BYD News

Holden versus Ford was the rivalry that defined the Australian car industry for decades. Whether it was in the driveways around the country or on the racetrack, like this weekend’s Bathurst 1000, for generations Aussies picked a side - red or blue. But while Ford and General Motors (via Chevrolet) are still competing at Mt Panorama, the fire has well and truly gone out of the contest between the two sides. While Ford remains a popular brand, with Holden gone and General Motors now fragmented into Chevy, Cadillac and GMC, there’s no direct competition. So what is Australia’s new car rivalry? There are several options, but in an ever-shifting new car market it can be tricky to pin down just one specific head-to-head battle. So here are a list of our contenders for the replacement of Holden v Ford - let us know your favourite (or suggest your own) in the comments or join the debate on social media. The Holden v Ford contest was defined by Commodore against Falcon, at least it was for decades. These days the two most popular new vehicles have traditionally been the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger, so it makes sense to pit these two against each other. Ford’s Everest also gives Toyota’s Prado a hard time in the battle for Australian SUV buyers looking for adventure. And the Mustang and GR Supra are now rivals on track, competing against each other in the Supercars. But, the argument against this being the new Aussie grudge match is Ford simply doesn’t have enough competition against the rest of Toyota’s expansive range. Ford sales have fallen off notably in 2026 (down 14 per cent at the end of September), while Toyota remains on top. Even before Holden’s demise, Toyota had emerged as the benchmark in the Australian car industry. Such was its dominance, capturing nearly a quarter of the new car market each year, that it seemed nobody could challenge it for top spot on the sales charts. But in 2026, BYD has emerged as the surprise new contender, not only for a top five spot, but actually the clear number two brand - ahead of Kia, Ford, Mazda and all the rest. BYD sales have more than doubled in ‘26, as its line-up of electric and plug-in hybrid models clearly hits the spot with what Australian buyers are looking for. Perhaps even more so than Toyota’s limited all-electric and conventional hybrid offerings. Toyota remains comfortably ahead, as in nearly double the amount of sales ahead. So it may take a few more years for Toyota to get nervous about losing the sales lead, but it seems like BYD is the most likely challenger for the crown. If we’re looking to the future perhaps this will come to be the defining contest for the hearts and purchases for Australians in years to come. The pair have locked in a battle for the best-selling electric vehicle in recent years, although the American brand looks to comfortably claim that honour this year thanks to the boom in Model Y sales. But as Australians seemingly embrace electrification, these two brands have clearly impressed plenty of buyers with what they are offering. Whether or not they can both become best-selling brands, especially Tesla with its limited line-up, remains to be seen and that will define how far into the Australian psyche this rivalry ingrains itself. While it’s clearly not the same as the Holden v Ford contest of one brand against another, there is very clearly a new divide in Australia between the so-called ‘legacy brands’ and the new order of Chinese car makers. The likes Toyota, Kia, Mazda and Hyundai have been the Aussie favourites since the Holden/Ford dominance faded - and, in fact, the rise of these brands undoubtedly played a role in the downfall of Holden. But in recent years, especially 2026, they have come under pressure. BYD, GWM, Chery and MG have now cemented themselves in the top 10 selling brands, pushing the likes of Mitsubishi, Subaru, Nissan and Volkswagen down the sales charts. As I’ve previously written, Australians are more brand agnostic than ever before and have embraced these new Chinese brands remarkably quickly. But there are clearly still many who prefer to stick to brand names they know and have experience with. This divide, between those that appreciate the establishment and those who are happy to try the new, could very much come to define the next decade of car culture in Australia. What do you think is the new Holden v Ford? Let us know in the comments or join the debate on social media.

The Tesla Model Y is clearly the new Holden Commodore and the BYD Sealion 7 is the new Mazda CX-5. That’s how much things have changed, and it’s also how unscientific this story is - but I’ve included a table that makes me look as if I've based some of this on facts. Yep, the top 10 best-selling cars in Australia in 2026 looks very different to the top 10 from 2016. What were the big sellers back then and what’s replaced them now? Have we progressed onto better cars or was 2016 the peak and it’s all been downhill since? If you were to travel back 10 years in time and show anybody the top 10 best-selling cars for September 2026, even a car journo would look at you and say: "What’s a Geely EX5?". And you’d tell them it's a fully electric mid-sized SUV that came in at No.8 in the list of best sellers for September, 2026. But do not tell them anything else, you’ll risk altering the time line.  If you look at what car placed No.8 in 2016 you’ll find it was the Mitsubishi Triton ute. The Triton has fallen out of today’s top 10 in fact only two of the cars from the 2016 best sellers are still in the 2026 list, some of them like the Holden Commodore don’t exist at all anymore. Check out the table below for a side-by-side comparison of September 2016 v September 2026 In 2016, all of our top 10 cars had internal combustion engines (ICE) and only the Corolla was offered with a hybrid powertrain.  Currently, three of our top 10 cars are fully electric, five are offered in both hybrid and ICE formats, while only two models are only offered with ICE. The Corolla is gone, well it’s still on sale in 2026, but it’s left the top 10. See 2016 was one of the last years when hatchbacks ruled. The Corolla, Mazda3, Hyundai i30 were the three little kings, with the Hyundai Accent thrown in there, too. But they’ve been replaced now by new small rulers. I would even say the Chery Tiggo 4 and Haval Jolion are the new Corolla, i30 and Mazda 3. They are almost exactly the same size, price and target demographic for a Corolla in 2016. Following this gut logic I reckon the Tesla Model Y is the new Commodore. Holden fans won’t like to admit it, but they know I’m right.  The BYD Sealion 7 — that is the new Mazda CX-5. They’ve everywhere and they appeal to people who think they’re a bit better than a RAV4. Who’s now buying the RAV4? That’s a trick question because we all know RAV4 owners go on to buy another RAV4. So the RAV4 is the new RAV4. The EX5 is obviously the new Hyundai Tucson because it's one of the best but under-appreciated cars here. The D-Max is the new Triton. And that’s because the D-Max is no longer the runt of the ute litter, but it's still cheaper than a Ranger. What’s left. Ranger hasn’t changed - the same people are buying it and more of them and the same goes for HiLux. Those folks who would have loved V8 Commodores and Falcons are now in the tough ute group. Basically anyone who’d have a HSV or FPV 10 years ago is in a Ranger Raptor or HiLux GR Sport now. Prado is interesting and I think they are Toyota buyers who don’t want a Kluger and didn’t like their Fortuner but aren’t up for the 300 Series big dog. What do you think? If the Tesla Model Y isn’t the new Commodore then what is?  And were things better in 2016 when everything was ICE? Is our top 10 now looking like a list of best-selling electrical appliances? Are the Ranger and HiLux the last bastions of the best era ever? Or has their time come to move aside because EVs make far more sense? Also as a side note just to reassure you somewhat that not all of this is complete rubbish. Not only was in the same role at CarsGuide in 2016, but I'm pretty sure I also took most of the pictures of these cars from then, too. Stay tuned for my next unscientific round up of what’s what in 2036 when I’ll tell you that the super popular Mooflander Huckster 4 is the new Tesla Model Y.

Chinese brands are having a monster 2026 on the sales charts. BYD further solidified second place in the top-selling brands race, so far bettering Ford, Kia, Mazda and Hyundai. The giant Chinese brand has more than doubled its Australian market share in 2026 compared to 2025. GWM, Chery and MG all now regularly feature in the top 10. Some individual Chinese models have even started to outsell entire legacy brands in Australia. The BYD Sealion 7 electric mid-size SUV was the fifth-best-selling car in September 2026, shifting 2687 units across the month. This represented a more than 42 per cent jump on September 2025, as it continues to be the closest rival to the Tesla Model Y. This means it nearly matched the Mitsubishi brand’s 2769 cars sold across its entire range in September. Overall, Mitsubishi has sold 33,245 cars up to September 2026, in excess of 10,000 more than the BYD Sealion 7’s 19,964 examples sold. Australian Design Rule changes forced the Japanese brand to discontinue sale of several of its strong-selling models. These included the ASX and Eclipse Cross small SUVs, as well as the adventure-pitched Pajero Sport. The old ASX used to be one of the most popular cars in Australia, owing to its less than $30,000 price tag and dependability. Mitsubishi is again beefing up its line-up in Australia. The much-anticipated Pajero 4WD and a fully-electric variant of the new ASX will launch in the coming months. Some of China’s other popular SUVs put up similarly spectacular numbers in September 2026. Chery registered 2059 sales for its Tiggo 4 small SUV, which is more than what Nissan (2028) and Subaru (2009) managed across their line-ups. The GWM Haval Jolion also outsold Subaru in September, with 2018 sales. The Tiggo 4 and Haval Jolion provide variety for buyers between petrol or conventional hybrid set-ups. They are also among some of the cheapest cars in Australia. Petrol grades of the Tiggo 4 ($23,990) and Haval Jolion ($26,990) are both sub-$30,000, drive-away, in Australia. Geely has stormed up the Aussie sales rankings in 2026, and its EX5 electric mid-size SUV ($41,990, before on-road costs) has led the way for the brand. The EX5’s 2008 sales in September 2026 were just shy of Subaru’s total, but above Suzuki (1049) and Volkswagen (1599). VW's figure does not include other brands in the VW group, such as Audi and Skoda, among others that would boost its sales to more than 3000 for September 2026.

BYD is working on a new ute for the Australian market, but the brand isn’t ready to reveal what to expect - yet. BYD New Zealand General Manager Warren Willmot told New Zealand outlet Autotrader in September that the South American focused Mako ute, which is based on Sealion 6 SUV, is not on the agenda for his market. But he indicated there was something else on the horizon built specifically for Australia and New Zealand tastes. “Not for NZ, we declined this,” Wilmot is quoted as saying. “Instead Aus/NZ are working on a more suitable workhorse ute for our market.” It followed comments earlier this year Group Vice President of BYD and General Manager of BYD Asia-Pacific Auto Sales Division Liu Xueliang, who told CarsGuide a specific Australian model was coming. “We have another special model, just for Australian customers,” Liu said via translator, but wouldn’t be drawn on further details. Asked if he would like to shed any light on this development, BYD Australia Chief Operating Officer Stephen Collins wasn’t revealing anything, saying: “ Not particularly.” However, tellingly he did add that it is a matter of timing rather than substance, saying it was “way too early to say” anything about this new ute. So exactly what form this new ‘Australian’ ute takes remains unclear. Another variation of the Shark 6 would seemingly make the most sense, but the reluctance for either Wilmot or Collins to even hint at its form suggests it may be a very different proposition. The company is likely to follow the playbook of Ford and Toyota with the Ranger and HiLux, respectively, and broaden the Shark 6 portfolio to expand its customer base. We’ve already seen that with the addition of the Cab Chassis and Performance variants this year. One often-rumoured option is a more off-road capable version of the Shark 6, which could use the front and rear mechanical differential locks already available on the related Denza B8 to enhance its low-grip performance. Another option believed to be on the table is a combination of the Shark 6 Performance’s powertrain, which is capable of towing 3500kg, and the Cab Chassis (which is currently limited to 2500kg towing). Collins did join his New Zealand colleague in ruling out the Mako as an option for BYD in Australia, making it clear he doesn’t feel there is a big enough market for an SUV-based ute despite the popularity of the likes of the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon utes in the past, as well as the cult following for the Subaru Brumby.  ”It's not left-hand drive, right-hand drive. It's not a technical reason. It's just that we think there's not really a market for it,” he admitted. “And also, one of the key things for us is, every model we bring in really needs to have a role. So if it has a role and there's a market then it ticks a number of boxes. If it doesn't really have a role or there's no market, then that's not going to work. “So I think it's mainly market driven. I think we think the market is extremely different.” This is bad news for anyone who was hoping to re-live the glory days of the Brumby or hoped BYD might come through where Hyundai (Santa Cruz) and Ford (Maverick) haven’t.

BYD may be offering the cheapest car in Australia, but that doesn’t mean it wants people to think it’s a cheap brand. The Chinese automotive giant made headlines with its recently introduced $19,990 drive-away deal for the pint-sized BYD Atto 1 electric car. That not only cut about $7000 out of the price, but also made it the cheapest new car on sale at the time of publication. Typically car makers are reluctant to slash prices dramatically, as that can often have a negative impact on the second-hand value of its models. BYD Australia Chief Operating Officer Stephen Collins is acutely aware of the dangers of dropping prices, but said each more is carefully considered to reduce the impact of resale value to not upset existing owners. “With Atto 1, we’ve said that it's running till the middle of December, that's it,” he said. “I don't see it running beyond that. So I think in the long run, I don't think they'll have an impact on residuals. “We were just talking before, I don't think there's one occasion where we've dropped an RRP (recommended retail price). So residuals are a function of many things, demand and supply, but also what you do at the RRP level. So look, I think we're doing what we can, and I think we're doing an okay job in the residual space. “And you and I both know, for fleets in particular, that's a massive part of their decision-making that is a big contributor to whole of life cost. Can we do more? Yes. We need to keep doing more to protect the residuals and that's at the forefront of our mind.” The challenge for BYD as a brand is that its original distributors, EVDirect, did often change the price or do deals on models to drive sales. Collins was speaking to CarsGuide at the launch of the updated Atto 3 Evo, and its predecessor had several price changes during EVDirect’s tenure. In just 2024 the price moved three times in nine months thanks to a combination of drive-away deals and model updates. Since BYD has taken direct control of the brand, in July 2025, Collins has taken the position of only adjusting the RRP if a new model arrives and requires adjustment. “The only time we've changed RRPs is when there's a model change. Apart from that, we haven't touched an RRP. Now, we have, and like everyone, we have campaigns  and finance deals and whatever, but we haven't touched an RRP.” Collins and his team will know that long-term sales success comes when you have returning customers. Burning your customer base with dramatic and repeated price changes only hurts residual values and leaves owners feeling disappointed. So while BYD is expected to continue offering drive-away deals and other discount offers to drive demand when needed, don’t expect a race to the bottom from the brand as it looks to secure its long-term position in Australia. But that won't stop the brand from introducing new models at highly-competitive prices, such as the new Atto 2 DM-i. It starts at just $24,990 (plus on-road costs), which makes it the most-affordable plug-in hybrid on sale at the time of publication.

BYD has revealed key details following vehicle hacking concerns emerging in an ABC Four Corners investigation. BYD acknowledged someone can gain unauthorised access to the Shark 6 ute’s developer-only software and also control functions like headlights and windscreen wipers. The brand said this access can only be approved by a prompt on the ute’s central touchscreen and tapping into vehicle wiring. It is still investigating whether these issues affect other models in its line-up. BYD will issue a future over-the-air update to fix software issues and continue to assess what other changes are necessary. BYD acknowledged a software bug can enable unapproved apps to bypass internal protections and gain access to the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) used for software developers to work on the car.  BYD said someone must manually approve the access via a prompt on the car’s central touchscreen for internal protection to be bypassed. The brand said cybersecurity expert Dan Hreszczuk in the Four Corners report exploited a software defect to enable the ADB and then install a third-party app. BYD has announced it will remove the software pathway that could approve access through the Shark 6's central touchscreen. It will roll out this fix in a future over-the-air (OTA) update, following a validation process. BYD said someone must tap into vehicle wiring responsible for the Control Area Network (CAN) bus to gain external access to the Shark 6’s headlights and windscreen wipers. As a result, BYD will implement new security measures, including device authentication and physical isolation to increase cybersecurity safeguards. It will conduct a risk assessment to evaluate the necessity of additional measures to prevent unapproved access to the vehicle's CAN. In a September 2026 ABC Four Corners report, Hreszczuk said he gained remote access to various functions on the BYD Shark 6, including operating the wipers and headlights. Hreszczuk said by unpicking the software programs controlling different functions on the ute, he could blast music over the speakers and remotely switch the car’s lights on and off. “It’s a little bit scary how open … the BYD Shark is to a hacker,” Hreszczuk told the ABC.

BYD has made some of its favourite models even more affordable in Australia. The Chinese brand is offering a $4000 cashback deal on many of its models including the Sealion 7 electric mid-size SUV and the Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute. The offer runs until December 21, 2026, and must be delivered by December 31, 2026. The very popular Sealion 7 is a size up on its smaller PHEV siblings, with its starting price reduced from $54,990 to $50,990 considering the cashback offer. It’s also the only EV eligible for BYD’s cashback offer. The Sealion 7 has become one of the best-selling electric cars in Australia, competing with the Tesla Model Y. The cashback offer means the Sealion 7 undercuts the Tesla Model Y's $58,900 starting price even more. The Sealion 5 PHEV mid-sizer starts from $33,990, but with $4000 cashback, that brings before on-road costs pricing down to $29,990. The top-grade Premium grade of the Sealion 5 with the $4000 cashback offer starts from $33,990 (before on-road costs). The Sealion 5 uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine and electric motor set-up, producing 156kW and 300Nm. The marginally bigger Sealion 6 is usually priced from $42,990. Taking into account the $4000 cashback, the price drops to $38,990, excluding on-road costs. It also employs a 1.5-litre petrol engine and electric motor, making 160kW and 300Nm, with more powerful models adding a turbo to boost performance to as much as 253kW and 550Nm. BYD Sealion 8 is the Chinese brand’s three-row SUV, and has a starting price of $56,990, but with $4000 cashback, that drops to $52,990 (before on-road costs). The Sealion 8's 1.5-litre engine and electric motor set-up, produces 359kW/675Nm. The cab-chassis Dynamic variant of the Shark 6 is only $51,990, before on-road costs, when including the $4000 cashback. Premium and Performance grades of the Shark 6 are also eligible for the deal, starting including the cashback offer from $53,900 and $62,900, respectively. This will give the Shark 6 a competitive edge against the incoming Chery Stockman diesel plug-in hybrid that's expected to be priced closely to BYD's ute. The BYD Seal 6 Touring launched in Australia as a wagon variant of the Seal 6 PHEV, usually starting from $39,990 - a $5000 increase on the sedan variant ($34,990). The Touring variant now starts from $35,990, which is only $1000 more than the Seal 6 sedan's original starting price. The cashback offer also applies to the standard Seal 6 sedan, available from $30,990 (before on-road costs). The Touring variant uses a more powerful 1.5-litre engine and electric motor set-up compared to the sedan variant, making up to 163kW and 260Nm.  

Hybrid power is now mainstream for Aussie buyers.   It's an important choice for buyers transitioning from petrol- and diesel-powered cars to full EVs. Hybrid-powered cars are also important for brands as they seeks alternatives to internal combustion cars that incur fines under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES). There are broad categories of hybrid cars in Australia, and each one has its own benefits for buyers. Here's a look at what hybrids are available, and which one might suit you best. Mild hybrid power is the first stage of electrification for cars. Mild hybrid cars can't drive on EV power alone, because they only use a small, low-voltage battery (usually) 48-volt, with a less than 1kWh capacity. The electric motor usual powers certain electrical features and the starter motor. They don't need to be charged, but they also don't offer noticeably better fuel efficiency than standard petrol- and diesel-powered cars. The popular Toyota HiLux ute is available with a 48-volt mild hybrid system, while Suzuki and Renault offer mild hybrid set-ups on some of their models. Conventional hybrid, plug-less hybrid or self-charging hybrid cars are popular in Australia. The engine works seamlessly with a bigger electric motor to maximise fuel efficiency. A conventional hybrid usually runs on electric-only power at low speeds or for short distances when cruising at higher speeds. The engine will kick in at higher speeds or when more power is needed, blending petrol and electric power. This makes fuels efficiency in urban environments or star-stop traffic better than what a petrol- or diesel-powered car would achieve. The battery in a conventional hybrid is charged by the engine and from regenerative braking, meaning the car doesn't need to be plugged in. The conventional hybrid car's battery is smaller than those in plug-in hybrid and fully-electric cars, and still requires a petrol engine to run. Toyota provides conventional hybrid set-ups on the vast majority of its Australian line-up, including its RAV4 SUV and Camry sedan. Other popular brands Kia, Hyundai and others also have affordable conventional hybrid variants on its popular models. Plug-in hybrids or PHEVs take hybrid power to the next level because they are equipped with a much larger battery and a more powerful electric motor set-up. PHEVs have a long electric-only driving range, with some capable of exceeding 200km, before the engine is needed to drive the wheels. Most new PHEVs have an EV range of at least 100km. This means daily commuters will rarely have to fill-up on fuel if they charge the battery every night. PHEVs also boast significant combined driving range as they have a regular sized fuel tank to power the engine, resulting in ranges of north of 1000km before the fuel tank and battery are depleted. Carmakers often claim PHEVs drink less than 2.0L/100km of fuel, but that requires owners to constantly charge their batteries and never let it deplete. Once the battery is depleted fuel use will skyrocket, as the small engine has to move around a heavy vehicle weighed down by the battery and electric motors. PHEVs suit a buyer with access to charging facilities, who also want outstanding fuel efficiency. Bigger Chinese vehicles usually employ PHEV set-ups, including the BYD Shark 6 ute and incoming Zeekr 8X and 9X. Range-extender hybrids, also known as Range Extender Electric Vehicle (REEV) or Extended-Range Electric vehicle (EREV), are gaining popularity globally. They are feature similar hardware to PHEVs, but work in a different way. The engine in a REEV's is used as a generator for charging the battery, and the wheels are driven by the electric motor, or motors, only. REEV's have an EV-sized battery that can also be plugged in to charge, giving these cars a driving range comfortably exceeding 1000km. Leapmotor's B10 and C10 SUVs use REEV set-ups in Australia, but the incoming Forthing Taikon 5 and the XPeng L03 will also employ the set-up when they hit showrooms. Nissan’s ‘e-Power’ hybrid system in the X-Trail and Qashqai SUVs employ REEV tech on a smaller scale, using the engine to power a small battery that powers the wheels, but this battery cannot be plugged in to charge.

If you’re an EV buyer in 2026, you need to know about this.  The Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) has revealed the state of play for electric and plug-in hybrid cars in Australia in 2026.  This is the 10th year of the ‘State of EVs’ report as more buyers bought EVs than ever before Down Under.  The report analysed the 2025-26 financial year, and how buyer trends and infrastructure, among other things, have changed in that time.  It called for several policy reforms, including targeted equity-based policy to assist economically-disadvantaged Aussies reap the benefits of EV driving. Australia’s charging landscape is diverse, it is also complex and fragmented and needs major investment, according to the report.  In June 2026, there were 4268 public charging locations, which is 235 per cent more than June 2025 There were 11,602 public charge points in June 2026, up 175 per cent compared to June 2025 The EVC said there needs to be more research into how owners charge EVs and where they need them most.  “Australia still needs substantial public charging investment, but the task is not as simple as just installing more fast chargers,” the report reads.   “Most charging happens where vehicles already park—at homes, apartment buildings, workplaces, destinations, kerbsides and depots.” The report calls for a nationally-coordinated charging roadmap and scaled infrastructure deployment. This news comes after NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury told CarsGuide in December 2025 Australia’s charging infrastructure was lagging behind.  “We’re nowhere near. We’ve got nowhere near enough public charging,” NRMA spokesperson Khoury said.  “There are lots of areas that don’t have energy that comes from outside the energy grid so you’ve got to create energy sources at those locations.” The EVC is calling for the government to implement a range of new rules in Australia.  It wants a targeted equity-based policy to help all Australians use EVs and take advantage of the cost savings with EV adoption. The report states that EVs have lower running costs than petrol- and diesel-powered cars, with less maintenance, seeing a typical driver saving roughly $3000 per year.  The EVC said this figure did not include the substantial increases to fuel prices in 2026, with savings calculated today even higher.  It said the federal government needs to implement an updated New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) for cars sold beyond 2029 to align with 2035 emissions reduction targets.  NVES is a set of emissions rules that imposes fines on cars sold that emit high levels of CO2 into the atmosphere.  Developing a car takes a brand several years to complete, meaning carmakers need to know the rules these models will need to follow. It also said there should be a national road-user charge that does not deter EV uptake. This would differ from the current system proposed by the New South Wales government from 2027 that the EVC said would slow EV sales. The New South Wales government wants a road user charge to make up for lost fuel excise revenue and ensure all road users contribute to maintenance.  The EVC found a fully-electric or PHEV car was bought every 100 seconds on average in the first half of 2026, with one in four new car sales using an electric powertrain. The report reads cost-of-living pressures, soaring fuel prices and greater EV choice has contributed to a sharp increase in electric car uptake in 2026.  Fully-electric and PHEV sales accounted for 25.8 per cent of new car sales up to June 2026, increasing from 12.1 per cent up to June 2025 There are 196 combined full EV and PHEV models on sale, compared to 153 models in 2025 There were 157,957 electric and PHEV sales in H1 2026, up 177 per cent from H1 2025 Australia’s EV uptake is now in line with the global average, according to the International Energy Agency “So, at a time when fuel prices are fluctuating and cost-of-living continues to bite, it’s no surprise that EVs have become a popular choice,” the report states.  “As of June 2026, drivers have never had a greater choice of EVs in Australia.” Australia recently got its new cheapest electric car in the BYD Atto 1 that is being offered from $19,990 (drive-away) until December, 15 2026.

BYD's new affordable SUV has fallen short of a five-star safety score in Australia. The BYD Sealion 5 plug-in hybrid SUV failed to achieve the maximum star rating under the Australiasian New Car Assessment Program's (ANCAP) protocols. ANCAP only awarded the Sealion 5 three stars, making it the first BYD model not to reach the five-star standard from the safety watchdog in Australia.  ANCAP Chief Executive Officer Carla Hoorweg said BYD has been proactive in bringing models forward for ANCAP testing, but opted not to with the Sealion 5.  “However, the Sealion 5 was a model the brand hadn’t actively pursued for testing, and was subsequently selected by ANCAP to ensure consumers have a clear picture of its safety performance," Hoorweg said. The Sealion 5 hit Aussie showrooms at the start of 2026 as a smaller and more affordable alternative to the Sealion 6 to rival the Toyota RAV4.  ANCAP described the Sealion 5’s crash protection as “respectable”. It achieved a 79 per cent Crash Protection rating, but ANCAP noted increased risk for the driver’s chest and lower legs, as well as the front passenger’s neck.  New ‘Virtual’ and ‘Sled’ predictive digital tests indicated reduced protection for larger occupants and at higher test severity.  The watchdog said the Sealion 5’s inability to detect the stature of occupants in the front seats as well as phone use or intervention for an unresponsive driver marked it down.  It also said central touchscreen control of the headlights and the climate control fan “did not meet its requirements.”  The Sealion 5’s speed sign recognition software “was not sufficiently accurate to earn full points”, and emergency lane keep assist did not intervene in road-edge scenarios. ANCAP stated the Sealion 5 does not have low-speed pedal-misapplication, which suppresses the engine when the accelerator is accidentally pressed with a pedestrian ahead.  The Sealion 5 launched in Australia this year, but it was already on sale overseas for several years and was designed to meet that standard. A spokesperson for BYD Australia said the brand would not make any retrospective safety updates to the Sealion 5. "ANCAP introduced an updated testing regime in 2026, with a strengthened assessment criteria compared to the 2023-2025 protocols, which were applicable to the Sealion 5 at the time of its global introduction," they said. "The current score reflects this new standard, not any change in BYD's commitment to safety." The Sealion 5 is one of the first vehicles to be tested under ANCAP's updated protocols, after ANCAP confirmed to CarsGuide in May 2026 the first vehicles rated under the new criteria were expected later in 2026. Toyota got caught out earlier this year by the changing standards after its new RAV4 was delayed from the initial 2025 launch. It wasn't crash tested this year, but it promised to update the vehicle to the 2026 standards and the vehicle will be tested once the changes were implemented. BYD’s incoming M9 plug-in hybrid people mover received a five-star rating from ANCAP, as the new Kia Carnival rival prepares to hit showrooms in late 2026.  The M9's driver monitoring system headlined the M9's 75 per cent Safe Driving rating, performing well in detecting common forms of distraction.  The people mover’s adaptive cruise control also performed well in detecting and responding to other vehicles and road users.  ANCAP said the M9’s post-crash features and capability “are of a high standard”, which is why it received a 100 per cent score for that category.