VFACTS March 2026: EV sales hit record 14.6% share as BYD and Kia crash the top three
Record electric vehicle demand pushed BYD and Kia into the top three for March 2026, as petrol and diesel sales slumped amid Middle East fuel supply disruptions. Full sales data inside.
Rob Leigh
March 2026 Key takeaways
- EV sales hit a record 14.6% market share
- BYD entered the top three brands for the first time
- Petrol vehicle sales dropped 20.8% year-on-year
- Ford Ranger remained Australia's best-selling vehicle
Australia's new-car market slipped 2.6% in March 2026 with 108,703 vehicles delivered, but the headline story was electric. EV sales surged 88.9% year-on-year to a record 15,839 units, representing 14.6% of the total market - the highest monthly share ever recorded. Australia’s EV market is expanding quickly, particularly across the SUV segment where most new models are landing.
Fuel price anxiety is driving the shift. The average price of diesel surpassed $3.00 per litre before the government cut the fuel excise by 32 cents per litre last week, while 91-octane unleaded pushed past $2.50. FCAI chief executive Tony Weber welcomed the EV momentum but urged caution, noting it was "too early to determine whether this represents a structural shift."
Hybrid sales rose 6.7% to 17,953 units and PHEVs climbed 18.5% to 8,215. Petrol fell 20.8% to 34,694 units and diesel dropped 10.1% to 28,364.
Top 10 Brands - March 2026
Here’s how the market stacked up by brand in March:
| Rank | Brand | Sales | Change YoY |
| 1 | Toyota | 16,574 | -19.3% |
| 2 | Kia | 7,320 | +0.2% |
| 3 | BYD | 7,217 | +50.0% |
| 4 | Mazda | 7,156 | -10.5% |
| 5 | Ford | 7,149 | -13.2% |
| 6 | Hyundai | 6,979 | +2.4% |
| 7 | GWM | 5,680 | +29.3% |
| 8 | Mitsubishi | 5,001 | -31.2% |
| 9 | MG | 4,218 | +7.4% |
| 10 | Chery | 4,018 | +84.1% |
Toyota held the top spot despite a 19.3% sales drop, largely due to the RAV4 changeover. Kia took second on flat sales, carried by strong EV3 and K4 numbers. BYD hit its highest-ever ranking in third with the Sealion 7 up 244% to 1,970 units. Four Chinese brands finished in the top 10.
Top 10 Models - March 2026
Here’s how the top 10 models landed in March:
| Rank | Model | Sales | Change YoY |
| 1 | Ford Ranger | 4,452 | -9.7% |
| 2 | Toyota HiLux | 4,167 | +2.1% |
| 3 | Tesla Model Y | 2,818 | +63.4% |
| 4 | Nissan X-Trail | 2,438 | +25.3% |
| 5 | Mitsubishi Outlander | 2,318 | -22.9% |
| 6 | Hyundai Kona | 2,316 | +15.2% |
| 7 | Chery Tiggo 4 | 2,258 | +80.4% |
| 8 | Isuzu D-Max | 2,167 | +3.8% |
| 9 | Hyundai Tucson | 2,042 | +11.5% |
| 10 | GWM Haval Jolion | 2,013 | +28.4% |
The Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux utes held one-two despite diesel price headwinds. The Tesla Model Y's podium finish - up 63.4% to 2,818 units - underlines the EV surge. The RAV4 barely cracked the top 20 as Toyota navigates its generational changeover.
Segment highlights
Passenger cars
- Small cars under $45k: Toyota Corolla led (1,259), ahead of the Kia K4 (784) and Mazda 3 (702)
- Medium cars: Toyota Camry dominated the under-$60k bracket (1,197); Tesla Model 3 topped the over-$60k segment (667)
- People movers: Kia Carnival well clear on 977 units; Volkswagen ID. Buzz second (106)
- Sports under $90k: Ford Mustang led (239), ahead of Mazda MX-5 (90) and Subaru BRZ (69)
- Large cars over $70k: MG IM5 debuted in top spot (45), ahead of the Volvo ES90 (26)
SUVs
- Light SUV: Mazda CX-3 led (1,161), followed by Suzuki Jimny (751)
- Small SUV under $45k: Hyundai Kona (2,316) edged Chery Tiggo 4 (2,258) and GWM Haval Jolion (2,013) in a tight race
- Small SUV over $45k: BMW X1/iX1 topped at 507 units; Kia EV3 second (461)
- Medium SUV under $65k: Tesla Model Y dominated (2,818); Nissan X-Trail second (2,438)
- Medium SUV over $65k: Zeekr 7X led the premium bracket (679), ahead of BMW X3/iX3 (594) and Kia EV5 (587)
- Large SUV: Toyota Prado pipped the Ford Everest by 45 units (1850 vs 1,805)
- Upper large SUV: Toyota LandCruiser wagon topped both brackets (1,123)
Utes and vans
- 4x4 utes: Ford Ranger dominated (4,230), ahead of HiLux (3,636) and Triton (1,702)
- Large pickups: Ford F-150 led (270), ahead of RAM 1500 (181) and Chevrolet Silverado (172)
- Medium vans: Toyota HiAce well clear on 1,226 units
March delivered a clear signal: EV demand is accelerating fast - but whether this is a structural shift or a fuel-driven spike will become clearer in the months ahead.
FAQs
What were the top-selling cars in Australia in March 2026?
The Ford Ranger topped the charts with 4452 sales, followed by the Toyota HiLux (4167) and Tesla Model Y (2818). The Nissan X-Trail (2438) and Mitsubishi Outlander (2318) rounded out the top five.
How many EVs were sold in Australia in March 2026?
A record 15,839 battery-electric vehicles were sold in March 2026, representing 14.6% of the total market - the highest monthly EV share ever recorded in Australia. That was up 88.9% compared to March 2025.
Which brands sold the most cars in Australia in March 2026?
Toyota led with 16,574 sales. Kia finished second with 7,320 and BYD took third with 7,217 - its highest-ever brand ranking in Australia. Mazda (7,156) and Ford (7,149) rounded out the top five.
