Electric shock: SA car sales set new record
Electric vehicles are in record-breaking demand in South Australia, with new figures showing a “landmark shift in consumer preference”. See the top five selling new cars in SA.
Nearly every second car sold in South Australia last month was a zero or low-emission vehicle (ZLEV), new figures released today reveal, showing an “obvious and decisive trend by South Australians during a time of unprecedented fuel costs”, according to the Motor Trade Association (MTA) SA/NT CEO Darrell Jacobs.
In April, ZLEVs, comprising battery electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid models, accounted for an historic 46.7 per cent of all new vehicles sold in South Australia.
This means nearly every second car sold in the state featured an electrified drivetrain, which the MTA said marked “a landmark shift in consumer preference”.
ZLEVs now account for 35 per cent of all new vehicle sales in South Australia in 2026, equating to more than one in three new vehicles.
Motor Trade Association SA/NT CEO Darrell Jacobs said the new figures were a “significant moment for the industry”.
“To have nearly half of the monthly market represented by electrified vehicles is a significant moment for the industry,” Jacobs said.
“The ‘electrification’ of our roads is no longer a future prospect; it is happening right now in real-time.”
The figures come after the Federal Government extended the electric vehicle tax discount by one year, a move that was welcomed by Jacobs.
“This policy provides the certainty and incentive needed for both fleet and private buyers to make the switch at a time when the cost of living remains a primary concern,” he said.
Stay informed, daily
But the broader market continues to face headwinds, with total new vehicle sales in SA down 3.5 per cent in April compared to the same time last year.
“While the overall volume of sales has dipped slightly, the mix of those sales has been fundamentally reshaped,” Jacobs said.
“The appetite for more efficient, lower-emission technology is effectively propping up the market as traditional consumer preferences evolve.”
The top five selling new cars in SA in April 2026:
- Ford Ranger (929 purchased)
- Toyota Hilux (847 purchased)
- Mitsubishi Outlander (823 purchased)
- Mazda CX-5 (773 purchased)
- Mitsubishi Triton (628 purchased)
Want to see more stories from InDaily SA in your Google search results?
- Click here to set InDaily SA as a preferred source.
- Tick the box next to "InDaily SA". That's it.
