OZ EV sales growth outpaces the world

Australia has gone from one of the world’s slower EV adopters to one of its fastest-growing markets, according to new analysis from comparison site Savvy.

Comparing EV uptake across 16 countries, Savvy found battery electric vehicles now make up around one in six new vehicle sales in Australia, a more than tenfold increase since 2021. That’s the fastest relative growth of any country in the study, putting Australia ahead of the US, Canada, Japan, Spain and Italy and just behind New Zealand. Norway still leads by a wide margin, with almost every new car sold there now fully electric.

The arrival of lower-cost Chinese EVs from brands including BYD, Geely and Zeekr has been one of the biggest drivers, with BYD overtaking Tesla as Australia’s top-selling EV brand in the first half of 2026. High petrol prices and government policy have also helped, though charging access remains a hurdle for renters and apartment residents. Savvy’s 2026 EV Sentiments Survey found more than half of apartment owners couldn’t install home charging, a potential constraint as EV ownership moves further into the mainstream.

Savvy Managing Director Bill Tsouvalas said demand had surged in recent months.

“Australia’s EV uptake since March has blown everything open,” he said.

He said there would still be a place for petrol and diesel vehicles, particularly in the used market.

The growth adds weight to the findings of NRMA Insurance’s Changing Gears report, which found EV buyers want to know they can find a local repairer.

The full research is available at savvy.com.au

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