The Jaecoo J5 EV breaks into the Australian Top 10 in May.

106,887 new vehicles hit Australian roads, a -2.3% year-on-year contraction. The year-to-date volume after five months stands at 491,523, off -1% over the same period a year ago. Private sales follow the market at -2.8% to 51,246, while business fleets drop -4.1% to 38,277, rental sales dive -14.7% to 4,957 and government sales are down -19.2% to 2,364. This excludes Tesla, Polestar and heavy commercials. SUVs continue to dominate the local landscape with a stunning 65.5% share vs. 61.6% a year ago in May 2025. Meanwhile light commercials are at 18.7% vs. 21.5% last year and passenger cars drop to 12.6% share vs. 13.3% a year ago. Heavy commercials account for 3.1% of the volume vs. 3.6% in May 2025.

The big story of the month is BEVs shooting up 111.7% year-on-year to 21,303 and a record 19.9% share. This is the third month in a row BEVs break their share record, after hitting 14.6% in March and 16.4% in April. They add up to 71,146 year-to-date for a 14.5% share. HEVs are up 11.3% to 19,024 and PHEVs surge 202.3% to 9,315. This means electrified vehicles hold a huge 46.4% of the Australian market this month. Meanwhile petrol is down -30.3% to 28,692 and diesel off -26.2% to 25,191. All states and territories are down bar Tasmania (+5.2% to 1,630). This excludes Tesla and Polestar. New South Wales is at -3% to 31,205, Victoria at -4.6% to 27,343, Queensland at -8.9% to 20,885, Western Australia at -5.2% to 10,507, South Australia at -2.2% to 6,454, Australian Capital Territory at -3.2% to 1,368 and Northern Territory at -6.5% to 814. 

The other big story is the detail by country of production. China soars 74.1% to 37,229 or a huge (and record) 34.8% of all sales. In contrast Japan (-28.9% to 22,832) and Thailand (-22.1% to 17,552) are both hit hard. South Korea (+5.2% to 13,184) is solid but Germany (-6.5% to 4,597) falls faster than the market.

The Tesla Model Y (made in China) is the best-selling vehicle in Australia in May.

In the brands ranking, Toyota (-30.7%) completely implodes and endures a 5th consecutive double-digit YoY decline and the biggest one at that. The Japanese carmaker is down to 15.3% share vs. 21.5% a year ago in May 2025. Meanwhile BYD (+154.6%) continues to surges ahead and repeats at a record 2nd place, breaking its volume record at 8,211. Once again BYD manages double-digit market shares in ACT and WA. It now ranks #3 year-to-date with 6.8% share. Ford (-15%) struggles but is back up two spots on April to #3. Hyundai (+4.5%) stays at #4 ahead of sister brand Kia (-2.1%).

Tesla (+65.1%) shoots up 12 spots on last month to #6 and 6% share, equalling its ranking record (also reached in June 2023 and March 2024) and reaching a new all time high share (previous best 5.6% in June 2023). Mazda (-27.4%) continues to skid and is now down to a paltry 7th place, its lowest ranking in at least 15 years. GWM (+9.1%) ranks #8 ahead of Chery (+59.7%) which breaks its volume record for staggering 16th month in a row at 4,401. MG (+18.4%) perks back up and rounds out the Top 10. Mitsubishi (-30.6%) spends a second month outside the Top 10, something that hasn’t happened in at least 15 years. Geely (+415.9%) and Omoda Jaecoo (+729%) both shatter all their records and both fit within the Top 15. Zeekr (+1390%) advances to a highest ever #22, outselling Audi and Lexus.

Over in the models charts, we have a historic event in pole position: as sales of the new L long version ramp up, the Tesla Model Y (+56.6%) snaps its first ever Australian win and becomes the first BEV to top the charts overall. The Ford Ranger (-6%) and Toyota Hilux (-19.1% despite a new generation) are beaten. The Toyota RAV4 (-3.4%) is down three spots on last month to #4 while at #5 the Hyundai Kona (+17.4%) cracks the Top 5 for the 2nd time ever after last October. Below the Hyundai Tucson (+27.5%) up 10 ranks on April to #6, the Jaecoo J5 is the surprise of the month inside the Top 10: up 32 spots to a record breaking 7th place. Another outstanding performance is delivered by the Geely EX5 (+255%) ending the month just outside the Top 10 at #11. BYD now has no less than 8 models in the Top 50: the Sealion 7 (#14), Shark 6 (#19), Sealion 8 (#33), Sealion 6 (#38), Atto 2 (#40), Atto 1 (#41), Atto 3 (#47) and Sealion 5 (#50).

Previous month: Australia April 2026: BYD up to #2 brand, BEVs up 157.2% to record 16.4% share

One year ago: Australia May 2025: Tesla Model Y and Chery Tiggo 4 Pro shine in market off -1.6%

Full May 2026 Top 55 All brands and Top 50 models below.

Australia May 2026 – brands:

PosBrandMay-26%/25Apr2026%/25PosFY251Toyota  16,34215.3%– 30.7%176,01715.5%– 24.6%112BYD8,2117.7%+ 154.6%233,4546.8%+ 120.1%383Ford  7,1956.7%– 15.0%533,1156.7%– 11.0%524Hyundai  7,0076.6%+ 4.5%432,1106.5%+ 5.1%655Kia  6,7616.3%– 2.1%333,8416.9%+ 2.7%246Tesla6,4336.0%+ 65.1%1814,9183.0%+ 56.1%12157Mazda  5,6985.3%– 27.4%633,2246.8%– 16.0%438GWM4,6604.4%+ 9.1%724,2554.9%+ 23.0%779Chery4,4014.1%+ 59.7%820,4594.2%+ 84.3%91310MG3,8723.6%+ 18.4%918,1453.7%+ 2.1%101011Mitsubishi3,3073.1%– 30.6%1120,6524.2%– 26.4%8612Isuzu Ute2,9782.8%– 30.5%1016,2633.3%– 2.8%11913Geely2,6362.5%+ 415.9%157,4631.5%+ 629.5%182714Omoda Jaecoo2,5702.4%+ 729.0%196,2671.3%+ 1921.6%203215BMW2,4172.3%– 13.4%1710,1132.1%– 8.7%161716Subaru  2,1782.0%– 32.6%1411,9152.4%– 22.1%131117Mercedes2,0041.9%– 18.6%1310,5322.1%– 1.4%151618Volkswagen1,9961.9%– 21.6%169,8122.0%– 17.0%171419Nissan1,7801.7%– 35.8%1211,5172.3%– 32.8%141220Honda  1,3321.2%+ 8.6%216,6091.3%+ 0.8%191921Suzuki  1,1511.1%– 16.2%205,4521.1%– 22.0%212022Zeekr1,0431.0%+ 1390.0%243,8810.8%+ 1044.8%253623Audi1,0321.0%– 10.8%234,7321.0%– 9.3%241824Lexus1,0181.0%– 26.0%224,9321.0%– 16.6%232125LDV1,0080.9%– 12.6%255,1801.1%– 10.1%222226Land Rover6890.6%– 15.0%263,0270.6%– 13.6%262327Volvo6080.6%+ 4.3%272,9590.6%+ 2.4%272428Denza4980.5%new281,6290.3%new325729Mini4400.4%– 9.7%292,1960.4%– 4.7%282530Renault3940.4%+ 1.8%311,6850.3%– 11.9%312931KGM3350.3%– 15.8%341,2720.3%– 28.3%343032Chevrolet3140.3%+ 20.8%331,3930.3%– 8.1%333133Porsche3120.3%– 43.6%301,7350.4%– 29.2%292634Skoda3030.3%– 17.7%321,7020.3%– 2.6%302835Ram2580.2%– 9.2%381,2570.3%– 5.6%353336Polestar2480.2%+ 2.1%359460.2%+ 13.4%373537Deepal1710.2%+ 155.2%375940.1%+ 786.6%394538Cupra1610.2%– 30.9%399750.2%– 22.2%363439Fiat1430.1%– 7.7%367450.2%– 10.1%383740Foton1280.1%new415570.1%new415141Genesis1200.1%– 15.5%425840.1%– 2.3%403942Leapmotor1090.1%+ 98.2%405290.1%+ 112.4%424243Jeep570.1%– 68.5%443130.1%– 65.7%453844Peugeot530.0%– 47.5%433730.1%– 35.0%444145Alfa Romeo480.0%– 7.7%481610.0%– 26.1%464446JAC430.0%– 69.1%454020.1%– 49.0%434047GMC300.0%+ 3.4%471560.0%+ 437.9%474648Farizon220.0%new46960.0%new48 –49Maserati180.0%+ 5.9%53800.0%– 33.9%494850Bentley120.0%+ 50.0%52630.0%+ 23.5%515251Ferrari120.0%– 25.0%54720.0%– 17.2%504952Aston Martin100.0%– 23.1%50600.0%– 28.6%525053Lamborghini60.0%– 71.4%49510.0%– 58.9%534754Rolls-Royce20.0%– 60.0%51260.0%– 25.7%545555Citroen10.0%+ 0.0% –30.0%– 50.0%5856

Australia May 2026 – models:

PosModelMay-26%/25Apr2026%/25PosFY251Tesla Model Y5,6055.2%+ 56.6%3412,3242.5%+ 76.7%3102Ford Ranger4,4744.2%– 6.0%220,3154.1%– 7.7%113Toyota Hilux4,0053.7%– 19.1%317,4323.5%– 13.2%234Toyota RAV43,8653.6%– 3.4%111,4362.3%– 47.1%425Hyundai Kona2,2912.1%+ 17.4%610,6272.2%+ 21.4%676Hyundai Tucson2,2872.1%+ 27.5%169,1291.9%+ 15.0%9127Jaecoo J52,1722.0%new394,0170.8%new35 –8Chery Tiggo 42,1232.0%+ 23.1%411,3092.3%+ 81.6%5119Isuzu D-Max1,9161.8%– 27.5%510,1682.1%– 7.1%7410Ford Everest1,8761.8%– 20.8%108,9571.8%– 6.6%11511Geely EX51,8141.7%+ 255.0%214,4530.9%+ 335.3%337812Kia Sportage1,7971.7%+ 26.4%137,5401.5%– 13.6%151513GWM Haval Jolion1,6741.6%+ 15.8%99,0341.8%+ 28.5%101414BYD Sealion 71,5381.4%+ 215.2%87,7861.6%+ 297.0%142515Mitsubishi Triton1,4491.4%– 1.2%178,3691.7%+ 16.3%131716Mitsubishi Outlander1,4031.3%+ 0.5%119,3061.9%– 8.8%8917Mazda CX-51,3681.3%– 39.6%198,8451.8%– 6.0%12818Toyota Land Cruiser Wagon1,2621.2%– 38.1%235,1291.0%+ 29.3%272819BYD Shark 61,2441.2%– 4.5%156,0951.2%– 18.0%211820Chery Tiggo 7 Pro1,2021.1%+ 203.5%314,4100.9%+ 200.2%345821GWM Haval H61,1921.1%– 1.7%206,2551.3%+ 11.1%192622MG ZS1,1361.1%– 32.9%127,1571.5%– 13.1%171323Toyota Corolla1,0691.0%– 32.2%356,2771.3%– 20.6%181624Toyota Corolla Cross1,0691.0%– 21.3%225,8311.2%+ 1.0%232725Isuzu MU-X1,0621.0%– 35.4%186,0951.2%+ 5.4%222026Toyota Camry1,0341.0%+ 12.5%255,2211.1%+ 48.3%263627GWM Cannon/Cannon Alpha1,0130.9%+ 63.7%334,9901.0%+ 188.1%294528Toyota Hiace1,0010.9%– 29.0%325,2801.1%– 18.0%242429Toyota Prado9870.9%– 63.9%77,3721.5%– 45.0%16630Zeekr 7X9660.9%new243,6640.7%new3714631Mazda BT-509620.9%– 27.3%295,0211.0%– 20.8%282332Nissan X-Trail9420.9%– 8.8%146,1071.2%– 15.3%201933BYD Sealion 89280.9%new303,4190.7%new39 –34Mazda CX-308600.8%– 13.2%374,9011.0%– 0.1%312935Kia Carnival8570.8%– 13.2%284,9661.0%+ 18.2%303036Tesla Model 38280.8%+ 161.2%682,5940.5%+ 0.4%n/a5137Geely Starray8220.8%new363,0100.6%new4615438BYD Sealion 68020.8%+ 94.2%603,0940.6%+ 11.7%443939Mazda CX-37820.7%– 37.6%275,2211.1%– 21.4%252140BYD Atto 27780.7%new422,9190.6%new4816841BYD Atto 17680.7%new502,3830.5%newn/a31142Subaru Forester7060.7%– 34.2%264,6410.9%– 8.4%322243Mazda36590.6%– 10.3%463,3560.7%– 26.0%413544Suzuki Jimny6560.6%– 8.8%453,1930.6%– 12.0%434845Toyota Yaris Cross6350.6%– 41.0%863,3660.7%– 31.7%403146Kia Seltos6340.6%– 19.1%483,3160.7%– 9.2%423847BYD Atto 36270.6%+ 94.7%402,3750.5%+ 85.8%n/a8048MG 36010.6%– 16.9%473,0190.6%– 30.9%454249Hyundai i305900.6%– 35.1%562,9260.6%– 32.3%473350BYD Sealion 55830.5%new611,7760.4%newn/a –

Source: VFACTS