It is Mayhem For Non EV new car sales in Australia

[syed putra]

Toyota down 30%
Ford-15%
Mazda -27%

Byd +154%
Tesla+65%

 

[syed putra]

US the last bastion for ICE cars. Most manufacturers have cut or cancelled EV production
And Japan.

 

[Nut]

I will also buy EV if I ever buy a car in Singapore.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Toyota down 30%
Ford-15%
Mazda -27%

Byd +154%
Tesla+65%

Good news indeed.. the Toyota arrogance will be their undoing..

 

[Leongsam]

Good news indeed.. the Toyota arrogance will be their undoing..

Toyota is expecting record sales this year in OZ. The only reason for the drop in sales figures for the first quarter of 2026 is because of supply issues for the new models that are in hot demand.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Toyota is expecting record sales this year in OZ. The only reason for the drop in sales figures for the first quarter of 2026 is because of supply issues for the new models that are in hot demand.

BYD says Australians will decide if it can topple Toyota | CarExpert

BYD's second consecutive month as Australia's second-best-selling brand has seen its vice president play down suggestions it could soon overtake Toyota. 6 hours ago Damion Smy Deputy News Editor Show all photos Damion Smy Deputy News Editor
BYD says Australian consumers will determine when it topples long-time sales leader Toyota, following a sales surge that saw it place second overall for the second consecutive month in May 2026.

Toyota Australia still delivered 76,017 new vehicles in the first five months of 2026, comfortably ahead of BYD's 33,454 units.

However, BYD's rapid growth has seen its sales more than double from 15,199 at the same point last year, while Toyota's tally has fallen from 100,753 as the gap between the two brands continues to narrow.

Looking for your next car? We'll help you research and compare so you choose with confidence.



BYD launched in Australia in 2022 under importer EVDirect, whose founder and executive director Luke Todd made bold predictions about how quickly the Chinese brand could challenge Toyota for market leadership.

"I'm on record as saying our target is 2027," Mr Todd told CarExpert in early 2025 when asked when BYD expected to become Australia's number-one automotive brand.

In mid-2025, BYD took over Australian distribution from EVDirect, which remains a dealer partner for the brand.

Toyota has been Australia's best-selling automotive brand every year since 2003, when it overtook Holden for the first time. It also holds the record for the highest annual sales result, delivering 241,296 vehicles in 2024, and has seen its Corolla, HiLux and RAV4 top annual sales in the last decade.



00:00

00:00

00:00

Toyota's market share was approximately 19.3 per cent in 2025. Its January-to-May 2026 result keeps it on top, though its market share has fallen from 20.3 per cent to 15.5 per cent year-on-year.

BYD's market share has increased from 3.1 per cent in May 2025 to 8.2 per cent in May 2026, with the Sealion 7 SUV its most popular model ahead of the Shark 6 ute. Year-to-date, its market share is sitting at 6.8 per cent.

Speaking to media, including CarExpert, at an event marking the arrival of almost 5000 BYD vehicles in Melbourne yesterday, BYD vice president Liu Xueliang was more measured when asked when the Chinese brand might overtake Toyota.

"Toyota is still an excellent company," said Mr Liu.



"We continue learning while working hard ourselves. Whether we can surpass Toyota in Australia ultimately depends on Australian consumers."

Toyota Australia issued a press release yesterday that appeared aimed at adding context to the arrival of the BYD Zhengzhou – one of the automaker's own vehicle carrier ships – which delivered almost 5000 of the 30,000 vehicles BYD plans to bring to Australia by the end of June.

Toyota's statement said it had secured an additional 10,000 vehicles for Australia and remained on track to deliver 220,000 vehicles in 2026.



BYD said in April it planned to ship 30,000 vehicles to Australia in response to increased demand, particularly for its electric vehicles (EVs).

April sales figures appeared to support that claim, with BYD posting a record 7702 deliveries to finish second overall for the first time.

The company backed that up in May, recording 8211 sales to retain second place behind Toyota, which delivered 16,342 vehicles.

MORE: Explore the BYD showroom

From Breaking News to your next move
Go deeper on the cars in our Showroom, compare your options, or see what a great deal looks like with help from our New Car Specialists.

Damion Smy

Damion Smy
Deputy News Editor
Damion Smy
Deputy News Editor
Damion Smy is an award-winning motoring journalist with global editorial experience at Car, Auto Express, and Wheels.

Read more

Don't let Google decide who you trust
Add CarExpert as a Preferred Source on Google so your search results prioritise writing by actual experts, not AI.

Add Preferred Source

 

[Leongsam]

Toyota's e CVT is absolutely brilliant.

 

[k1976]

Toyota's e CVT is absolutely brilliant.

Unfortunately, Toyota meet Trump

 

[Hypocrite-The]

‘Panic’ as Toyota’s Aus dominance crumbles

Chinese carmaking giant BYD has put 5000 vehicles on a boat bound for Australia, as David McCowen reports.
Toyota’s decades-long reign as Australia’s favourite carmaker is under threat and it’s not a feeling the global giant is used to.

ANALYSIS: Panic can sound like a maelstrom of desperate voices competing with sirens, stampeding footsteps and the rhythmic thrum of helicopters overhead.

Or the simple chime of an email notification.

This week, it was a message timed to coincide with BYD hosting reporters on an enormous ship that has the car industry rattled.

Capital letters shouted “TOYOTA SECURES ADDITIONAL PRODUCTION”.

But the soft “ding” accompanying their note didn’t put a dent in BYD’s moment.

The BYD Shark 6 is a popular pick. Picture: Thomas Wielecki
The BYD Shark 6 is a popular pick. Picture: Thomas Wielecki

If anything, Toyota’s carefully timed notice reinforced the enormous impact of the BYD Zhengzhou, a ship sent to Australia with nearly 5000 hybrid and electric cars on board as part of a response to this year’s fuel supply crisis.

MORE: ‘Every family’: China’s brazen Aus plan

Tineka Everaardt takes a look at BYD's giant cargo ship, which carried nearly 5000 new electric and hybrid vehicles.

BYD’s enormous vessel might have sailed all the way to Melbourne powered by the hype of a brand that has overtaken all but Toyota on the monthly sales charts.

It may only be a matter of time before it reaches number one.

Industry sales figures show BYD’s monthly sales for May rose from 3225 last year to 8211 this year.

Deliveries for the first five months of the year more than doubled from 15,199 in 2025 to 33,454 in 2026.

Toyota remains on top, but the manufacturer is in decline.

Its sales dropped from 23,576 last year to 16,342 this year, and deliveries for the year to date have dropped from 100,753 to 76,017.

RELATED: ‘Sneaky’ BYD move is terrible news for Toyota

The BYD Shark has become a regular feature on Aussie roads. Picture: Supplied

The story is repeated across the car industry. Legacy brands struggle to hold ground while emerging marques reach new heights.

Brands like GWM, Chery and MG are accelerating.

Beyond them, Geely (2636) outsold Subaru (2178), Omoda Jaecoo (2570) was ahead of Nissan (1780) and Zeekr (1043) beat Volvo (608) as new names found recognition last month.

All those brands offer something new for Australian motorists.

For years, insiders at rival brands have quietly confided that BYD is the one brand they’re truly worried about.

Toyota’s sales are falling.

It has a broad portfolio of vehicles spanning from hatchbacks to family SUVs, utes, prestige machines and even a supercar that’s faster than any Ferrari in its YangWang U9 Xtreme.

It has the capacity to build and distribute cars at enormous scale.

It has the backing of an enormous dealer group here in Eagers Automotive.

It has overtaken Ford, Mazda, Hyundai and Kia to become the second best-selling brand in the country for the last two months, and that’s unlikely to change as BYD ramps up supply with a goal of surpassing Toyota as the top automotive brand in Australia.

BYD vice president Liu Xueliang says the company strives to be “an Australian brand”, one that touches “every family of Australia”.

Stephen Ottley takes a look at the new and improved BYD Shark 6 ute.

Jaecoo is another Chinese brand making a big impression.

While established brands such as Ford have abandoned buyers on a budget, BYD’s range starts from $27,000 drive-away, and there are four sub-$50,000 cars in its lineup.

Its plug-in hybrid and electric cars are tailor-made for increasingly strict environmental regulations that fine car makers for selling cars that exceed government emissions targets – and threaten the viability of brands that fail to adapt.

It will be a little while before Toyota is dethroned as the number one brand for a full year.

Toyota reckons it will sell 220,000 cars this year – BYD will do well to reach half that tally.

But the gap is closing.

And the industry has well and truly sounded its alarm.

 

[syed putra]

Toyota's e CVT is absolutely brilliant.

This gearbox also used on mitsubishi xforce.
But new phev obliterate gearbox by having the engine at optimum speed achieving 45% efficiency to charge the batteries of maybe 20kwhr.enough for 100km of distance on full charge if charging done at home. And ice engine come to life only when battery is about 20% capacity to recharge. If for daily commute., chances are, ice engine will not be needed at all. Only for long distance and emergencies.
The advantage of phev, longer distances and more fuel efficient compared to normal ice car with any type of gearbox.

 

[syed putra]

‘Panic’ as Toyota’s Aus dominance crumbles

Chinese carmaking giant BYD has put 5000 vehicles on a boat bound for Australia, as David McCowen reports.
Toyota’s decades-long reign as Australia’s favourite carmaker is under threat and it’s not a feeling the global giant is used to.

ANALYSIS: Panic can sound like a maelstrom of desperate voices competing with sirens, stampeding footsteps and the rhythmic thrum of helicopters overhead.

Or the simple chime of an email notification.

This week, it was a message timed to coincide with BYD hosting reporters on an enormous ship that has the car industry rattled.

Capital letters shouted “TOYOTA SECURES ADDITIONAL PRODUCTION”.

But the soft “ding” accompanying their note didn’t put a dent in BYD’s moment.

The BYD Shark 6 is a popular pick. Picture: Thomas Wielecki
The BYD Shark 6 is a popular pick. Picture: Thomas Wielecki

If anything, Toyota’s carefully timed notice reinforced the enormous impact of the BYD Zhengzhou, a ship sent to Australia with nearly 5000 hybrid and electric cars on board as part of a response to this year’s fuel supply crisis.

MORE: ‘Every family’: China’s brazen Aus plan

Tineka Everaardt takes a look at BYD's giant cargo ship, which carried nearly 5000 new electric and hybrid vehicles.

BYD’s enormous vessel might have sailed all the way to Melbourne powered by the hype of a brand that has overtaken all but Toyota on the monthly sales charts.

It may only be a matter of time before it reaches number one.

Industry sales figures show BYD’s monthly sales for May rose from 3225 last year to 8211 this year.

Deliveries for the first five months of the year more than doubled from 15,199 in 2025 to 33,454 in 2026.

Toyota remains on top, but the manufacturer is in decline.

Its sales dropped from 23,576 last year to 16,342 this year, and deliveries for the year to date have dropped from 100,753 to 76,017.

RELATED: ‘Sneaky’ BYD move is terrible news for Toyota

The BYD Shark has become a regular feature on Aussie roads. Picture: Supplied

The story is repeated across the car industry. Legacy brands struggle to hold ground while emerging marques reach new heights.

Brands like GWM, Chery and MG are accelerating.

Beyond them, Geely (2636) outsold Subaru (2178), Omoda Jaecoo (2570) was ahead of Nissan (1780) and Zeekr (1043) beat Volvo (608) as new names found recognition last month.

All those brands offer something new for Australian motorists.

For years, insiders at rival brands have quietly confided that BYD is the one brand they’re truly worried about.

Toyota’s sales are falling.

It has a broad portfolio of vehicles spanning from hatchbacks to family SUVs, utes, prestige machines and even a supercar that’s faster than any Ferrari in its YangWang U9 Xtreme.

It has the capacity to build and distribute cars at enormous scale.

It has the backing of an enormous dealer group here in Eagers Automotive.

It has overtaken Ford, Mazda, Hyundai and Kia to become the second best-selling brand in the country for the last two months, and that’s unlikely to change as BYD ramps up supply with a goal of surpassing Toyota as the top automotive brand in Australia.

BYD vice president Liu Xueliang says the company strives to be “an Australian brand”, one that touches “every family of Australia”.

Stephen Ottley takes a look at the new and improved BYD Shark 6 ute.

Jaecoo is another Chinese brand making a big impression.

While established brands such as Ford have abandoned buyers on a budget, BYD’s range starts from $27,000 drive-away, and there are four sub-$50,000 cars in its lineup.

Its plug-in hybrid and electric cars are tailor-made for increasingly strict environmental regulations that fine car makers for selling cars that exceed government emissions targets – and threaten the viability of brands that fail to adapt.

It will be a little while before Toyota is dethroned as the number one brand for a full year.

Toyota reckons it will sell 220,000 cars this year – BYD will do well to reach half that tally.

But the gap is closing.

And the industry has well and truly sounded its alarm.

Toyota's only salvation currently is only US and Japan Market. Same with other Japan automakers. Unless they do drastic re engineering to capture lost market share in Asia, middle East. Their sales volume will continue to drop.

The Europeans have caught up and fighting back with EV's with long range.

 

[k1976]

Toyota's only salvation currently is only US and Japan Market. Same with other Japan automakers. Unless they do drastic re engineering to capture lost market share in Asia, middle East. Their sales volume will continue to drop.

The Europeans have caught up and fighting back with EV's with long range.

Cuppa , Smart and Polestar

 

[syed putra]

Cuppa , Smart and Polestar

It's BMW, Audi and Mercedes also.models with 650km above EV only range available. Smart so far have similar range as China cars. As it is made in China.