Tesla and Polestar Sales Jump 86% as EV Demand Holds Across Australia

Fresh industry figures show Australian drivers are continuing to embrace electric cars in record numbers, with deliveries for leading direct-to-consumer electric brands surging over the course of 2026.

According to the Electric Vehicle Council's vehicle sales report released on 3 November 2026, Tesla and Polestar recorded combined Australian deliveries of 47,554 vehicles across the first ten months of the year. That marks an 86 per cent leap compared to the same period in 2025.

During October alone, the two manufacturers delivered 4,168 battery electric vehicles to local buyers. Tesla accounted for 4,050 of those deliveries, representing more than a fourfold increase over its October 2025 tally. Polestar made up the remaining 118 deliveries.

The Tesla Model Y mid-size electric SUV continues to dominate the charts, racking up 3,105 customer handovers in October to push its total past 39,000 units so far in 2026. The Tesla Model 3 sedan also recorded steady volume with 945 deliveries during the month.

Growth was broad-based across every Australian jurisdiction over the year to date. Delivery increases ranged from a 42 per cent rise in Western Australia to a 136 per cent surge in the Northern Territory.

Electric Vehicle Council chief executive Julie Delvecchio noted that motorists are choosing electric models because they are cheaper to run and protect household budgets from volatile fuel pump prices. She pointed out that policies such as the federal Electric Car Discount and the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard are serving as practical cost-of-living relief, cautioning that rolling back tax support could push buyers back toward fossil-fuel options and increase fuel demand.

What this means for your novated lease

If you are an Australian employee weighing up your next salary packaged vehicle, these delivery numbers reflect several practical advantages:

• Stronger resale certainty: Sustained market demand and massive fleet numbers for models like the Model Y help support long-term secondary market values, which helps reduce residual value risks at the end of a lease term.
• Expanding service and charging ecosystems: High delivery volumes across every state and territory continue to drive private and public investment into fast-charging hubs and certified repair networks.
• Current FBT exemption settings remain locked: Eligible zero-emission vehicles priced under the luxury car tax threshold ($91,661 for fuel-efficient vehicles in the 2026–27 financial year) continue to receive a full Fringe Benefits Tax exemption.
• Timing your order: The federal government's proposed reforms will introduce tighter price caps from 1 April 2027. Locking in an eligible novated lease under current guidelines ensures your contract is grandfathered for the full lease term, making today's steady supply an ideal window to organise delivery.