The Australian automotive landscape has just witnessed a historic changing of the guard. For years, the story of electric vehicles in this country has been synonymous with one brand: Tesla. But the sales figures recorded for October 2025 reveal a dramatic pivot.
In a month that will be remembered as a turning point, BYD has officially outsold Tesla, claiming the crown as Australia’s top-selling electric vehicle brand for the month.
At EV Evolution, we deal in facts, not hype. The numbers released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) tell a fascinating story of a maturing market, surging competition, and a diverse new wave of models that are finally giving Aussie drivers real choice. Here is the true-fact breakdown of what happened in October 2025.
📊 The Headline Numbers: October 2025
The broader new car market remained steady with 99,588 vehicles sold, but the powertrain mix is shifting rapidly.
- Total BEV Sales: 7,361 units.
- EV Market Share: 7.3% (a dip from the September high of 11.3%, but stable year-on-year).
- The Big Shift: Hybrids and Plug-in Hybrids (PHEVs) are surging. Traditional Hybrids were up 25%, while PHEVs exploded with 95% growth compared to October 2024.
🥊 The New King of the Month: BYD Takes the Throne
The most shocking statistic for October is the toppling of the giant.
- BYD Total EV Sales: 2,229 units
- Tesla Total EV Sales: 916 units
This result was driven by a perfect storm: a significant drop in Tesla deliveries (particularly the Model 3, which fell 81% month-on-month due to shipment timing) and the unstoppable rise of BYD’s fresh model lineup.
The BYD Sealion 7 has emerged as the new heavyweight champion, recording 1,341 sales to become the #1 best-selling EV in Australia for October. This mid-sized SUV has struck a chord with Australian families, blending size, tech, and price in a way that is clearly eating into the Model Y’s dominance.
🏆 The Top 10 Best-Selling EVs (October 2025)
The diversity in this list is something every EV enthusiast should celebrate. Just two years ago, this list would have been Tesla, followed by daylight. Today, it is a battleground of innovation.
- BYD Sealion 7: 1,341 sales
- Tesla Model Y: 735 sales
- Geely EX5: 343 sales
- Kia EV5: 340 sales
- BYD Atto 3: 318 sales
- BYD Dolphin: 311 sales
- MG S5 (New Entrant): 282 sales
- BYD Seal: 259 sales
- Kia EV3: 241 sales
- Volkswagen ID.4: 197 sales
Notable Mentions:
- Geely EX5: A fantastic result for a newcomer, grabbing 3rd place with 343 sales. This proves that Australian buyers are ready to embrace new brands if the value proposition is right.
- MG S5: The replacement for the veteran ZS EV has arrived. Recording 282 sales in its ramp-up phase, the MG S5 is set to be a massive volume player in 2026.
- Zeekr 7X: Just missing the top 10 with 178 sales, this premium entrant is showing promising early signs.
📉 Why Did Tesla Drop?
For those worried about Tesla’s “collapse,” context is key. Tesla’s delivery model is cyclical. October is the first month of the quarter, a period where Tesla deliveries historically dip before surging in December. The Model 3’s low figure of 181 units is almost certainly a supply constraint rather than a demand cliff. However, the fact that BYD could fill that vacuum so aggressively shows that Tesla can no longer take its market lead for granted.
🔌 The Rise of the Plug-in Hybrid
We cannot ignore the 95% surge in PHEV sales. With models like the BYD Sealion 6 and the newly launched Shark 6 ute gaining traction, it’s clear that many Australians are using PHEVs as a stepping stone. While purists prefer BEVs, the PHEV boom is getting more plugs into garages and normalizing the charging habit for thousands of new drivers.
🇦🇺 What This Means for You
For the Australian buyer, this data proves one thing: Competition works.
The days of having only two viable options are over. You can now choose between the tech-heavy Kia EV5, the value-packed Geely EX5, the performance-focused BYD Seal, or the reliable veteran Tesla Model Y.
Prices are sharpening, features are improving, and inventory is plentiful. There has never been a better time to make the switch.
🤖 Join the EV Evolution
With so many new models like the MG S5, Geely EX5, and Kia EV3 hitting the charts, keeping up with specs, real-world range, and pricing can be overwhelming.
Don’t guess—get the answers instantly.
At EV Evolution, we invite you to try chatting with our AI chatbot. It is trained on the very latest October 2025 data and can help you navigate this new landscape.
- “How does the real-world range of the new BYD Sealion 7 compare to the Model Y?”
- “Is the Geely EX5 bigger than the BYD Atto 3?”
- “What is the drive-away price of the new MG S5 in Victoria?”
Stop scrolling through spreadsheets. Visit EV Evolution today, chat with our AI, and find the perfect electric vehicle for your lifestyle in Australia’s most exciting car market.
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.
