2023 electric car sales record led by Tesla, BYD and MG – but luxury brands are also doing plenty of EV heavy lifting

BYD, Tesla and MG accounted for 74 percent of a record 87,217 EVs sold in Australia in 2023.

Sales figures released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries showed its was relatively new brands leading the way with electric car sales – with Tesla accounting for 53 percent of all EV sales.

Spurred by new vehicle arrivals, government incentives and a freer supply of stock, the electric car market surged 161 percent over 2022.

And 83 percent of those EVs were sourced from China, with brands such as Tesla, BYD, MG, Polestar, Volvo, GWM, LDV and BMW all sourcing electric cars from what is now the world’s biggest car manufacturer.

EV sales growing fast

Electric cars now account for 7.2 percent of all vehicles sold in Australia.

But delve deeper into the figures and there’s serious strength in some market segments.

Of all mid-sized sedans and wagons on the market – from the Toyota Camry and Mazda6 to the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class – 42 percent of them are powered by electricity.

It’s bolstered by the Tesla Model 3, which is by far the country’s top selling mid-sized car, its 17,347 annual sales comfortable outselling the Toyota Camry, on 10,581.

Throw in the Polestar 2 and Hyundai Ioniq 6 and EVs are having a big impact on what was once a sizeable market segment – again growing off the back of some popular EVs.

Medium SUVs powered by electrons are also proving popular in Australia.

Of 268,480 bought by Aussies in 2023 a full 16 percent of them – almost one in six – are pure electric.

For a category that includes the Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5 and Hyundai Tucson it’s a significant change of pace.

Of course, it was the Tesla Model Y – the top selling EV in the country – that helped with the big result.

But it was backed up by others, including the BYD Atto 3 that continues to prove popular.

Going EV in luxury

But it’s luxury and prestige brands that have the highest penetration of electric.

Of about 168,000 luxury and prestige models bought in 2023, 36 percent of them were EVs.

Again, it’s Tesla doing the heavy lifting, with 46,116 sales.

But Polestar also chimed in with 2463 sales.

Plus many of the traditional luxury marques managed sales splits well above the 7.2 percent industry average.

Volvo was the highest, with 35.5 percent of its 11,128 sales EV.

Hyundai’s luxury division also had 14.6 percent of its 1916 sales as electric, while Mercedes-Benz (13.1 percent EV), Mini (12.9 percent EV), BNMW (11.4 percent EV) and Porsche (8.8 percent EV) all performing strongly.

More EV action to come in 2024

Of course, the EV market is only just starting to warm up and 2024 is shaping up to be another big year.

READ MORE: Electric year ahead: Every new EV coming to Australia in 2024

Toyota, Subaru and Volkswagen will start selling their first battery electric vehicles this year while Kia is set to unleash the EV5 mid-sized SUV that’s expected to be priced from about $60,000.

Porsche will also unleash its EV-only next generation Macan SUV.

Volvo is gearing up to start deliveries of the EX30 while Polestar will bring the 3 and 4 SUVs.

2023 electric car sales by make/model

Make and Model	2023 sales
Tesla Model Y	28,769
Tesla Model 3	17,347
BYD Atto 3	11,042
MG4	3134
Volvo XC40 Pure Electric	2846
MG ZS EV	2794
Polestar 2	2463
Kia EV6	1831
Mercedes-Benz EQA	1196
Volvo C40	1103
Kia Niro Electric	1000
Hyundai Ioniq 5	947
BMW iX1	936
BYD Dolphin	925
Cupra Born	887
Hyundai Kona Electric	836
BMW iX	822
Mercedes-Benz EQB	783
BMW iX3	772
Hyundai Ioniq 6	623
Mini Cooper EV	551
Porsche Taycan	535
GWM Ora	526
Nissan Leaf	484
BYD Seal	471
Mercedes-Benz EQE	437
BMW i4	353
Audi e-Tron GT	339
Mercedes-Benz EQC	323
Lexus RZ	265
Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV	252
Kia EV9	208
Audi e-Tron	200
Genesis GV60	191
Fiat/Abarth 500e	174
Lexus UX300e	113
LDV eT60	79
Genesis GV70 Electrified	78
Foton Mobility T5	71
Peugeot ePartner	71
Mercedes-Benz EQS	67
BMW i7	63
Ford e-Transit	61
Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV	60
Mercedes-Benz Vito	59
Peugeot e-2008	57
Ford Mustang Mach-E	51
BMW i5	44
LDV eDeliver 9	44
Jaguar I-Pace	35
SEA Electric (MD)	24
Renault Kangoo Electric	18
Mazda MX-30 EV	13
LDV Mifa9	12
Genesis G80 Electrified	11
Hyundai Mighty	11
Mercedes-Benz EQV	11
LDV eDeliver7	4
Renault Megane E-Tech	3
Rolls-Royce Spectre	3
SEA Electric (HD)	2

2023 electric car sales by brand

Brand	2023 sales
Tesla	46,116
BYD	12,438
MG	5928
Volvo	3949
Mercedes-Benz	3188
Kia	3039
BMW	2990
Polestar	2463
Hyundai	2417
Cupra	887
Mini	551
Audi	539
Porsche	535
GWM	526
Nissan	484
Lexus	378
Genesis	280
Fiat	174
LDV	139
Peugeot	128
Ford	112
Foton	71
Jaguar	35
SEA Electric	26
Renault	21
Mazda	13
Rolls-Royce	3