Australia March 2026 Car Sales: EVs Hit Record 14.6% Share as Ford Ranger Holds the Top

Australia's new-car market softened slightly in March 2026, but EVs hit a record 14.6% market share — nearly double last year — as the Ford Ranger held the top spot and BYD cracked the monthly brand podium for the first time.

Australia's new-car market delivered 105,058 vehicles in March 2026, a 3.3 per cent dip year-on-year — but the real headline was the surge in electric vehicle adoption, which reached a record 14.6 per cent of total sales, nearly double the 7.5 per cent recorded in March 2025. Ford Ranger Still on Top The Ford Ranger retained its position as Australia's best-selling vehicle for March 2026, although it shed nearly 10 per cent year-on-year. The Toyota HiLux followed in second place, while the Tesla Model Y climbed to third once non-VFACTS EV registrations are included — a significant milestone for the electric segment. EV Surge Driven by Fuel Prices and Policy Industry analysts have attributed the record EV share to rising petrol prices linked to Middle East supply disruptions and ongoing government review of EV tax exemptions. The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) noted the spike may reflect external factors, and warned that public charging infrastructure must keep pace to…