Tesla News

Internal combustion power is still by far the most popular type of car in Australia, the latest sales data has revealed. 

New data collated from across the world illustrates just how quickly BYD has become the world leader in new electric car sales.Nikkei Asia has used data between 2020 and 2025 to highlight countries that have gone from EV markets dominated by Tesla to those BYD has the better grasp on.The data from S&P Global Mobility shows only a handful of nations where BYD was the bigger new EV brand of the two in 2020, including parts of South America, West Asia (mainly Egypt and Saudi Arabia) and of course China.But by 2025, BYD was the dominant force compared to Tesla, with much of the ‘Western’ world including Australia embracing BYD more than Tesla.The USA (Tesla’s home market), Canada, and parts of Europe are the biggest Tesla holdouts.The report comes as BYD’s global sales slow overall, with factors at play including the Chinese government reacting to BYD’s alleged ‘sales pricing war’ where cars are sold below cost to boost numbers.Geely has become China’s biggest car brand, overtaking BYD, with total sales including its subsidiary brands like Zeekr too.But BYD’s ability to overtake Tesla is also helped by Tesla’s decline due to its limited model line-up and the company’s increasingly controversial CEO making ownership of a Tesla seem like acceptance of a political stance.The path BYD has taken to maintain success is has been decidedly risky, but much of it has paid off due to the brand’s ability to work quickly.BYD’s founder and Chairman, Wang Chuanfu, said in 2021 that rapid development will be the biggest ingredient in challenging the slower legacy brands."Toyota Motor and Volkswagen are a little slow in electrifying their vehicles, but once they make a leap, the impact will be huge," he said at the time. "BYD absolutely has to be faster."In Australia, BYD has sold 10,324 new vehicles so far in 2026, while Tesla lags behind with 3775 in the year so far. Both brands have increased over the same January-February period last year, Tesla being up 61.9 per cent and BYD up a whopping 161.0 per cent.

The electric vehicle space in Australia continues to grow, with another competitor joining the battle imminently in the Hyundai Elexio.The Elexio will be Hyundai’s first car on sale in Australia which has been built in China, and it brings with it an important test for the brand’s future EV strategy. It will have to take on the three best-sellers of the electric SUV segment, including the top-selling Tesla Model Y along with the BYD Sealion 7 and Kia EV5.The Elexio will have to beat the best to be the best, so here is how it sizes up to its competitors, at least on paper.  The Elexio lands in Australia with an attractive introductory drive-away offer of $59,990, which is available until the 31st of March. From that point it is expected a cheaper entry-level variant of the Elexio will arrive in Australia, for around a similar starting price. The up-spec Elexio for under $60k appears to be a competitive deal compared to the base variants of its rivals, but when the drive-away deal expires, it will be the most expensive of the four, possibly more equivalent to higher-grade versions of each.It may be a different story when the cheaper variant of the Elexio lands in time for the drive-away deal’s expiry, offering a more fair comparison. Using before on-road costs pricing, the Sealion 7 is the cheapest of the bunch at just under $55,000, while the EV5 is available from $56,770. The Model Y is only slightly more affordable than the Elexio's introductory price at $58,900 before on-roads, making it more expensive by the time you're driving it out of a Tesla delivery centre.The Elexio shares similar dimensions to the Kia EV5, but it is slightly smaller than the Sealion 7 and the Model Y. The Elexio leads the way in the important driving range category, being the only car in this comparison offering more than 500km. This is mostly due to its 88kWh battery being bigger than the rest of the pack. It is significantly larger, for example, than the entry-level versions of the EV5 (64.2kWh) and the Model Y (62.5kWh). The incoming base variant of the Elexio is expected to offer the same if not a better driving range, as it features the same 88kWh and will likely have smaller wheels. It is a tight race when it comes to charging times, with the Elexio’s being the slowest at 38 minutes for 10-80 per cent top-ups, but all these cars boast times of less than 40 minutes. While all these cars have a single electric motor, the Elexio has less power than the Sealion 7 and the Model Y and the same as the EV5, with 160kW and 230Nm. The Model Y’s 255kW and 450Nm is the best of the category. The Elexio is not yet available with the option of all-wheel drive, while the other three cars can be in higher trim levels. The Elexio currently on sale has 20-inch wheels, which are the largest in this pack. Unlike the Sealion 7 and the EV5, it features a 27.0-inch display which spans across the dashboard as opposed to having separate sections. The Tesla also differs from the Sealion 7 and the EV5, with its 16.0-inch horizontal ‘floating tablet’ central screen and no screen real estate for a dedicated digital instrument cluster. The Elexio is similarly kitted-out with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite navigation and wireless phone charging capabilities. This version of the Elexio also comes with a head-up display, something which along with phone mirroring is missing from the Model Y.All four of these cars received five-star ANCAP safety ratings with high scores in all categories. The enticing but temporary drive-away deal for Elexio makes it a strong prospect for buyers in the mid-size EV segment, especially with its comparatively superior driving range. This comes at a detriment to other aspects of the car, such as the power and torque figures, which trail that of the Sealion 7 and the Model Y. Its 27.0-inch display gives the Elexio a different flavour to the rest, while it has much of the same equipment levels as its rivals here.The Elexio will have a tough time dislodging the established trio of competitors, but in a time when EV sales are ever expanding, now might be the best time to pull it off. 

Elon Musk’s Grok artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot assistant is officially rolling out to Tesla vehicles in Australia in a staggered series of over-the-air software updates over the coming days.

Tesla looks set to soon introduce a new, stretched version of the top-selling Model Y electric SUV in Australia with three rows of seating.

The Tesla Cybertruck suffered a monster sales slide in 2025, with US numbers totalling just over 20,200 units, a fall of no less than 48 per cent compared to the year prior.And that’s on the back of 38,965 sales in 2024, approximately 210,000 units short of Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s bullish annual volume prediction prior to the electric pick-up’s domestic launch in late 2023.Mid-year 2025 estimates pointed to at least 10,000 unsold units (worth around US$800 million) sitting in the brand’s inventory.A revised annual target of 125,000 sales pulled production capacity away from the controversial ute towards more popular models like the Model Y SUV.But reduced supply is one thing, driving increased demand is obviously the critical factor.So, no surprise Tesla has attempted to generate extra Cybertruck interest with a new, more affordable variant.Announced on social media platform X, the new model is simply called the Dual-Motor All-Wheel Drive with an MSRP of US$59,990, compared to US$79,990 for the Premium All-Wheel Drive and US$99,990 for the flagship Cyberbeast.Available to order in the US, the Dual Motor AWD boasts an estimated range of 525km, and features a powered tonneau cover, multiple vehicle-to-load (V2L) bed outlets (2x 120V + 1x 240V) as well as adaptive damping, heated front seats, ‘Steer-by-wire’ four-wheel steering and a braked trailer towing capacity of up to 3.4 tonnes.The Cybertruck is currently sold in North America (USA, Canada and Mexico) as well as select Middle Eastern markets including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.Still displayed on Tesla’s Australian website, the Cybertruck is not on sale locally, although Tesla Country Director for Australia and New Zealand Thom Drew told CarsGuide mid-last year that the stainless-steel-bodied EV has "never been off the table", at the same time confirming he had received a briefing on what changes will be required for Australian Design Rule (ADR) approval here."Cybertruck is a conversation that we're having ongoing. I can't tell you a timeline, or if or when, but we're advocating for it as much as we can," he said.

A new player has joined the all-electric passenger car game, with the Mazda 6e officially priced in Australia ahead of its impending launch. Now is a good time to look at how this new competitor shapes up to its primary rivals in the BYD Seal, Polestar 2 and Tesla Model 3. All four of these cars take on a sedan-style body shape (although some have a hatch tailgate), all are built in China, and all created some fanfare when they arrived in Australia. The established three players have had a few years to settle in, while Mazda’s EV will need to hit the ground running as the first of the brand’s renewed electric push, and a major part of its strategy to reduce its emissions as one of the manufacturers most exposed to Australia's new emissions laws.Here is how the 6e compares to those it will need to take down if it is to be a success. The 6e, which is a platform-share with the China-market Deepal L07, has been priced competitively.It is virtually the same price as the BYD seal, while coming in at roughly $5000 cheaper than the Model 3 and more than $10000 cheaper than the Polestar 2. As you walk up the line-up for these cars the 6e’s up-spec model costs an additional $3000, which gets you leather and synthetic suede seats, a leather steering wheel, and a synthetic suede interior. The other trio’s pricing for higher trim models extends into the $60,000s, $70,000s and even $80,000 range for the Model 3, but with that comes much more gear, larger batteries and the addition of all-wheel drive. The Mazda is the longest out of all its competitors, being closer in size to a large sedan rather than a mid-sizer.When it comes to power, the 6e lines up pretty closely to the rest of the pack of entry-level rivals, but it has the least grunt out of all of them.The Mazda wins out on driving range, with its bigger battery offering 560km, which is more than the Tesla and significantly more than the Seal and Polestar 2, which have ranges in the 400km bracket.There is not much in it on the charging front, but the 6e’s 10-80 per cent changing time takes the title on official numbers. All four cars have single rear-mounted motors. Unlike the 6e, the Seal, Polestar 2 and Model 3 all have options further up the scale for all-wheel drive. The 6e boasts an impressive list of standard features, which includes a 14.6-inch central touchscreen and 10.2-inch digital driver display, as well as synthetic leather seats, which are heated and ventilated in the front. The Seal’s touchscreen is bigger than the Mazda’s, and shares many of the same features, which in part explains the similar pricing of the pair. It does only have 18-inch wheels as standard like the Model 3 compared to the BYD Seal and Polestar 19-inches. If you’re keen to pump your tunes, the Mazda 6e’s has the biggest audio system out of its rivals, with its 14 speaker Sony system. Wireless phone charging, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard on the 6e and the Seal, but the Polestar 2 only has a wired connection as standard, while the Model 3 does not have any such connectivity. Standard safety features for each car listed below:The Mazda 6e has not been crash tested yet, but its rivals have all achieved five-star ANCAP ratings.All models have the standard safety gear you would expect from modern cars, with a high number of airbags and advanced driving assistance systems.The Mazda 6e seems priced just about right to ensure buyers give it some serious consideration in the segment. In an age where driving range remains the key question of any EV, sitting at the top of the pile means it is a compelling proposition. It will have a fight on its hands to eat into the sales of competitors which have been around for much longer than it and boast similar specifications and trim. Time will tell whether the 6e will have the desired impact Mazda needs it to have as it paves the way for future EVs from the brand. 

Tesla is Australia’s most popular electric vehicle (EV) brand… but for how much longer?

Formula 1 yoke-style steering wheels in cars will be been banned in China after government testing found them not only more difficult to use but potentially more dangerous in accidents, according to a report.Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Tesla and several other carmakers will have to revert to traditional style round steering steering wheels from 2027 in China, after it was found yoke steering wheels could present unnecessary hazards.Chinese publication Autohome reports that China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has drawn up draft legislation banning the yoke steering wheels.According to the government findings, yoke steering wheels risk concentrating too much force on the driver in a collision compared to round steering wheels which diffuse the force over a larger area.Airbag deployment was also found to be potentially more hazardous on yoke-style steering wheels compared to rounder ones.Finally it was also seen that yoke-style steering wheels were more difficult to use in environments that required larger steering inputs such as urban areas with tight turns or manoeuvring in spaces requiring constant changes of direction such as parking.While yoke steering wheels in cars aren’t new, there has been a resurgence led by some brands such as Lexus in its RZ small SUV and Tesla in its Model S and X over the years to add a futuristic look and feel to their vehicle cabins. The upcoming Mercedes-Benz EQS will also be offered with a yoke -style wheel, too.Yoke steering wheels are used in Formula 1 due to their compact dimensions in cramped cockpits along with putting vehicle controls under the driver’s fingertips for instant reactions.The yoke steering wheel works perfectly in Formula 1 where steering is calibrated specifically for a track. On a public road, however, which presents a wide variety of steering inputs, the yoke steering wheels can be more challenging for a driver and may represent a safety risk.The Chinese ruling, which when passed will mandate all cars from next year to have circular steering wheels, could force the hand of other car makers to follow suit. And with Australia now seeing more and more Chinese brands or China-sourced vehicles coming to Australia it’s unlikely they’ll arrive with anything other than traditional circular steering wheels either.

Tesla has announced its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) technology in Australia will move to a subscription-only service from April 2026. Buyers were previously able to purchase the technology for a one-off price of $10,100 or pay $149 per month. It is a Level 2 advanced driver assist system, which can navigate its way to the chosen destination. It is available on Tesla Model 3 or Model Y examples equipped with a Hardware 3 or 4 camera.The brand has confirmed the monthly subscription cost will remain the same for the time being. As with most subscriptions services, such as Netflix, there is a strong possibility for incremental increases on a regular basis.The initial pricing of the Model 3 and the Model Y has not changed despite the shift to a subscription model. The Model 3 starts in Australia from $54,900, before on-road costs, while the Model Y has a starting price of $58,900. Both cars were among Australia’s best-selling electric cars, with the Model Y topping the charts at more than 22,000 sales. Buyers will not be able to outright purchase the technology from the 31st of March 2026, so vehicles will have to be ordered by that date to be eligible for it. Existing owners of eligible vehicles will be able to outright purchase the technology via the Tesla app until the 31st of March as an upgrade post purchase. Tesla’s transfer promotions on the system will also no longer be offered from April of this year. This promotion allowed for owners of existing Tesla's with the FSD or Enhanced Auto Pilot to transfer it onto a new model without additional cost. The announcement confirms Australia will follow Tesla in the US, which ceased the outright purchase of the technology in mid-February of this year. The technology made headlines when it was released in Australia towards the end of last year as the first right-hand drive market to receive it.The move to a subscription-only service for FSD (supervised) is one of several big moves the car maker has made in recent times. Tesla announced in late January that it was cutting production of the Model S sedan and Model X SUV in the middle of this year. This is to make way for production of Optimus robots in the same factory.