Tesla Model Y News

Year-to-date registration data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) show ‘electrified’ passenger and light commercial vehicles have crossed a significant tipping point to become a more popular choice than traditional diesel and purely petrol-powered internal combustion engine (ICE) options in Australia.To the end of April, sales of battery electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles stood at 50,976 units, a 79.2 per cent increase on the same four-month period in 2025 (28,448 units).At the same time, sales of ICE vehicles (including light commercials but not heavy trucks) have dropped 35.9 per cent from 64,991 in 2025 to 47,813 units this year.Tellingly, sales of pure battery electric vehicles (BEVs) have grown by just over 100 per cent, with key players BYD up 110.8 per cent (25,243 vs 11,974) and Tesla 49.9 per cent year-on-year (8485 vs 5660).Individual (higher volume) stand-out BEV models include the BYD Sealion 7 and Dolphin, Geely EX5, Kia EV3, Tesla Model Y and Toyota bZ4X.And when it comes to hybrids, thanks to better supply of the new-generation version, the ever-popular Toyota RAV4 has come up to its more usual monthly sales rate and has been joined by its big-brother LandCruiser 300 Hybrid.Add in other relatively recent hybrid arrivals like the Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid joining now established disrupters like the BYD Shark 6 and GWM Cannon Alpha and hybrid sales are set to expand even further. Clearly, April 2024 marked a historical moment in time for the Aussie new vehicle market.

Safety ratings have been handed out for the hotly-anticipated Tesla Model Y L, BYD Seal 6 and other EVs, with a surprise for one family SUV.This latest batch of results were assessed using the Australasian New Car Assessment Program's (ANCAP) outdated 2023-2025 testing criteria, with the revamped 2026 criteria still to be officially brought in.The new testing protocols will have a greater focus on accident prevention, emphasising safe driving and crash avoidance, while crash protection remains an important factor.These vehicles are now able to hold a five star rating for six years."We can expect to see ratings assessed under 2023 to 2025 criteria for some time as they enter the Australian and New Zealand markets," ANCAP Chief Executive Officer Carla Hoorweg said in a statement to CarsGuide. "The first vehicles rated against the new 2026 criteria are expected later this year.”The incoming six-seat Tesla Model Y L SUV has been awarded a five-star rating, which is based on the rating of the standard Model Y. The Model Y L is Tesla’s first three-row car on sale, with deliveries starting last week. ANCAP said there were additional tests undertaken on the car to ensure results were applicable to the Model Y L.While achieving a protection rating of 91 per cent for Adult Occupant, ANCAP noted there were difficulties in correctly installing child restraints. This resulted in an 11 per cent decrease to 84 per cent for Child Occupant protection compared to the standard Model Y.The incoming BYD Seal 6 also received a five-star rating, with the car arriving imminently in the Australia as a plug-in hybrid sedan or wagon. The Seal 6 received an overall adult protection rating of 92 per cent, with maximum points for side impact and oblique pole tests, with good protection generally offered on the frontal offset test.Elsewhere Child Occupant protection was at 90 per cent, while Vulnerable User Protection was 84 per cent. MG’s new MG4 Urban budget EV has also picked up a five-star rating, courtesy of protection ratings of 87 per cent for Adult Occupant and 86 per cent for Child Occupant.The MG4 was marked down for marginal protection of the driver’s legs due to upward pedal movement.The Skoda Octavia was also awarded five stars, following reassessment of vehicles built from July 2025.

The latest data has revealed Tesla has experienced a serious sales downturn in Australia.The brand managed 1225 sales in April, compared to 3485 sales the previous month.Year-to-date sales remain positive for Tesla, with more than double for April 2026 compared to April 2025.The Model Y remains Tesla’s best-selling car, but the brand sold around 2000 less units of its popular SUV in April than in March. It was a similar story for the Model 3 sedan, selling roughly 400 units, down from more than 600 for the previous month. The Model 3’s sales are also down comparing April 2026 and April 2025, meaning it is an EV that has gone backwards over the past year.Tesla Australia said the sales decline was down to delivery cycles on vehicles coming into the country.Tesla could experience a pick-up in sales when its six-seater Model Y L SUV, with deliveries beginning at the start of this month.This news comes at a time when EV sales are booming in Australia, due to skyrocketing fuel prices. Many brands are reporting increasing electric vehicle registrations, with them making up greater proportions of total sales.Kia said 40 per cent of all sales currently are coming from full EVs. Chery said 70 per cent of total sales are coming from electrified set-ups, which includes hybrids, plug-in hybrids and EVs. The EV boom has resulted in an increasingly diversified market for buyers, with more choices than ever in the segment. Most brands now have EV options across their range, while many Chinese brands are bringing cheaper options, which are proving popular.Rivals such as the Zeekr 7X SUV have put down solid roots in Australia, along with several BYD models like the Atto 1 hatch - a car still holding the cheapest EV in Australia title.BYD has already signalled its intention to dominate the EV market Down Under, with all of its models among the best sellers in the electric category. 

Although there are some swings and roundabouts in the equation there’s no denying Tesla’s strong sales performance in the first quarter of 2026.According to Electric Vehicle Council data, local year-on-year sales for the pioneer EV maker are up no less than 40.7 per cent to 7260 registrations to the end of March 2026 versus 5160 for the same period in 2025.And Tesla was knocking on the door of the top 10 sellers for March, its 3485 total for the month within sniping distance of MG in tenth (at 4218 units).But there’s a distinctly different story for the two models the brand currently offers in Australia, with the long-serving Model 3 sedan down 33.4 per cent for the first three months (1363 units vs 2046) and the Model Y medium SUV up a whopping 89.4 per cent (5897 units vs 3114).While steep fuel price rises have significantly lifted overall EV sales, Tesla’s turnaround marks a solid comeback from a less than stellar 2025, during which the brand’s local sales fell by just under a quarter compared to 2024 (28,856 units vs 38,347).And it’s worth noting that 2024 Tesla figure was itself down just under 17 per cent from 2023’s 46,120 unit total. Tellingly, established Model 3 competitors are down from their relatively modest base sales; the BMW i4 20.4 per cent behind for the first quarter (246 vs 309) and the Hyundai Ioniq 6 down 61 per cent (17 vs 44).But the big clue to the Model 3’s decline comes in the shape of the BYD Seal, up a staggering 209.3 per cent (934 vs 302) with the Polestar 2 13 per cent ahead (139 vs 123).Alternately, several of the Model Y’s key rivals declined in Q1 with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 down 54.5 per cent (115 vs 253) and the Kia EV5 1.6 per cent behind (1148 vs 1167).But others (operating from much smaller bases) have eclipsed even the Model Y, including the Cupra Tavascan up 366.7 per cent (112 vs 24), Skoda Enyaq up 129.1 per cent (126 vs 55), Subaru Solterra up 246.5 per cent (149 vs 43) and Toyota bZ4X up 300 per cent (840 vs 210) as well as the VW ID.4 up 243 per cent (429 vs 125) and ID.5, 101.4 per cent ahead (143 vs 71).With the current shipping blockade in the Strait of Hormuz further unsettling global oil supply and impacting local fuel prices, it will be interesting to track what is set to be Tesla’s strengthening performance as the year progresses. CarsGuide contacted Tesla Australia for comment on the brand’s sales performance.

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.

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.