Tesla News

If you haven’t bought an EV yet, how much more convincing do you need given what’s happening in the world right now?The fuel crisis has shown us just how ridiculous our traditional energy choices are and the urgent need to switch to electricity to power our cars.The choice to get an electric car used to be about them being better for our environment with zero tailpipe emissions reducing pollution in cities. And while that should absolutely be the core reason for the choice to buy an EV, the war in Iran has exposed another very real and urgent need to go electric - fuel security.Australia sources 90 per cent of its refined fuel from overseas, specifically from South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia. These countries get most of their crude oil from the Middle East and nearly all passes through the now infamous Strait of Hormuz, which as you know has been used by Iran as its one and only, but hugely powerful bargaining chip. Like a tap, Iran can turn nearly all of Australia’s petrol and diesel supply on and off.The situation is going to get worse. See, even if the Strait of Hormuz returns to normal operation again, because the ships carrying the oil move so slowly (30km/h max) and with there already being a hold up of more than a month, plus the backlog of waiting tankers, we’re going to experience a shortage unlike anything we’ve seen since the 1970s, or possibly ever.Again this will be temporary and the situation will right itself again… eventually. But it's a warning, to change our ways.In the meantime you need to commute to work, drop the kids at school, drive to doctors appointments — in other words, live your life normally. And freight needs to move around Australia normally. Food needs to get from the producers to storage, and from there to supermarkets. I’m putting it very simply here, but you know where this is heading.All of this will stop without petrol and diesel. Australia will be brought to its knees in a matter of months. The Australian government knows this and you’ll likely see another address by the Prime Minister announcing a move to Level 3 in its plan to manage fuel use. Level 3 in the government's plan is for targeted action and will focus on ensuring essential services have the fuel it needs while asking the public to limit its usage to preserve what’s left.If only there were cars that didn’t need petrol or diesel. Oh yeah… there’s hundreds of them. Well, there’s 110 different electric models to choose from and that number is growing every month, and so are the sales.March, 2026 saw the highest number of EVs sold in a month ever, with 15,839 finding a new home. That’s almost double the number sold in the same month the year before. The total number of petrol cars and SUVs for March this year totalled 34,694, down 20 per cent on March 2025.The argument that there isn’t a type of EV that suits your needs or lifestyle is becoming redundant. Looking for a small hatchback as an alternative to a Suzuki Swift or Toyota Yaris? There’s the BYD Atto 1. Oh, but you don’t get Atto 1 for the price of the Swift or Yaris. That’s right, Atto 1 costs less than the Swift and Yaris, and by thousands of dollars.Small SUVs instead of a Kia Seltos or Honda HR-V there’s the MG S5, BYD Atto 2, Hyundai Kona Electric. The Toyota RAV 4, Subaru Forester, Nissan X-Trail and Mitsubishi Outlander have long been the rulers of the mid-sized SUV world and while all offer hybrid powertrains, all still need petrol. There’s fully electric SUV choices galore. There’s BYD’s Atto 3 and Sealion 7, the Geely EX5, Leapmotor C10, Deepal S07 and the Skoda Elroq.Large electric SUV? There’s Kia EV9, Hyundai Ioniq 9, Deepal E07 and Polestar 3, with more models coming in the next 12 months.The choice for fully electric off-road vehicles, both utes and large SUVs, is limited currently, but they’re coming. Toyota’s electric Hilux ute arrives mid-2026 and will join a growing list of others including the LDV eTerron 9 and MG U9 EV.The numbers of new EVs coming to Australia especially from China will continue to grow, and the conflict in the Middle East and the fuel shortage will fast track the uptake of these vehicles. Is the infrastructure currently in place to cope with a huge uptake of EVs? Absolutely not. But if I’ve learnt anything about humans during my time on the planet we only do things if we have to and private enterprise is champing at the bit to take the lead here and install chargers on anything that doesn't move. Is the grid capable of handling the load? You ask a lot of questions. But that’s a good one. I’m no electrical grid expert but I can tell you charging a car at my place is the equivalent of running two air-conditioners all night. And going by the power outages caused by cooling homes over summer, then the answer is no. But the grid can be upgraded to be more robust — because it’ll have to be and can be. So that’s my rant done. If you live in the city and you drive less than 50km a day an EV is a must. Burning petrol or diesel to sit in traffic makes as much sense as a petrol-powered toaster.

Recent reports out of the US are pointing to an all-new, more affordable Tesla compact SUV entering the early stages of formal pre-production.According to Reuters, “four people familiar with the matter” have confirmed the company “has contacted suppliers in recent weeks to discuss details of the plan for the compact SUV – which would be a new vehicle and not a variant of Tesla’s current Model 3 or ​Y.”Members of the insider group said the new model would be produced in Tesla’s Shanghai factory in China while noting the brand is also aiming to later expand ‌production to the United States and Europe.Details including overall length were also shared, the new car said to measure 4280mm end-to-end; appreciably shorter than the Model Y at 4794mm. It is a similar size to new Chinese small SUVs such as the BYD Atto 2, GWM Ora 5 and MG4 Urban.The report questioned whether this decision effectively reanimates Tesla’s low-cost EV program, famously vetoed by CEO Elon Musk in 2024 in favour of a focus on the Cybercab robotaxi and robot technology.In 2020, Elon Musk publicly stated Tesla’s aim of selling 20 million vehicles annually by the end of the decade, close to double current global sales leader Toyota’s world-wide output. And a US$25,000 EV widely referred to as the ‘Model 2’ was expected to drive massive sales growth.So, would the new, cheaper EV represent a “strategy shift back to mass-market human-driven EVs or would it align more with Tesla’s vision for fully autonomous vehicles”.It’s worth noting that in 2024 Musk said it would be “pointless” and “completely at odds with ​what we believe” for Tesla to produce a $25,000 EV for human drivers because the company would “soon offer driverless vehicles”.According to one of the report’s sources and a current Tesla employee “with knowledge of its current product philosophy” in general, the automaker now aims to build models that would be driverless but offer a human-driven option.That appears to be because the company has acknowledged many global markets won’t see “meaningful adoption or regulatory acceptance” of driverless vehicles for some time to come. Interestingly, the report also quoted market analysts predicting a third-straight year of declining sales for the traditional EVs that provide the vast majority of Tesla’s revenue.And so far, Tesla only operates a small number of robotaxis in Austin, Texas, many with human ‘safety monitors’ in the passenger seat.The main group referenced in the report claimed Tesla is aiming to offer the new SUV at a “substantially lower price” than its entry-level Model 3 sedan, a move driven by intensifying global competition from Chinese EV makers.Cost-saving measures allegedly include a smaller battery and RWD-only configuration, which would presumably mean a lesser driving range than the 520km offered by the Model 3 RWD and the Model Y RWD’s 466km (both WLTP).That said, the new car is set to weigh in at around 1.5 tonnes compared to the Model Y’s roughly 2.0-tonne kerb weight.Timing for the new EV’s ramp up is unclear, although Reuters sources said “production is unlikely to begin this year”.

Have high fuel prices saved Tesla?The American electric brand has been in a sales decline in recent times, with a nearly 25 per cent drop in 2025 despite electric vehicle sales remaining steady overall. But the latest sales data, which includes March when petrol prices spiked, shows a major improvement for Tesla.The Model Y, which recorded only a 4.6 per cent sales increase in ‘25 despite the arrival of a major update, was the third best-selling vehicle in March. It finished behind only the ever-popular Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux, making it not only the best-selling EV (almost doubling the next best BYD Sealion 7's sales) but the best-selling passenger vehicle.A total of 2818 Model Y buyers were found in March, a massive 63.4 per cent increase on March ‘25 and nearly double what the brand had averaged in the first two months of ‘26.The rise in fuel costs has seen a massive spike in EV interest over the past month. Searches on CarsGuide for EVs rose 230 per cent since petrol prices spiked, while Autotrader is reporting a 631 per cent jump in people searching for a new EV to buy.Tesla was clearly one of the best-placed brands to cash in on this sudden surge in interest. Despite a rocky time in recent years, the brand is still synonymous with EVs and would likely be on the consideration list for anyone looking to move away from an internal combustion engine vehicle for the first time.The challenge for Tesla remains the same — maintaining interest in what is a relatively static line-up. The brand introduced a six-seat variant of the Model Y, and that may have also contributed to the renewed interest in the SUV, but it is otherwise unchanged since its 2025 facelift.The Model 3 mid-size sedan didn’t enjoy a sales boost like its stablemate, with only 667 sales in March, a 33 per cent decline on the same period last year. So clearly the interest remains, unsurprisingly with the SUV variant.It should also be noted Tesla sales have historically varied month-to-month due to delivery schedules, with orders carrying over from previous months as new owners await the arrival of their new car from the Chinese factories.Tesla will clearly be hoping this renewed interest in EVs remains high when the conflict in the Middle East has stopped and oil prices potentially drop. Economists have warned that even a sudden stop to the conflict won’t instantly solve the bottlenecks in the global supply chain and it could take months for oil prices (and therefore fuel prices) to start to decline to the levels seen earlier this year.Until then, Tesla will remain in the box seat to take advantage of motorists looking to ditch petrol and diesel power in favour of going electric. Seeing how the Model Y fares in the April sales charts will be very telling for how the brand’s 2026 sales fortunes will pan out…

Electric vehicle sales are booming in a way they never have before in Australia. Buyer options have increased significantly in 2026, with more affordable choices also appearing more regularly. There were 15839 electric vehicle sales for March in 2026, up from 8385 compared to this time last year, representing a near 89 per cent year-on-year growth. Established SUV players such as the Tesla Model Y lead the way with 2818 sales, along with the BYD Sealion 7 (1970). There are also some new competitors climbing up the sales charts, such as the Zeekr 7X performance SUV, which managed 679 registrations for March, having launched late last year.The Tesla Model 3 sedan (667) continues to be present among the top sellers despite its prolonged downturn.The SUV trend continues as Geely’s EX5 (606) and the Kia EV5 (587) are next on the list, before BYD’s presence resumes with the Atto 2 small SUV (572). Another new EV making an early impression is the Jaecoo J5, which launched at the start of this year and achieved 569 sales last month. The BYD Atto 1 (488) and Atto 2 (466) also make the list along with the Kia EV3 (461). Hatchbacks are proving popular amongst EV buyers as well. The MG4 (451) remains among the strongest selling EVs, as does the BYD Dolphin (373). The Toyota bZ4X is also experiencing an upturn to 447 sales for March and BYD is represented again with its Seal sedan (337) to round out the top 15. Top selling electric cars Australia March 2026

BYD has fired a shot across the bow of some of the biggest car bands in Australia in March.The Chinese automaker sold 7217 vehicles in the past month as Australians scrambled to get their hands on plug-in hybrids and electric cars as fuel prices soared.That is a mammoth one month total which beat Ford (7149), Mazda (7156) and Hyundai (6979). Only Toyota (16,574) and Kia (7320) did better than BYD.BYD sales increased by 50 per cent compared to March last year, just as leading brands sales declined. If the Chinese challenger keeps up this growth it's on track to tackle Toyota off the top spot.It was also a banner month for electric vehicles, with about 15,500 finding a new home, which is about double the amount sold in March, 2025.Tesla’s Model Y led the pack with 2818 sales, followed by the BYD Sealion 7 (1970), Zeekr 7X (679), Tesla Model 3 (667) and Geely EX5 (606).Sales of hybrids and plug-in hybrids were also up, but not at the same rate as electric vehicles.Australians bought 17,953 hybrids in March, and 8215 plug-in hybrids (PHEV).Most of the conventional hybrids were Toyotas with BYD gobbling up the lion’s share of PHEVs.A total of 108,703 were sold in the past month, which is slightly down on the previous March. The latest sales data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) shows there is still plenty of demand for diesel and petrol cars.The Ford Ranger ute was against the best selling vehicle in the nation with 4452 examples finding a new home.This was followed by the Toyota HiLux (4167), Tesla Model Y (2818), Nissan X-Trail (2438) and Mitsubishi Outlander (2318).The Hyundai Kona (2316), Chery Tiggo 4 (2258), Isuzu D-Max (2167), Hyundai Tucson (2042) and Haval Jolion (2013) rounded out the top 10.China was again the top importer to Australia in March — off the back of the success of BYD, GWM, MG and Chery — beating Japan to the post by less than 400 cars. Japan is still the biggest importer of new cars through the first three months but the gap is shrinking fast.Thailand — where the majority of dual-cab utes are built — sunk to a distant third.Toyota’s bad run continued with sales down nearly 20 per cent compared to the same month last year, and down 23 per cent for the year to date.The Japanese giant will get a boost in sales thanks to the new RAV4 family SUV arriving in dealerships this month.Top 10 selling  vehicles March, 2026Top selling car brands March, 2026

Electric vehicle sales are booming in Australia as international and domestic factors contribute to substantial EV uptake. The Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) data for the first quarter of 2026 reveals EV sales are up 40 per cent compared to this time last year. In the first quarter of this year, Tesla and Polestar have sold nearly 8000 units between them, which is also a sizable increase on 2025 numbers. This number is likely to be even higher, with only Tesla and Polestar reporting to the EVC, meaning much of the ever-increasing range of electric cars are not part of this latest data set. Official data for April from VFACTS will be released next week.This includes strong selling EV models such as the Zeekr 7X, which has had a flying start to life in Australia, along with many electric BYD models. Tesla accumulated 3485 sales for March 2026, more than 600 extra units compared to March 2025. The Model Y SUV continues to be the brand’s most popular model, with 2818 units shifted in March 2026, more than 1000 up on the same time last year. Tesla will soon introduce a six-seater version of its best-seller called the Model Y L, which will arrive in the coming weeks. The Model 3 sedan has not had the same positive sales result as its SUV sibling, with a 40 per cent drop compared to the same period last year. Polestar has also not experienced the same sales increase, with its Polestar 2 and Polestar 3 experiencing sharp drop-offs, while Polestar 4 sales improved slightly. This latest data comes at a time when rising fuel prices are sending demand for EVs skyrocketing.EVC Chief Executive Julie Delvecchio said this latest data indicates an acceleration of the EV shift for Australia. “Volatile global oil markets are changing the conversation. Australians aren't asking whether EVs are the future anymore. They're asking which one they can get their hands on, and when,” Delvecchio said. This electric sale acceleration is also being brought on by the government's National Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) which is placing pressure on brands to electrify their line-ups or face fines. Major brands have already started hiking prices on petrol units, while introducing new EV models to offset the potential impacts of the emissions-based scheme.

Electric vehicle sales in Australia are booming, but not in the locations where you might expect them to be.There has been new insight into where Aussies are buying EVs in Australia from the National Automotive Leasing and Salary Packaging Association (NALSPA).NALSPA’s data shows where EVs are being purchased using a novated lease and the Electric Car Discount (ECD).Range anxiety is often quoted as one of the major roadblocks to the uptake on EVs in Australia. This data suggests it might not play on people's minds to the extent previously thought.Many of the suburbs on the list are not immediately located in the city centres, but further out.The top two postcodes are both on the outskirts of Melbourne in Victoria, around 25-30km away from the CBD.Next up on the list are two postcodes from the west of Sydney, before a rural area in the ACT.The outskirt city theme continues down the list, with a postcode roughly 30km from Brisbane, Queensland, followed by another outer Melbourne postcode.Rounding out the list is a postcode in the greater Western Sydney area, along with NSW/ACT border town Queanbeyan and a postcode around 10km away from Canberra’s centre.This point outer metro residents searching for some respite from high fuel costs from their long commutes and they have access to roof top solar power.Top 10 postcodes for electric vehicles using novated leasing and EDCThe ECD waives the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT). The incentive applies to new battery-electric vehicles, up to a total cost of $89,332.NALSPA Chief Executive Officer Rohan Martin said the data demonstrates the importance of the ECD, especially to people living outside of the major cities. “Australians living in the outer suburbs often face longer commutes and are more likely to have access to rooftop solar and off-street parking so switching to EVs with the help of the FBT exemption is a smart cost-of-living and green choice for them, especially during the ongoing cost-of-living crunch,” Martin said. “We cannot increase EV uptake further, especially during this early adoption phase, without continued targeted demand-side incentives - that's the stark reality. The EV Discount is more than proving its worth but there is still much heavy lifting to be done.”This news comes after the federal government announced a statutory review in the EDC last year, with rumours the whole scheme could be pulled. Costs for the scheme have increased significantly beyond original forecasts, with it costing $1.35 billion last financial year. There is potential for these costs to blow out further as EVs become a more attractive option for buyers with petrol and diesel fuels soaring up in price, along with increasingly scarce availability.

With fuel prices surging to around two dollars a litre nationally, and more that three dollars a litre in some regional areas, now is one of the best times to consider switching to a fully electric vehicle.Price was once one of the biggest deterrents for buyers wanting to make the switch, but now that gap has well and truly closed.To highlight this we’ve pulled together the most popular cars from last year in each mainstream car category, and the fully electric alternatives you can now buy for the same money.Seeking a practical small SUV? Top of the charts last year was the Hyundai Kona, and one of its most popular variants is the entry-level Kona Hybrid which starts from $36,950.To be fair here, the Kona Hybrid is a great choice anyway, as one of the most fuel-efficient small SUVs you can buy, but if you’re looking to wean yourself off fuel altogether, a great alternative is the Jaecoo J5.Surprisingly spacious and swish-looking, the J5 starts from just $35,990 before on-roads and offers a 402km (WLTP) range with a 155kW/288Nm electric motor driving the front wheels. It can even charge relatively quickly with its 130kW DC peak speed taking it from 20 - 80 per cent in just over half an hour.Read our Jaecoo J5 review hereYou actually can’t buy the popular GXL hybrid front-wheel-drive version of the Toyota RAV4 anymore, because production ended in the lead up to the launch of the new-gen version. The bad news is, the new one will cost even more than the outgoing car, which started from $45,810 before on-road costs.The RAV4 has earned its place as Australia’s most popular mid-size SUV through its family-friendly design, practical size and interior, and its no-nonsense approach to pretty much everything. The brand’s 2.5-litre 160kW hybrid system remains one of the most user-friendly hybrid systems on the market, too.What can you get as an EV for the same money? Quite a few options these days, as it turns out, and one of the most appealing is the just-updated Geely EX5 Extended Range, which is priced from $45,990 before on-roads.This relatively straightforward EV also provides a spacious interior and practical dimensions, but even combines it with more modern luxuries than the RAV4 offers in equivalent guise. It features synthetic leather interior trim, bigger screens with more connected technology, and its most recent upgrade brought with it a boost in driving range to 450km (WLTP). No wonder this one is storming up the sales charts.Read our Geely EX5 review hereFord’s big Everest off-roader is the most popular option in the large SUV space, and buyers tend to splash a bit more, reaching for the upper mid-grade Sport variant, which wields a 3.0-litre diesel V6 paired to a full-time 4WD system.This car wears a before-on-roads price-tag of $75,990, so what can you get as an EV instead?How about the just-released Tesla Model Y L? Starting from $74,900, sporting six-seats, and expanding in every dimension, this new take on the best-selling electric car in Australia offers more than you might expect.Sure, it’s not a big off-road oriented 4x4, but if it’s a fuel-free family hauler you’re looking for, you could do worse. With 378kW/580Nm it’s rapid, too, and with a huge battery offering up to 681km of range, it’s one of the furthest-travelling EVs on sale in Australia.Plus, it’s much more affordable than truly large electric SUVs, like the Kia EV9, which starts much higher at $97,000 before on-roads.Read more about the Tesla Model Y L hereThe Toyota Corolla continues as a perennial favourite among Australian buyers, and with the popular Ascent Sport hybrid starting from $32,110, why wouldn’t it?The swish little hatch offers Toyota’s perennial 1.8-litre four-cylinder hybrid drivetrain in a front-wheel-drive layout, sporting a modest combined 103kW. There’s no denying that as far as cars with combustion engines go, it’s pretty fuel efficient, officially consuming 4.0L/100km, but what if you could forgo fuel altogether?The obvious answer for some time has been BYD’s Dolphin Premium. Starting from $36,990 before on-roads it carries a slight price premium over the most popular Corolla variant, however, the Dolphin also brings with it a long electric driving range of 490km (WLTP), and a punchier 150kW/310Nm electric motor.It also scores a much more contemporary and screen-laden interior, with bonus luxuries like synthetic leather seats, plus it undercuts the nearest equivalent MG4 by a decent margin.Read our BYD Dolphin review hereKia’s Picanto soldiers on as a hold-out in an embattled city car segment, which, despite ever-rising fuel prices, Australians have turned their back on. It’s still a great option, offering both manual and automatic transmissions, although its 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine feels its age.Starting from $20,790 before on-road costs in automatic form, the Picanto is solid value, and while its wheezy engine produces just 62kW/122Nm it’s hardly the fuel sipping hero you might need, still managing to consume 6.0L/100km.This is where BYD’s Atto 1 comes into play. Now Australia’s most affordable electric car, the sharply-styled city hatch is slightly more expensive than the Picanto, as it starts from $23,990 in base Essential form.This entry-level Atto 1 is about even with the Kia on power, producing just 65kW, but it gets a boost in the torque department, with 175Nm. It also scores a middling 220km of range from its small 30kWh battery, but in a city runabout, do you need more?The smallest BYD also scores spec bonuses over its combustion Kia rival, with synthetic leather interior trim, a more contemporary interior design, and even a vehicle-to-load power distribution system.Read more about the BYD Atto 1 here

Tesla Australia has confirmed the pricing and specifications of the upcoming Model Y L six-seat SUV ahead of its launch in the second quarter of 2026.The 2026 Tesla Model Y L is priced from $74,900 before on-road costs, which positions it between the five-seat Model Y's Premium Long Range AWD ($68,900 before on-road costs) and Performance ($89,400 before on-road costs) variants.While three-row versions of the Model Y have been offered in other markets, the Model Y L marks the first time it has been offered in Australia.It has a six-seat configuration with second-row captain’s chairs that are heated, ventilated and feature adjustable headrests and armrests. Even the third-row seats offer heating.Every second- and third-row seat has ISOFIX and top-tether child seat anchorage points, meaning you can install up to four child seats.The Model Y L has the same body shape as the regular Model Y from the B-pillar forwards, however the rear doors have been lengthened, as well as the rear three-quarter panel. There’s also a higher roof line to account for the third row of seating.It measures in at 4969mm long, 1668mm tall and 2129mm wide with a 3040mm wheelbase. This makes it 177mm longer and 44mm taller than the standard Model Y.Power comes from a dual-motor all-wheel drive set-up with a total system output of 378kW and 590Nm.This is fed by a nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) lithium-ion battery of an undisclosed capacity, however Tesla claims there’s 681km of range, according to WLTP testing. For context, the Model Y Premium Long Range AWD offers 600km of WLTP-claimed range.The high-voltage battery pack can be DC fast-charged at rates up to 250kW and it offers vehicle-to-load (V2L) at rates up to 3.3kW through the use of an adaptor that plugs into the charge port. This is the first time a Tesla vehicle has offered V2L in Australia.2026 Tesla Model Y Australian pricing:2026 Tesla Model Y L powertrain:2026 Tesla Model Y L dimensions2026 Tesla Model Y L standard equipment:19-inch alloy wheels with aero coversSix-seat configuration16.0-inch central touchscreen multimedia system8.0-inch second-row touchscreen50W driver’s side wireless charger30W front passenger’s side wireless charger19-speaker sound systemHeated and ventilated front- and second-row seatsHeated third-row seatsElectric folding third- and second-row seats2026 Tesla Model Y L safety:Tesla has confirmed the Model Y L retains the regular Model Y’s five-star ANCAP safety rating.There are nine airbags which cover all passengers, including those in the third row.2026 Tesla Model Y L warranty and servicing:The 2026 Tesla Model Y L is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, whereas the high-voltage battery is covered for eight years or 192,000km.Owners also receive five years of roadside assistance, including puncture repair and tyre replacement. Tesla will even offer you a loan vehicle if a repair isn’t possible.Tesla doesn’t enforce typical logbook servicing intervals for its vehicles.

Japan has lost its crown as the number one source of new cars for Australia - and it could be for good.