Australia's top-selling EVs in 2022

The five most popular electric vehicles (EVs) in Australia last year were all made in China.

Sales of electric cars across Australia nearly doubled in 2022 to 33,410 vehicles, equal to about 3.0 per cent of the total new vehicle market.

Factors like sky high fuel costs, a strong shift to BEVs from luxury brands, and the proliferation of state and federal rebates and tax benefits all helped. Ongoing shortages did not…

While we’re expecting 2023 to be a much bigger year for BEVs, with a glut of more affordable offerings on the way, it’s time now to reflect on the year that was.

So what were Australia’s top-selling BEVs?

Tesla was dominant, grabbing a tick under 60 per cent market share with a combined 19,594 sales to finish 16th in market overall – ahead of Audi and Honda.

The Model 3 (10,877 sales) broke the Toyota Camry’s decades-long run as Australia’s top-selling mid-size sedan, and tripled the sales of its closest ICE rival: the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

The Model Y meanwhile found 8717 homes and was the market’s top-selling premium mid-sized SUV by some margin.

Third was the impressive BYD Atto 3 which, despite only being delivered across November and December, grabbed third with 2113 sales.

The Polestar 2 had a strong first full year with 1554 sales as it entrenched itself as the market’s main like-for-like rival to the Model 3.

Below is an interactive treemap of all electrified vehicles (Battery EV, PHEV, Hybrid, FCEV etc) sold in Australia:

Last year’s runner-up the MG ZS EV – which kept its razor sharp $44,990 drive-away price despite receiving a spate of upgrades this year – finished a touch further back at 1119 units, but still edged out the Hyundai Kona (1096).

Next were the Volvo XC40 (983), Hyundai Ioniq 5 (756), Mercedes-Benz EQA (624), and BMW iX3 (593), thereby rounding out the top 10.

Here’s the full list, comprising 40 EV models: