Tesla Model 3 sales spike boosts total EV market share

UPDATE, February 1: Tesla's sales for 2021 were closer to 12,000 units rather than the 15,000 claimed as previously reported.

The Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) has since issued a new statement clarifying why the mistake was made.

"Due to a human error, the Tesla delivery figures for 2020 were erroneously added to the delivery figures for 2021 by Tesla before the figure was provided to the EVC," an EV Council spokesperson said.

"So instead of 15,054 Tesla Model 3 deliveries in 2021, the figure should have been 12,094."

Our original story has been updated to include the correct numbers below.

The story to here

January 31: For some reason, Tesla prefers to keep its Australian sales close to its chest– despite its Model 3 sedan being a huge success here.

But a new detailed list of the battery-powered vehicle sales in Australia has revealed the Model 3 was a chart-topper in Australia in 2021, with daylight between it and the second-most popular electric model on the list, which included plug-in hybrid models.

The list, revealed by the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC), shows the Elon Musk-run company sold more than 12,000 Model 3s in Australia last year, putting it in the same league as traditionally popular vehicles such as the Toyota Camry, Mazda 3 and Subaru Forester.

By comparison, only 211 examples of the Model S were sold, along with 292 Model X SUVs.

4

The Model 3's 12,094 reported sales were 10,728 more than the second place model, the MG ZS (1366 sales), which is Australia’s most affordable BEV.

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV came in third with 592 sales, closely followed by the MG HS PHEV (590).

Australia’s most expensive BEV, the Porsche Taycan, sold 531 units to secure the fifth spot ahead of the Hyundai Kona (503), while other premium models, such as the Audi E-Tron and Mercedes-Benz EQS failed to make the top 10 (see the full list below).

More interestingly, the Taycan also outsold its iconic ICE stablemates, the 911 (428), Cayman (147) and Boxster (109)

4

EV sales rise sharply

According to the EVC, plug-in vehicle sales in Australia more than tripled during the past year from 6900 in 2020 to 20,665 in 2021 (20,727 if you include the Hyundai Nexo and Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles).

EVs now account for 1.95 percent market share of new vehicles, up from 0.78 per cent in 2020, despite the delivery of many models being delayed due to supply issues.

EVC chief executive Behyad Jafari said the boost in sales has been driven by positive policy changes at a state level and that momentum could now be built upon if the Federal Government plays its cards right this year.

“The penny has now well and truly dropped on how good electric vehicles are. Most people in the car market will now be considering an electric option. The role of government is to help them make the jump,” Jafari said.

“Governments that take the path of encouragement will capture myriad societal benefits – cleaner air, reduced respiratory illness, smaller carbon footprint, quieter roads. Those that lag will make themselves a dumping ground for old tech, dirty vehicles.”

4

Electric Vehicle Council chief executive Behyad Jafari

He said while some state governments have received the global message, at a national level we're stuck in the past.

“We desperately need the Federal Government to introduce Australian EV rebates alongside fuel efficiency standards, just like other developed nations. If we get these changes, you'll see sales figures really rocket ahead.

"After so many wasted years, Australia's a long way back from the pack, but then again the cool thing about electric cars is how quickly they move from zero to a hundred."

2021 Australian BEV & PHEV sales