As the sun sets on 2025, we aren’t just looking back at another year of automotive sales; we are looking back at the year the tipping point finally arrived in Australia.

For a long time, the “EV transition” felt like something happening elsewhere—in the tech-heavy streets of Oslo or the mega-cities of China. But in 2025, you only had to look at your local Australian school gate, Bunnings car park, or regional highway stop to see that the landscape has fundamentally shifted.

At EV Evolution, we’ve been tracking every registration and every new charging plug. Today, we’re celebrating a massive milestone: There are now more than 410,000 electric vehicles on Australian roads.

This isn’t just a record; it’s a revolution. Let’s dive into the data, the dominant players, and the reasons why 2025 will go down in history as the year the EV became “The New Normal” for Aussie families.

1. The Numbers: A Year of “Firsts”

The statistics for 2025 are, quite frankly, staggering. According to the latest data from the Electric Vehicle Council and VFACTS, the first half of 2025 alone saw 72,758 electric vehicles (including both battery-electric and plug-in hybrids) delivered to Australian driveways. That was a 24.4% jump over the previous record set in 2024.

The June “Super-Month”

Perhaps the most telling moment of the year was June 2025. In a month traditionally dominated by EOFY (End of Financial Year) sales, EVs captured nearly 16% of the total new car market. Think about that: one in every six new cars sold in Australia that month was a plug-in.

The 410,000 Club

By September 2025, Australia officially surpassed the 410,000-vehicle fleet milestone. To put that in perspective, our national EV fleet has more than doubled in just two years. We are no longer a “niche” market of early adopters; we are a mainstream powerhouse.

2. The Great Market Shake-Up: Winners of 2025

For years, the Australian EV story was essentially the “Tesla Show.” While Tesla remains a titan, 2025 was the year the competition truly woke up.

• The Tesla Model Y Legacy: The Model Y maintained its crown as the best-selling EV in the country, with over 18,000 units sold year-to-date by October. Its mix of range, tech, and brand recognition remains the benchmark.
• The Rise of the Sealion: The biggest story of the year was the BYD Sealion 7. This medium SUV didn’t just enter the market; it exploded. By late 2025, it had solidified its spot as the #2 best-selling EV in Australia, proving that Aussie buyers are hungry for high-spec alternatives to the American incumbent.
• The “New Guard” from China: 2025 saw a literal parade of new brands hitting our shores. Names like Zeekr, Geely, Leapmotor, and Deepal are now becoming common sights. The Zeekr 7X and Geely EX5 both saw massive growth in the final quarter, targeting that “sweet spot” of family-sized SUVs with premium features at mid-tier prices.

3. The Price War: The Sub-$30,000 Milestone

At EV Evolution, we’ve always said that price parity would be the ultimate catalyst for change. In 2025, we finally got there.

Earlier this year, the “Cheapest EV in Australia” title was a moving target. We saw the BYD Dolphin break the psychological barrier, with prices dropping as low as $29,990 in some jurisdictions. Following closely were the MG4 and the GWM Ora, both of which stayed firmly in the mid-$30k bracket.

When you can buy a brand-new, high-tech EV for the same price as a well-specced petrol hatch, the financial argument becomes impossible to ignore. Combine those purchase prices with the massive savings on fuel (averaging $1,300+ per year) and 2025 became the year that “EVs are too expensive” finally died as a valid excuse.

4. Beyond the City: Regional Adoption

One of the most heartening trends of 2025 has been where the growth is happening. It’s no longer just the inner-city suburbs of Sydney and Melbourne.

Growth in outer-metropolitan areas and regional towns actually outpaced the city centres this year. Why? Because regional Australians drive more kilometres and stand to save the most on fuel. With the national charging network expanding to over 1,320 fast-charging sites (a 20% increase this year), the “range anxiety” that used to keep EVs in the city is rapidly evaporating.

5. The Second-Hand Surge

In our “Year in Review,” we have to mention the used car market. In 2025, the sales of pre-owned EVs grew by 300%.

As early adopters traded in their 3-year-old models for the latest 2025 tech, a vibrant second-hand market emerged. This has allowed a whole new demographic of drivers—students, first-car buyers, and budget-conscious families—to get behind the wheel of an EV for under $25,000. This “circular economy” is a vital sign of a maturing automotive market.

6. Policy Power: The NVES Impact

We can’t talk about 2025 without mentioning the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES). This policy, which finally aligned Australia with other developed nations, forced manufacturers to bring their most efficient models to our shores.

The result? In 2025, Australians had access to over 153 different EV models (94 BEVs and 59 PHEVs). From the tiny Hyundai Inster to the massive Kia EV9 and the first wave of electric utes like the BYD Shark 6, choice has never been better.

Conclusion: Looking Toward 2026

If 2025 was the year the record broke, 2026 is looking to be the year we build a whole new stadium. With a target of 1 million EVs on the road by 2028, we need to keep this momentum going.

At EV Evolution, we are proud to be your partner in this journey. Whether you were one of the 410,000 already on the road or you’re planning to make 2026 your year of change, the data is clear: the future is electric, it’s Australian, and it’s unstoppable.

🤖 Get the Full Sales Breakdown

Are you a data nerd like us? Or maybe you’re just curious about which EV is winning the “Battle of the Burbs” in your state?

The EV Evolution AI-Powered Chatbot is loaded with the final VFACTS and EVC data for 2025. You can get instant answers to the most specific market questions.

Start a conversation and try asking our AI:

• “What were the total Australia EV sales in 2025?”
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• “How many charging plugs were added to the Australian network in 2025?”
• “What is the market share of EVs vs. Hybrids in Australia right now?”

Click the chat icon to speak with our AI thought partner and get the facts behind the 2025 record-breaker.

About EV Evolution

EV Evolution is the leading online platform dedicated to Australian electric vehicle owners and enthusiasts. We foster a vibrant community, delivering essential EV news and insights, and enhancing user engagement through our innovative, AI-powered chatbot for dynamic discussions. Our mission is to empower Australian electric vehicle owners and enthusiasts by fostering a vibrant, AI-driven online community that connects, informs, and advances the nation’s electric vehicle landscape.