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Car tech18 October 2026

Toyota Still No.1, BYD Surges: Australia's 2026 Car Sales and What They Mean for Drivers

Toyota is still Australia's biggest-selling car brand, but the first half of 2026 shows how fast the market is changing. According to the RACV's wrap of official VFACTS and Electric Vehicle Council figures, buyers moved quickly to electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars as fuel prices climbed, and Chinese brands grabbed a much bigger share.

For rideshare and delivery drivers, those numbers matter: the cars selling in big volumes today are the ones that will be easiest to find, rent, service and get parts for over the next few years.

Toyota leads, BYD jumps to second

Toyota sold 95,141 cars in the first half (down 21.4%), as model changeovers for the new RAV4 and HiLux held back supply. BYD more than doubled its sales to 52,335 (up 124.1%) and in June came within 243 sales of Toyota.

  • Toyota – 95,141 (-21.4%)
  • BYD – 52,335 (+124.1%)
  • Ford – 42,296 (-10.6%)
  • Kia – 41,846 (+2.7%)
  • Mazda – 40,502 (-17.2%)
  • Hyundai – 39,590 (+1.6%)
  • GWM – 30,359 (+20.5%)
  • Chery – 24,964 (+76.8%)
  • Mitsubishi – 24,802 (-25.7%)
  • Tesla – 23,588 (+66.7%)

Toyota expects to finish 2026 with at least 230,000 sales, while Geely (10,970 sales, up 494.6%) is on a fast track towards the top 10.

Ford Ranger still No.1, Tesla Model Y close behind

Ford Ranger

Photo: Ford Ranger — Alexander-93, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Ford Ranger ute remained the top-selling vehicle with 26,314 sales, ahead of the Toyota HiLux (22,607) and Tesla Model Y (20,396). The Model Y outsold everything in May and June, with 8,072 sales in June alone, an all-time monthly record for an EV.

Tesla Model Y

Photo: Tesla Model Y — Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

  • Ford Ranger – 26,314
  • Toyota HiLux – 22,607
  • Tesla Model Y – 20,396
  • Toyota RAV4 – 15,551
  • Chery Tiggo 4 – 13,638
  • Hyundai Kona – 13,132
  • Isuzu D-Max – 12,908
  • BYD Sealion 7 – 12,516
  • GWM Haval Jolion – 11,480
  • Hyundai Tucson – 11,236

BYD Sealion 7 and the electric car boom

BYD Sealion 7

Photo: BYD Sealion 7 — Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Battery electric cars made up 23.3% of all new vehicle sales in June, up from 7.6% a year earlier. Over the half year more than 103,700 EVs were sold, a 16.4% share and a 120% jump. BYD overtook Tesla as the top EV brand with 29,192 electric sales.

  • Tesla Model Y – 20,396
  • BYD Sealion 7 – 12,516
  • Geely EX5 – 6,756
  • Jaecoo J5 EV – 5,930
  • Zeekr 7X – 5,532

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid leads the hybrids

Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid

Photo: Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid — Alexander-93, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Hybrid sales grew 11.9% and plug-in hybrid sales 111.8%, while new petrol and diesel sales fell 23.9% and 14.2%. Combined hybrid and plug-in hybrid sales reached 159,120, just 40 behind diesel.

  • Top hybrids: Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (14,894), Hyundai Tucson Hybrid (8,400), Hyundai Kona Hybrid (8,086), Toyota Corolla Hybrid (7,111), Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid (6,867)
  • Top plug-in hybrids: BYD Shark 6 (9,493), BYD Sealion 8 (5,380), BYD Sealion 6 (5,312), Geely Starray EM-i (4,214), Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid (3,329)

China overtakes Japan

BYD Shark 6

Photo: BYD Shark 6 — iMoD Official, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

For the first time, more new cars sold in Australia came from China than Japan: more than 195,000 Chinese-built cars, about 31% of the market, against 144,430 from Japan (down 22.8%) and 113,538 from Thailand.

What it means for rideshare and delivery drivers

  • More choice of low-running-cost cars. Hybrids, plug-in hybrids and EVs are now mainstream, so drivers have more ways to cut fuel costs on long shifts.
  • Popular models are easier to live with. High-selling cars like the RAV4 Hybrid, Model Y and Sealion 7 tend to have more service options and parts around.
  • Check charging before going electric. An EV suits drivers with reliable home or nearby fast charging; a hybrid or plug-in hybrid may suit long days better.
  • Waiting times can vary. Model changeovers slowed RAV4 and HiLux supply in the first half, so availability is worth checking.

Need a car for work without buying one? Browse LEFKO rental cars or see how LEFKO rentals work.

Sources