Top-Selling Automobiles, Pickup Trucks, and Sport Utility Vehicles in Australia for the Year 2025
In the first half of 2025, the Australian automotive market showed resilience, with a total of 624,130 units sold - a 1.4% decrease from the same period last year. Despite the slight dip, certain segments, such as hybrids and electric vehicles (EVs), demonstrated strong consumer interest.
Hybrid Cars Dominate a Significant Share
Hybrid cars accounted for 19.6% of total industry sales in H1 2025, with a staggering 119,359 units sold. The top five best-selling hybrid cars in Australia YTD are:
- Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
- Toyota Corolla Hybrid
- Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid
- Hyundai Tucson Hybrid
- Hyundai Kona Hybrid
EVs Show Strong Market Presence
Electric vehicles (EVs) accounted for 7.6% of new car sales in Australia's first half of 2025, with a total of about 47,230 EVs delivered. Tesla continues to dominate the Australian EV market, despite a slight slowdown in overall demand and increased competition from new electric SUV models like those from BYD.
The top-selling electric vehicles (EVs) in Australia for the first half of 2025 are:
- Tesla Model Y with 10,431 units sold.
- BYD Sealion 7 with 3,756 units sold.
- Tesla Model 3 with 3,715 units sold.
- Kia EV5 with 2,765 units sold.
Tesla Model Y leads substantially, followed by the BYD Sealion 7 and Tesla Model 3 within Australia's EV market in early 2025. Notably, BYD has made a significant impact, with a 144.6% increase in sales in the first half of 2025, and moving up to eighth place in the overall market.
Other notable mentions, such as the BYD Dolphin, a more affordable compact hatchback, are influential in the market but did not appear in the top three sales numbers provided.
Chinese-Built Cars Gain Popularity
More than 118,000 new Chinese-built cars were sold in Australia in the first half of 2025, representing 19% of total industry sales. Brands like GWM and Chery have experienced considerable growth. GWM recorded a 17.0% increase in sales, while Chery saw a 228.8% increase, with 14,123 and 2268 units sold respectively.
Traditional Models Remain Popular
The Ford Ranger is the most sought-after new vehicle in Australia for 2025, with 28,311 sales in the first half. Ford slipped to third position with lower Ranger volume, recording 47,300 sales in the first half of 2025. Toyota remains the clear leader in the Australian market, with a 19.9% market share and 120,978 sales in the first half of 2025.
In conclusion, the Australian automotive market continues to evolve, with hybrid and electric vehicles gaining popularity alongside traditional models. Brands like BYD, GWM, and Chery are making significant inroads, offering consumers more diverse options to choose from.
The Australian automotive market witnessed a 1.4% decline in the first half of 2025, but hybrid and electric vehicles showed strong consumer interest. Hybrid cars accounted for 19.6% of total sales, with the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid being the best-selling model. Electric vehicles accounted for 7.6% of new car sales, with Tesla Model Y leading the EV market in Australia.
Chinese-built cars gained popularity, representing 19% of total industry sales, and brands like GWM and Chery experienced significant growth. The Ford Ranger remains the most sought-after new vehicle in Australia, while Toyota retained the top spot overall with a market share of 19.9%.
In the finance sector, investing in the Australian automotive market offers promising opportunities due to the increasing demand for hybrid and electric vehicles. Real estate businesses might also find value in this growth, as home buyers in suburbs with access to public transportation or charging infrastructure could be target audiences.
The energy industry is another area that could benefit, with the rise of electric vehicles leading to increased demand for renewable energy sources to power these vehicles. In the technology industry, innovations in electric vehicle battery technology could lead to new opportunities for businesses.
The transportation industry could also see changes as electric vehicles become more popular, with a potential shift towards smart transportation systems and infrastructure needed to support this change. The lifestyle sector may need to adapt as well, with more focus on eco-friendly practices and sustainable living.
In the sports industry, American football, soccer, basketball, tennis, golf, mixed-martial-arts, and racing have numerous sponsorship opportunities with automotive brands due to the increasing popularity of hybrid and electric vehicles. Sports-betting platforms could also capitalize on these opportunities by offering betting markets for these sports events that feature automotive sponsorships.
With the rise of hybrid and electric vehicles in Australia, the automotive, finance, energy, transportation, lifestyle, technology, and sports industries could experience significant changes. Businesses in these sectors should keep an eye on these trends as they continue to evolve in the coming years.
