How Australia's electric car sales compare with rest of the world, as 2026 Tesla Model Y, Zeekr 7X and Geely EX5 sales skyrocket

To be honest I didn’t think this would happen so fast but it really does appear the end is nigh for the internal combustion engine in Australia, because for the first time sales of electric cars have overtaken petrol ones. 

So how does Australia compare for EVs sales compared to the rest of the world? Australia is punching well above its weight. 

Australia is ranked high when it comes to EV sales compared to the world, but wait until you see how high.

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In comparison the total sales of petrol cars in August, including light commercial vehicles, came to 25,824.

Sales of EVs in France reached a record 38 per cent of the market or 36,159 electric cars. Quick reminder: Australia for the same month has 24.9 per cent and 27,089 electric cars.

Let me also tell you that France is placed fourth in the world rankings for August EV sales.

Of course this is nothing compared to China’s EV sales, which were approximately one million for August.

Yes, China sold the same number of electric cars in August as the almost the combined sales of petrol, diesel, EV, and hybrids in Australia in any given year.

With China in the No.1 place; in second place for August is Germany with 68,930 sales; then in third is the United States with about 65,000; then France with its 36,159; followed by the United Kingdom with 27,876; and then in sixth place is Australia with 27,089.

We just missed out on being in the top 5 for August EV sales.

This places Australia in seventh place globally for the year so far, behind China in first place with approximately 6.06 million sales; then in second place is the US with about 500,000 sales; then Germany in third with 446,615; the UK is in fourth with 327,683; then France with 322,097; and then South Korea with 272,000.

2026 global EV sales leaderboard 

So while monthly sales of EVs are beginning to overtake petrol car sales, we won't see the electric car sales total for the year eclipse those of petrol in 2026.

But as we have seen by the monthly figures EV sales are at a high level and staying high. The NRMA said by 2040 10 per cent of registered vehicles will be EVs, and modelling by the CSIRO predicts by 2050 97 per cent of all light passenger cars will be battery electric vehicles.

The BYD Sealion 7 electric SUV with 2213 sales is the fifth best-selling car in Australia, while the Zeekr 7X is in ninth place with 1748 sales.