Tesla’s Model Y was Australia’s best-selling new vehicle in August 2026 once Electric Vehicle Council data was combined with VFACTS figures, pushing the electric SUV ahead of the Toyota RAV4.

Across VFACTS and EVC reporting, 108,760 new vehicles were recorded for August.
That total includes 100,939 vehicles reported through VFACTS, plus 7685 Tesla sales and 136 Polestar sales reported by the EVC.

On the same combined basis, year-to-date sales reached 850,401 vehicles, compared with 833,701 at the same point in 2025.

The result extends the momentum seen in June new-car sales, when Chinese brands and EVs also played a larger role in the market.

Toyota remained Australia’s top-selling brand in August with 19,712 sales, followed by BYD on 8231 and Tesla on 7685.

Tesla’s August result was up from 3156 vehicles in August 2025, while its year-to-date sales reached 37,532, compared with 19,622 at the same point last year.

Polestar recorded 136 sales in August, down from 229 in August 2025, with year-to-date sales at 1481, down from 1632.

Four China-headquartered brands ranked inside the combined top 10 in August: BYD, GWM, MG and Geely.

Chery placed just outside the top 10 with 4238 sales.

China was also Australia’s largest source country for new vehicles in August, with 43,891 vehicles recorded from China.

That compared with 24,892 vehicles from Japan, 15,658 from Thailand and 11,060 from Korea.

Chinese brands BYD, GWM, MG, Geely and Chery recorded 26,610 sales between them, equal to 24.5 per cent of the combined August market.

Toyota RAV4 sales remained strong at 5470 units, though the Model Y’s 6414 deliveries made it the clear model leader for the month.

A Toyota spokesperson said approximately 30 per cent of RAV4 sales in August were plug-in hybrid variants.

Battery-electric vehicle sales reached 27,078 in August including Tesla and Polestar EVC figures.

That represented 24.9 per cent of the combined VFACTS and EVC August market, making it the highest monthly BEV total recorded in Australia.

The combined BEV result was up about 171 per cent compared with August 2025.

Within the VFACTS fuel-type breakdown, plug-in hybrids accounted for 10.5 per cent of reported sales, while conventional hybrids represented 18.5 per cent.

SUVs remained the dominant vehicle type, with 66,269 sales in August, up 9.5 per cent year-on-year.

Light-commercial vehicle sales fell 22.1 per cent to 18,081, while passenger car sales rose 2.9 per cent to 13,592.

Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries Chief Executive Tony Weber said the August results showed the market was undergoing a significant structural shift.

“The sustained level of BEV sales, together with changing brand preferences, shows how quickly consumer choice and competition are reshaping Australia’s new-vehicle market,” Mr Weber said.

“These changes continue to reinforce the need for infrastructure settings that keep pace with the market.
Accessible and dependable charging will remain critical to consumer confidence, particularly on highways, in rural and regional areas and for motorists without access to charging at home.”

The August figures show Australia’s new-car market remains broadly steady overall, but the mix of brands, powertrains and source countries continues to change quickly.