Tesla tops Australia’s new EV sales

An EV sales boom presents a chance to capture serious electric benefits, if the Australian federal government acts now, Electric Vehicle Council chief executive Behyad Jafari says.

The EVC has released exclusive 2021 sales figures – which for the first time officially include Tesla-endorsed sales – that show Australia at the precipice of an EV economic boom – if the federal government plays its cards right this year, the council adds.

Sales of plug-in electric vehicles more than tripled in the past year from 6900 in 2020 to 20,665 in 2021.

EVs now account for 1.95% market share of new vehicles, up from 0.78% in 2020.

This year, for the first time, the EVC can officially break down the numbers by model, inclusive of all companies.

Top 10 BEV & PHEV models

1 Tesla Model 3 12,094

2 MG ZS 1388

3 Mitsubishi Outlander 592

4 MG HS 580

5 Porsche Taycan 531

6 Hyundai Kona 505

7 Volvo XC40 495

8 Hyundai Ioniq 407

9 Nissan Leaf 367

10 Mercedes-Benz EQA 367

The boost in sales is being driven by positive policy change at a state level and that momentum can now be built upon, Jafari says.

“The penny has now well and truly dropped on how good electric vehicles are,” he explains.

“Most people in the car market will now be considering an electric option. The role of government is to help them make the jump.”

Jafari says that governments encouraging people into EVs will capture myriad societal benefits – cleaner air, reduced respiratory illness, smaller carbon footprint, quieter roads.

“Those that lag will make themselves a dumping ground for old tech, dirty vehicles,” he adds.

“It’s great that some state governments have received the global message, but at a national level we’re stuck in the past.

“We desperately need the federal government to introduce Australian EV rebates alongside fuel efficiency standards, just like other developed nations. If we get these changes, you’ll see sales figures really rocket ahead.”

Jafari believes that Australia, as a wealthy, car-loving, early adapting nation, should be an EV leader. “If we were, we could restart a thriving manufacturing industry supporting thousands of quality jobs,” he explains. “But we need to build rapidly on this current momentum.

“After so many wasted years, Australia’s a long way back from the pack, but then again the cool thing about electric cars is how quickly they move from zero to a hundred.”