Australia’s most popular SUV for 2023 is revealed as fully electric Chinese-made Tesla Model Y

Australia’s most popular SUV isn’t a Toyota or even anything made in Japan, but an all-electric Tesla Model Y from China.

The Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger have almost always occupied the top two spots in the monthly car sales charts this year, switching places occasionally.

But apart from Thai-built cars, Australia’s most popular SUV is the Chinese-made Tesla Model Y, taking the spot in September, June and May, data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries showed.

Last month, 3,811 Model Ys were ordered, almost three-quarters of the 5,177 new Teslas that found a home in September.

The Model Y has been in the top 10 without exception since March, while the Toyota LandCruiser has also reached it seven times.

Outside of the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger models, Australia’s most popular SUV is the Chinese-made Telsa Model Y, taking the spot in September, June and May, data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries shows.

The Toyota RAV4, available as an electric hybrid at petrol prices, was Australia’s most popular SUV in August and April and was in the top 10 nine times this year.

The Mitsubishi Outlander was the most popular all-wheel drive version in March, while the MG ZS, available with a fully electric version, took that spot in July.

The Mazda CX-5 was the most popular SUV in February, while the smaller Mazda CX-3 held that title in January, but in both months the Tesla Model 3 sedan outsold both Mazdas.

So outside of the best-selling cars, Tesla had Australia’s most popular car in five out of nine months.

In 2023, SUVs accounted for 56 percent or 505,581 of the 899,286 new vehicles sold.

Tesla ranked eighth with a 4.2 percent market share, with 37,997 units sold so far this year, or more than double the level of 14,023 in the first nine months of 2022.

This put him ahead of the four-wheel drive specialist Subaru and Isuzu Ute.

Battery electric vehicles accounted for eight percent of sales last month, more than half of which were Teslas.

From January 1, 2024, the New South Wales Labor Government will remove the $3,000 rebates for new electric vehicles introduced by the previous coalition government in 2021.

It was available to the first 25,000 electric or hydrogen cars purchased since September 1 of that year, worth up to $68,750.

The Toyota RAV4 was Australia’s most popular SUV in August and April, while the Mitsubishi Outlander (pictured) was the most popular four-wheel drive in March

Stamp duty exemptions were also offered for new and used electric vehicles worth up to $78,000, leading to potential subsidies of $5,540.

The end of sweeteners could lead to a run on Teslas in the final months of 2023, with Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries CEO Tony Weber calling for an end to restrictions on electric car supply.

“Our advice is that the supply of vehicles in Australia, including electric vehicles, continues to improve, so consumers looking to purchase a new vehicle should visit a dealer or manufacturer,” he said.