vehicles, which reached 23,608. This milestone represents the third consecutive month where BEVs held more than a 20 percent market share, surpassing the previous record of 23.5 percent set in June. The surge in electric vehicle popularity is attributed to several factors, including increasing petrol and diesel prices, and a growing number of EV models reaching cost parity with their internal combustion engine counterparts. When combined with plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs), which accounted for 10.5 percent of August sales, and conventional hybrids at 18.5 percent, electrified vehicles collectively represented nearly 54 percent of the new car market. This indicates a broader trend towards electrified powertrains, with combustion-only cars falling into the minority for the first time.