Plugin Vehicles Achieve 19% Penetration in Australian Auto Market in February - CleanTechnica

In February 2026, plugin electric vehicles (EVs) achieved a significant milestone in the Australian auto market, reaching a 19% penetration rate. This comprised 11,100 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and 5,854 plugin hybrid EVs (PHEVs), totaling nearly 17,000 new EV owners—almost double the number from February 2025. Out of over 91,000 light vehicles sold that month, the growth in plugin vehicle sales came primarily at the expense of petrol-only internal combustion engine vehicles, while diesel vehicle shares remained steady. The Australian EV market continues to evolve with new model introductions, such as the upcoming Tesla Model Y Long Range and NIO’s budget-friendly Firefly sub-brand, alongside MG’s stripped-down urban MG 4. The top-selling EV models in Australia for February 2026 highlight BYD’s strong market presence, with six of the top 20 models from the Chinese automaker, including the BYD Sealion