Description

This episode focuses on the competitive landscape and sales performance of Electric Vehicles (EVs), specifically Tesla and BYD, in the Australian market during 2025, drawing on official sales data (VFACTS).

The Australian new vehicle market saw a significant increase in sales, with the overall market being put "back in the black" for the first time in 2025. This surge was aided by EVs, which reached a record market share of 11.3% of all new vehicle sales in September 2025.

A major milestone occurred in June 2025, when Chinese automaker BYD outsold Tesla in Australia for the first time. In June, BYD recorded 8,156 new vehicle sales, nearly doubling Tesla's volume of 4,589 vehicles, and entered the top 10 marques nationally.

By September 2025, the competition remained fierce:

• Tesla finished ninth across all brands, boosted by the performance of the Tesla Model Y, which achieved third place overall in the ranking of all vehicle models sold, behind only the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger utes. The Model Y had 3,927 sales in September and remains Australia’s top-selling EV.
• BYD continued its remarkable growth, achieving a huge 178.4% year-on-year sales gain and firmly entrenching itself in the top six marques for the second consecutive month. The brand’s charge is currently led by the Sealion 7 mid-size electric SUV.

The sources indicate that Tesla’s once-dominant lead in Australia is "no longer a given," and the battle for EV market leadership is expected to intensify through the second half of 2025.