Australian motorists are shunning fully electric cars and sales are plummeting, with zero-emission vehicles in the top 10 for the first time in almost two years, new figures show.
This comes just months before Anthony Albanese’s government introduces a new vehicle efficiency standard that aims to cut vehicle emissions by 59 percent in just four years, imposing fines on sellers of gasoline, diesel and even gasoline-electric hybrid cars.
For the first time since July 2022, the Tesla Model Y, Tesla Model 3 and the MG ZS, available as a battery-electric SUV, were absent from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries’ monthly top 10 list.
Tesla had no models in the top 20 last month – after making the top three in both February and March.
Australian motorists are avoiding fully electric, zero-emission vehicles in the top 10 for the first time in almost two years, new figures show. Tesla had no models in the top 20 last month (pictured is a Tesla Model 3 – Australia’s 26th best-selling car in April)
Australia’s best-selling car in April was instead the Toyota RAV4, an SUV available as a hybrid that was last the No. 1 car in August 2020.
The 5,857 monthly sales marked an increase of 166.5 percent compared to a year ago.
Cars available as hybrids had four places in the top 10, including the Toyota Corolla in sixth place with 2,097 sales – an increase of 165.1 percent compared to April 2023.
The Toyota Camry sedan, also available as a hybrid, was in ninth place with 1,873 units sold, more than triple the level of a year earlier, with an increase of 226.3 percent.
The Mitsubishi Outlander, available as a plug-in hybrid, completed the top 10 list with 1,848 sales.
Environmentally conscious drivers now prefer hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles, which together had an 18.3 percent market share, more than double the April 2023 level of 7.5 percent.
But battery-electric vehicles saw a big decline to 6.4 percent, compared to 7.9 percent a year ago, as they sold more hybrids.
The Tesla Model 3 sold 911 units in April, down 42.4 percent from a year earlier, and ranked 26th, just two months after becoming Australia’s third best-selling car.
Australia’s best-selling car in April was instead the Toyota RAV4, an SUV available as a hybrid that was last the No. 1 car in August 2020.
The more expensive Tesla Model Y saw a 44.3 percent drop in sales, with 1,166 units falling to 21st place, a big drop from third place in March.
Tesla announced in March it would leave the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries in protest at the auto industry lobby group’s campaign against Labor’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard, but its electric vehicles will remain included in the monthly FCAI survey until the end of June sales data.
EVs had two spots in the top 20 list, but only ahead of models that are also available as unleaded cars.
These included the MG ZS in 11th place with 1,707 sales and the Hyundai Kona in 17th place with 1,303 sales.
Diesel cars had six places in the top 10, including the Ford Ranger in second place, with 5,569 sales, ahead of the Toyota HiLux in third place with 4,693 sales.
The other best-selling diesels included the Ford Everest SUV in fourth place with 2,400 sales and the Isuzu D-Max ute in fifth place with 2,380 sales.
The all-wheel drive LandCruiser, which includes older 70 Series models that emit 281 grams of carbon per kilometer, was seventh with 1,970 sales, ahead of the Isuzu MU-X SUV with 1,876 sales.
In addition to the top 10, there were cars available as hybrids that were among the top 20: the Kia Sportage in 12th place with 1,699 sales, the Hyundai Tucson in 14th place with 1,548 sales, the Nissan X-Trail in 19th position with 1,219 sales and the Toyota Yaris Cross in 20th place with 1,180 sales.
Labor’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), announced in February, aims to impose fines on automakers that relied too heavily on sales of gasoline and diesel cars, including those with gasoline-electric hybrid engines.
The plan, which should come into effect on January 1, 2025, aims to reduce average CO2 emissions from passenger cars to 58 grams of CO2 per kilometer by 2029.
Diesel cars had six places in the top 10, including the Ford Ranger (pictured the Raptor model using premium unleaded), in second place, with 5,569 sales, ahead of the Toyota HiLux in third place with 4,693 to sell.
This would represent a 59 percent reduction from the target of 141 grams per kilometer by 2025, as part of Labour’s plan to cut CO2 emissions by 43 percent by 2030.
Sellers of light commercial vehicles, including utes and four-wheel drive, would have to reduce emissions by 47.6 percent, from 210 grams of CO2 per kilometer in 2025 to 110 g/km in 2029.
No petrol, diesel or hybrid car on sale today would meet these NVES targets. Automakers were fined $100 for every gram their new fleet averaged above a certain threshold.
This would pass costs on to consumers, but it would reward EV makers who could sell carbon credits to their rivals, with the plan expected to reduce the price of a Tesla Model Y by $15,390, based on FCAI calculations.
Labor aims to reduce carbon emissions by 43 percent by 2030 as part of a net zero target by 2050.