Tesla Dethroned: Australia’s New Best-Selling Electric Car Has Been Crowned

• The BYD Sealion 7 officially became Australia’s best-selling electric car last month, overtaking the Tesla Model Y in sales for the first time.
• This changing of the guard comes as Tesla prepares to launch a new Model Y, coupled with Elon Musk’s political activities (likely linked to the 13% drop in Tesla sales for Q1 2025).
• The BYD Sealion 7 only debuted in Australia this year, but its $54,990 starting price makes it a compelling EV option amid ongoing cost-of-living challenges.

For the last three years, the Tesla Model Y has reigned as the best-selling EV in Australia – enjoying a top 10 spot for all 2023 vehicle sales in every state other than South Australia, Tasmania, and the NT; before dipping slightly in 2024.

Now, for the first time, it’s been usurped by a recent debutante, the BYD Sealion 7, which sold 734 units compared to the 280 Tesla Model Ys moved last month (a 76% drop in sales against the same month last year).

Part of this slump for Tesla’s most popular model can be attributed to the upcoming launch of a new Model Y, due to arrive later this month, which has obviously led to runouts in dealerships across the country. However, this performance can also be attributed to Elon Musk’s political antics, which have resulted in protests at Tesla dealerships and a 13% global decline in sales across Q1 2025.

The Tesla Model 3 also dipped in sales, falling to 10th place for the month with just 220 sales. Behind the Sealion 7, the MG4 claimed second place with 363 sales, while the BYD Atto 3 (355) and Kia EV5 (342) rounded out the top four.

Just 39 units separated second place from seventh, highlighting the fierce competition in the Australian EV market.

More broadly, EV sales as a whole have decreased by 44.2% compared to April 2024, but plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) saw an even sharper decline; sales plummeted following the removal of the Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) exemption. Despite this, PHEVs still saw a 95% year-on-year increase, with the BYD Shark 6 leading the pack.

Toyota continues to dominate the hybrid market with the RAV4, Corolla, and Corolla Cross taking the top three ranks. Though Hyundai isn’t exactly backing down with the Tucson and Kona making a strong showing.

It’s clear that, while the shift to electric continues, the landscape is changing fast, with new challengers like BYD looking to make their mark.

Australia’s Top 10 Best-Selling EVs (April 2025)