An all-electric Tesla has outsold the Ford Ranger for the first time ever.
The Tesla Model Y was Australia’s second best-selling car in June, behind only the Toyota HiLux ute.
US billionaire CEO Elon Musk’s Tesla EV brand is now outselling Mitsubishi, Subaru and Volkswagen as the main beneficiaries of government subsidies that have helped make all-electric cars much more popular than hybrid vehicles.
The Australian-designed Ford Ranger was pushed into third place last month after topping the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries sales charts in January, February and April this year.
This was Tesla’s best-ever result with 5,560 Model Y midsize SUVs ordered in June, ahead of the Ranger’s 5,334 but trailing the HiLux with 6,142 monthly sales.
Chinese-built cars held two spots in the top ten, with the Tesla Model Y and the MG ZS having 3,756 sales for a model available as an all-electric SUV.
The Tesla Model Y was Australia’s second best-selling car in June, after the Toyota HiLux ute
The Australian-designed Ford Ranger was pushed to third place last month after topping the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries sales charts in January, February and April this year
Tesla had a market share of 5.6 percent in June, ranking sixth ahead of MG (4.8 percent), Mitsubishi (4.2 percent), Volkswagen (4.1 percent) and Subaru (3.9 percent). per cent).
All-electric cars had a market share of 8.8 percent in June, more than half of the combined share of 16.6 percent for electric, hybrid and plug-in vehicles.
Ride-sharing company Uber is offering $3,500 in incentives for those renting to buy a Tesla Model Y, while the NSW government is offering $3,000 in rebates for EVs worth up to $68,750.
The most affordable Model Y costs $65,400.
Stamp duty exemptions are also available for EVs valued up to $78,000, potentially saving buyers up to $3,000.
So a buyer of a base model Model Y, driving away for less than $68,750, could potentially be subsidized by $5,540.
Tony Weber, CEO of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, said more trendsetting buyers are interested in electric cars.
“The early adopters of the new powertrain technology continue to drive electric vehicle sales across the country,” Weber said.
“The steady introduction of new battery electric models across all model segments at more competitive prices is critical as we face the challenges of providing electric vehicles that meet consumer business and personal needs at prices that mainstream buyers can afford.’
Toyota, which has yet to release an all-electric car in Australia, took fifth place with the RAV4 with 2,858 sales for an SUV available as a petrol-electric hybrid.
The Toyota LandCruiser was sixth with 2,724 sales, ahead of the Hyundai Tucson SUV with 2,667 sales.
The Hyundai i30 hatchback was the only passenger car in the top ten, taking eighth place with 2,523 units sold.
Thai-built cars had four places in the top ten, with the Mazda BT-50 in ninth place with 2,560 sales and the Isuzu D-Max, which shares the same platform, in tenth place with 2,500 sales.
The HiLux and Ranger are also made in Thailand.
Ford’s F-150 Lightning all-electric pickup truck is so popular in the United States that it won’t be coming to Australia as the six-foot American mega-cars arrive in showrooms locally.
Only the Toyota HiLux (pictured), with 6,142 sales, outsold the Tesla Model Y in June