VFACTS August 2022: Tesla sales drive record month for EVs in Australia

The Tesla Model 3 was the fourth most popular vehicle in August as the US electric-car brand inspired a record month for EV sales.

Tesla sold 3397 vehicles last month after a big shipload arrived to bring fresh supplies of the Model 3 sedan as well as the first deliveries of the related Model Y SUV.

The combined 3 and Y sales accounted for 80 per cent of August’s total of 4235 electric vehicle sales, which represented 4.4 per cent of the total new-car market.

EV sales account for two per cent of the market year to date. In a reverse of the overall market, electric passenger cars lead the way in the total 14,524 EV sales – with 9420 units versus 5070 units for electric SUVs.

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Industry body the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) said electrified vehicles, combining battery electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid cars, now form just over 10 per cent of the new-car market in 2022.

Hybrid vehicles form the biggest share of electrified vehicles, with 54,699 sales year to date – up 13 per cent.

Plug-in hybrid sales increased by 84 per cent – to 540 units – when comparing August 2022 and August 2021.

The Tesla Model 3’s August result gave the electric sedan two-thirds of the Medium Car Over $60,000 segment. Year-to-date sales of 7037 equate to a 44 per cent segment share.

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The Model Y’s 1017 sales gave it a 32 per cent share in the Medium SUVs Over $60,000 segment, where it comfortable outsold popular luxury SUVs including the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC, and Volvo XC60.

Tesla started reporting its sales results only from April, having previously remained coy about its showroom performance.

Its first report revealed it was the country’s 15th most popular brand and had 4417 sales in the first quarter.

The company was hit by supply issues from its Chinese production plants in the second quarter just after releasing its long-awaited Model Y SUV.