Australia March 2026: BYD first Chinese on monthly podium, BEVs (+88.9%) at record 14.6% share
BYD is up to a record third place in March. The Sealion 08 is the #1 recent launch.
The Australian new vehicle market is off -2.6% year-on-year to 108,703 in March on what was a new March record in 2025. The year-to-date tally over Q1 is down -1.8% to 290,598. This month we are starting to see the consequences of the Middle Eastern war and inflated fuel prices. Sales by alimentation show petrol sales sinking -20.8% to 34,694 and diesel down -10.1% to 28,364. Reversely hybrids are up 6.7% to 17,953, BEVs rise 88.9% to 15,839 and a record 14.6% share vs. 7.5% a year ago in March 2025 and PHEVs gain 18.5% to 8,215. BEV share over Q1 stands at 11.8%. Private sales are down -4.8% to 52,176, business fleets off -2.7% to 40,296, rentals up 23.6% to 6,714 and government fleets down -20.9% to 2,234.
SUVs gain 2.5% to 69,258 and 63.7% share vs. 60.6% in March 2025 and 58.9% two years ago but light commercials drop -10.5% to 21,990 and 20.2% share vs. 22% last year and 21% in 2024, passenger cars fall -9.9% to 13,817 and 12.7% share vs. 13.7% in 2025 and heavy commercials gain 5.5% to 3,638 and 3.3% share vs. 3.1% last year. Excluding Tesla and Polestar sales, all states and territories are down this month bar Queensland up 3.9% to 22,812. New South Wales is down -5.9% to 31,513, Victoria down -2.5% to 28,791, Western Australia down -7.3% to 11,202, South Australia down -7.3% to 6,622, Tasmania down -1.7% to 1,744, Australian Capital Territory down -4.7% to 1,579 and Northern Territory off -17.3% to 795. Looking at sales by country of origin, China (+45.1%) cements its newfound dominance with 30,993 sales ahead of Japan (-20.4% to 26,892), Thailand (-7.1% to 20,251), South Korea (-1.8% to 13,055) and Germany (-10.2% to 4,513).
There is a big reshuffle in the brands ranking. Toyota (-19.3%) continues to underperform at 15.2% share. This is still well above twice any other carmaker in the country. Kia (+0.2%) is stable year-on-year but climbs to a record 2nd place, also hit in June 2022 and September 2022. The event of the month is the best-ever third place of BYD (+50%) with 6.6% share and just 103 sales below Kia. This is the first time a Chinese manufacturer enters the monthly Australian podium. Mazda (-10.6%) and Ford (-13.2%) both struggle and are relegated to #4 and #5 respectively. GWM (+29.3%) is back to #7 and ascends to a record volume (5,680) and share (5.2%). For its part Chery (+84.1%) ranks #10 and manages an unbelievable 14th straight month of record volumes at 4,018. Tesla is up 23.2% to #13, Geely up 542.6% to #20 and Zeekr up 533% to #27.
Model-wise, the Ford Ranger (-9.7%) keeps the lead but falls heavily, it is followed like last month by the Toyota Hilux (+2.1%) and Tesla Model Y (+63.4%). The Model Y is now up to #8 year-to-date vs. #10 over the Full Year 2025. Boosted by promotions on the outgoing generation and demo sales of the new model, the Nissan X-Trail (+25.3%) surges 40 spots on February to #4, the nameplateβs new ranking record eclipsing its previous best of #6 reached in September 2018 and February 2024. The Hyundai Kona (+15.2%) is strong at #6 followed by the Chery Tiggo 4 (+80.4%) down three spots on last month to #7 but staying #3 year-to-date. Notice also the BYD Sealion 7 (+243.8%) up to #11. Still handicapped by a lengthy generation changeover, the Toyota RAV4 (-68.5%) ranks #20 both for the month and YTD. The BYD Sealion 8 is the best-selling recent launch at #35 above the Zeekr 7X (#42), Geely Starray (#46) and BYD Atto 2 (#49).
Previous month: Australia March 2026: China becomes #1 source country, Toyota off -27.8% to lowest share in 3 years
One year ago: Australia March 2025: BYD #1 Chinese brand, BEVs down -19.9%
Full March 2026 Top 58 All brands and Top 50 models below.
Australia March 2026 β brands:
| Pos | Brand | Mar-26 | % | /25 | Feb | 2026 | % | /25 | Pos | FY25 |
| 1 | ToyotaΒ Β | 16,574 | 15.2% | β 19.3% | 1 | 44,490 | 15.3% | β 23.0% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | KiaΒ Β | 7,320 | 6.7% | + 0.2% | 4 | 20,630 | 7.1% | + 4.5% | 3 | 4 |
| 3 | BYD | 7,217 | 6.6% | + 50.0% | 6 | 17,541 | 6.0% | + 100.1% | 6 | 8 |
| 4 | MazdaΒ Β | 7,156 | 6.6% | β 10.6% | 2 | 21,890 | 7.5% | β 12.9% | 2 | 3 |
| 5 | FordΒ Β | 7,149 | 6.6% | β 13.2% | 3 | 20,172 | 6.9% | β 5.7% | 4 | 2 |
| 6 | HyundaiΒ Β | 6,979 | 6.4% | + 2.4% | 5 | 19,101 | 6.6% | + 4.5% | 5 | 5 |
| 7 | GWM | 5,680 | 5.2% | + 29.3% | 8 | 14,878 | 5.1% | + 28.5% | 7 | 7 |
| 8 | Mitsubishi | 5,001 | 4.6% | β 31.2% | 7 | 14,103 | 4.9% | β 26.0% | 8 | 6 |
| 9 | MG | 4,218 | 3.9% | + 7.4% | 12 | 10,595 | 3.6% | β 7.1% | 10 | 10 |
| 10 | Chery | 4,018 | 3.7% | + 84.1% | 9 | 11,736 | 4.0% | + 93.8% | 9 | 13 |
| 11 | Nissan | 3,715 | 3.4% | β 8.9% | 16 | 7,361 | 2.5% | β 31.0% | 13 | 12 |
| 12 | Isuzu Ute | 3,525 | 3.2% | + 0.5% | 10 | 9,838 | 3.4% | + 7.9% | 11 | 9 |
| 13 | Tesla | 3,485 | 3.2% | + 23.2% | 11 | 7,260 | 2.5% | + 40.7% | 14 | 15 |
| 14 | SubaruΒ Β | 2,691 | 2.5% | β 15.9% | 13 | 7,683 | 2.6% | β 20.3% | 12 | 11 |
| 15 | BMW | 2,430 | 2.2% | β 1.1% | 17 | 6,186 | 2.1% | + 9.9% | 16 | 17 |
| 16 | Mercedes | 2,153 | 2.0% | β 14.9% | 14 | 6,445 | 2.2% | + 3.0% | 15 | 16 |
| 17 | Volkswagen | 1,880 | 1.7% | β 30.4% | 15 | 5,905 | 2.0% | β 18.0% | 17 | 14 |
| 18 | HondaΒ Β | 1,519 | 1.4% | β 13.9% | 18 | 4,186 | 1.4% | β 1.3% | 18 | 19 |
| 19 | SuzukiΒ Β | 1,331 | 1.2% | β 21.9% | 20 | 3,193 | 1.1% | β 28.5% | 20 | 20 |
| 20 | Geely | 1,208 | 1.1% | + 542.6% | 21 | 2,821 | 1.0% | + 1400.5% | 22 | 27 |
| 21 | LDV | 1,139 | 1.0% | β 6.3% | 19 | 3,264 | 1.1% | β 8.3% | 19 | 22 |
| 22 | Lexus | 1,126 | 1.0% | β 13.1% | 23 | 2,834 | 1.0% | β 14.6% | 21 | 21 |
| 23 | Omoda Jaecoo | 1,010 | 0.9% | new | 24 | 2,516 | 0.9% | new | 24 | 32 |
| 24 | Audi | 932 | 0.9% | β 24.5% | 22 | 2,650 | 0.9% | β 21.9% | 23 | 18 |
| 25 | Land Rover | 907 | 0.8% | β 2.6% | 27 | 1,707 | 0.6% | β 13.0% | 27 | 23 |
| 26 | Volvo | 760 | 0.7% | + 4.8% | 26 | 1,806 | 0.6% | β 5.1% | 26 | 24 |
| 27 | Zeekr | 709 | 0.7% | + 533.0% | 25 | 1,832 | 0.6% | + 768.2% | 25 | 36 |
| 28 | Mini | 543 | 0.5% | β 11.1% | 28 | 1,370 | 0.5% | β 1.7% | 28 | 25 |
| 29 | Skoda | 420 | 0.4% | β 8.5% | 30 | 1,111 | 0.4% | + 1.0% | 29 | 28 |
| 30 | Renault | 345 | 0.3% | β 11.1% | 31 | 982 | 0.3% | β 15.6% | 31 | 29 |
| 31 | Denza | 318 | 0.3% | new | 32 | 627 | 0.2% | new | 36 | 57 |
| 32 | Porsche | 300 | 0.3% | β 35.9% | 29 | 1,067 | 0.4% | β 26.2% | 30 | 26 |
| 33 | Chevrolet | 296 | 0.3% | β 17.8% | 33 | 830 | 0.3% | β 17.6% | 32 | 31 |
| 34 | Ram | 268 | 0.2% | + 0.8% | 34 | 811 | 0.3% | + 5.6% | 33 | 33 |
| 35 | KGM | 245 | 0.2% | β 35.2% | 35 | 692 | 0.2% | β 37.9% | 34 | 30 |
| 36 | Cupra | 227 | 0.2% | β 45.4% | 36 | 644 | 0.2% | β 18.3% | 35 | 34 |
| 37 | Fiat | 212 | 0.2% | + 6.5% | 41 | 408 | 0.1% | β 23.3% | 38 | 37 |
| 38 | Leapmotor | 170 | 0.2% | + 95.4% | 45 | 277 | 0.1% | + 100.7% | 42 | 42 |
| 39 | Polestar | 160 | 0.1% | β 12.1% | 37 | 465 | 0.2% | + 19.5% | 37 | 35 |
| 40 | Genesis | 131 | 0.1% | + 8.3% | 38 | 379 | 0.1% | + 12.8% | 39 | 39 |
| 41 | Foton | 109 | 0.1% | new | 40 | 328 | 0.1% | new | 40 | 51 |
| 42 | Peugeot | 102 | 0.1% | β 38.9% | 42 | 252 | 0.1% | β 32.4% | 43 | 41 |
| 43 | JAC | 82 | 0.1% | β 29.9% | 39 | 303 | 0.1% | β 42.3% | 41 | 40 |
| 44 | Deepal | 63 | 0.1% | new | 43 | 233 | 0.1% | new | 44 | 45 |
| 45 | Jeep | 58 | 0.1% | β 69.5% | 44 | 191 | 0.1% | β 64.8% | 45 | 38 |
| 46 | GMC | 35 | 0.0% | new | 46 | 106 | 0.0% | new | 46 | 46 |
| 47 | Alfa Romeo | 31 | 0.0% | β 29.5% | 47 | 96 | 0.0% | β 19.3% | 47 | 44 |
| 48 | Farizon | 25 | 0.0% | new | 53 | 45 | 0.0% | new | 50 | Β β |
| 49 | Ferrari | 20 | 0.0% | β 39.4% | 49 | 54 | 0.0% | β 6.9% | 49 | 49 |
| 50 | Aston Martin | 16 | 0.0% | β 30.4% | 51 | 38 | 0.0% | β 30.9% | 52 | 50 |
| 51 | Bentley | 15 | 0.0% | + 25.0% | 50 | 42 | 0.0% | + 31.3% | 51 | 52 |
| 52 | Maserati | 11 | 0.0% | β 75.6% | 48 | 54 | 0.0% | β 38.6% | 48 | 48 |
| 53 | Lamborghini | 6 | 0.0% | β 78.6% | 52 | 31 | 0.0% | β 62.2% | 53 | 47 |
| 54 | McLaren | 3 | 0.0% | β 66.7% | 56 | 10 | 0.0% | β 50.0% | 55 | 54 |
| 55 | Lotus | 2 | 0.0% | β 60.0% | Β β | 3 | 0.0% | β 81.3% | 57 | 53 |
| 56 | Citroen | 2 | 0.0% | n/a | Β β | 2 | 0.0% | β 60.0% | 58 | 56 |
| 57 | Rolls-Royce | 1 | 0.0% | β 75.0% | 54 | 14 | 0.0% | β 26.3% | 54 | 55 |
| 58 | Jaguar | 0 | 0.0% | β 100.0% | 55 | 7 | 0.0% | β 95.4% | 56 | 43 |
Australia March 2026 β models:
| Pos | Model | Mar-26 | % | /25 | Feb | 2026 | % | /25 | Pos | FY25 |
| 1 | Ford Ranger | 4,452 | 4.1% | β 9.7% | 1 | 12,180 | 4.2% | β 7.9% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Toyota Hilux | 4,167 | 3.8% | + 2.1% | 2 | 10,592 | 3.6% | β 3.7% | 2 | 3 |
| 3 | Tesla Model Y | 2,818 | 2.6% | + 63.4% | 3 | 5,897 | 2.0% | + 89.4% | 8 | 10 |
| 4 | Nissan X-Trail | 2,438 | 2.2% | + 25.3% | 44 | 3,761 | 1.3% | β 17.5% | 21 | 19 |
| 5 | Mitsubishi Outlander | 2,318 | 2.1% | β 22.9% | 7 | 6,363 | 2.2% | β 14.9% | 4 | 9 |
| 6 | Hyundai Kona | 2,316 | 2.1% | + 15.2% | 8 | 6,178 | 2.1% | + 18.8% | 6 | 7 |
| 7 | Chery Tiggo 4 | 2,258 | 2.1% | + 80.4% | 4 | 6,807 | 2.3% | + 103.9% | 3 | 11 |
| 8 | Isuzu D-Max | 2,167 | 2.0% | + 3.8% | 6 | 6,057 | 2.1% | β 2.2% | 7 | 4 |
| 9 | Hyundai Tucson | 2,042 | 1.9% | + 11.5% | 12 | 5,476 | 1.9% | + 15.6% | 12 | 12 |
| 10 | GWM Haval Jolion | 2,013 | 1.9% | + 28.4% | 10 | 5,606 | 1.9% | + 34.8% | 9 | 14 |
| 11 | BYD Sealion 7 | 1,970 | 1.8% | + 243.8% | 16 | 4,468 | 1.5% | + 512.1% | 15 | 25 |
| 12 | Mitsubishi Triton | 1,922 | 1.8% | β 1.6% | 9 | 5,604 | 1.9% | + 21.9% | 10 | 17 |
| 13 | MG ZS | 1,896 | 1.7% | β 6.1% | 15 | 4,500 | 1.5% | β 9.1% | 14 | 13 |
| 14 | Mazda CX-5 | 1,859 | 1.7% | + 7.2% | 5 | 6,247 | 2.1% | + 12.8% | 5 | 8 |
| 15 | Toyota Prado | 1,850 | 1.7% | β 35.6% | 18 | 4,515 | 1.6% | β 46.5% | 13 | 6 |
| 16 | Ford Everest | 1,805 | 1.7% | β 14.0% | 11 | 5,496 | 1.9% | + 10.2% | 11 | 5 |
| 17 | Toyota Corolla Cross | 1,687 | 1.6% | + 38.3% | 30 | 3,610 | 1.2% | + 12.4% | 22 | 27 |
| 18 | GWM Haval H6 | 1,665 | 1.5% | + 20.7% | 21 | 3,844 | 1.3% | + 20.1% | 19 | 26 |
| 19 | Kia Sportage | 1,652 | 1.5% | β 10.6% | 13 | 4,322 | 1.5% | β 22.8% | 17 | 15 |
| 20 | Toyota RAV4 | 1,362 | 1.3% | β 68.5% | 35 | 3,842 | 1.3% | β 72.2% | 20 | 2 |
| 21 | Isuzu MU-X | 1,358 | 1.2% | β 4.4% | 17 | 3,961 | 1.4% | + 35.7% | 18 | 20 |
| 22 | BYD Shark 6 | 1,314 | 1.2% | β 53.2% | 25 | 3,480 | 1.2% | β 28.0% | 24 | 18 |
| 23 | Toyota Corolla | 1,259 | 1.2% | β 17.6% | 14 | 4,390 | 1.5% | β 6.0% | 16 | 16 |
| 24 | Toyota Hiace | 1,246 | 1.1% | β 16.5% | 19 | 3,413 | 1.2% | β 6.6% | 25 | 24 |
| 25 | Toyota Camry | 1,197 | 1.1% | + 52.1% | 20 | 3,225 | 1.1% | + 83.4% | 27 | 36 |
| 26 | Mazda CX-30 | 1,185 | 1.1% | + 32.7% | 26 | 3,246 | 1.1% | + 6.0% | 26 | 29 |
| 27 | Subaru Forester | 1,164 | 1.1% | + 7.5% | 29 | 2,979 | 1.0% | β 7.1% | 31 | 22 |
| 28 | Mazda CX-3 | 1,161 | 1.1% | β 4.8% | 22 | 3,489 | 1.2% | β 19.6% | 23 | 21 |
| 29 | Toyota Land Cruiser Wagon | 1,123 | 1.0% | + 464.3% | 32 | 2,857 | 1.0% | + 216.0% | 32 | 28 |
| 30 | GWM Cannon/Cannon Alpha | 1,100 | 1.0% | + 115.5% | 24 | 3,131 | 1.1% | + 456.1% | 29 | 45 |
| 31 | Mazda BT-50 | 999 | 0.9% | β 21.8% | 23 | 3,113 | 1.1% | β 19.5% | 30 | 23 |
| 32 | Kia Carnival | 977 | 0.9% | + 6.7% | 31 | 3,161 | 1.1% | + 31.6% | 28 | 30 |
| 33 | Subaru Crosstrek | 885 | 0.8% | + 1.3% | 27 | 2,572 | 0.9% | β 11.5% | 34 | 32 |
| 34 | Kia Seltos | 849 | 0.8% | + 13.8% | 36 | 2,132 | 0.7% | β 2.2% | 38 | 38 |
| 35 | BYD Sealion 8 | 836 | 0.8% | new | 54 | 1,562 | 0.5% | new | n/a | Β β |
| 36 | Kia K4 | 784 | 0.7% | + 70.8% | 28 | 2,771 | 1.0% | + 325.0% | 33 | 50 |
| 37 | Suzuki Jimny | 751 | 0.7% | β 6.5% | 37 | 1,958 | 0.7% | β 12.0% | 39 | 48 |
| 38 | Toyota Yaris Cross | 723 | 0.7% | β 39.3% | 34 | 2,456 | 0.8% | β 18.5% | 35 | 31 |
| 39 | Honda CR-V | 714 | 0.7% | + 6.7% | 42 | 1,850 | 0.6% | + 11.5% | 40 | 59 |
| 40 | Mazda3 | 702 | 0.6% | β 22.4% | 45 | 2,138 | 0.7% | β 31.1% | 37 | 35 |
| 41 | Chery Tiggo 7 Pro | 698 | 0.6% | + 114.1% | 33 | 2,323 | 0.8% | + 227.2% | 36 | 58 |
| 42 | Zeekr 7X | 679 | 0.6% | new | 39 | 1,725 | 0.6% | new | n/a | 146 |
| 43 | Tesla Model 3 | 667 | 0.6% | β 39.6% | 53 | 1,363 | 0.5% | β 33.4% | n/a | 51 |
| 44 | Hyundai i30 | 622 | 0.6% | β 31.1% | 38 | 1,842 | 0.6% | β 29.8% | n/a | 33 |
| 45 | Geely EX5 | 606 | 0.6% | + 222.3% | 63 | 1,437 | 0.5% | + 664.4% | n/a | 78 |
| 46 | Geely Starray | 602 | 0.6% | new | 55 | 1,384 | 0.5% | new | n/a | 154 |
| 47 | BMW X3/iX3 | 594 | 0.5% | + 47.0% | 85 | 1,440 | 0.5% | + 73.1% | n/a | 66 |
| 48 | Kia EV5 | 587 | 0.5% | + 22.8% | 87 | 1,148 | 0.4% | β 1.6% | n/a | 68 |
| 49 | BYD Atto 2 | 572 | 0.5% | new | 73 | 1,481 | 0.5% | new | n/a | 168 |
| 50 | Mitsubishi Pajero Sport | 570 | 0.5% | + 10.5% | 60 | 1,567 | 0.5% | + 12.2% | n/a | 55 |
Source: VFACTS