Korean Media: In Australia's Electric Vehicle Market, Kia Ranks Third, While BYD Leads Far Ahead!

On July 7, South Korean media outlet Business Korea published an article stating that as Australia's electric vehicle market rapidly grows, Hyundai Motor Group maintains its leading position in the local pure-electric vehicle segment.

According to sales data for electric vehicles from January to May 2026 released by Australian EV media The Driven, Kia sold a cumulative total of 4,666 electric vehicles this year, ranking third among brands. Hyundai sold 1,852 units, placing ninth.

This year, the Australian EV market has been dominated by Chinese manufacturers and Tesla. BYD leads with a cumulative sales volume of 19,018 units, followed closely by Tesla with 14,918 units.

Specifically, Kia sold 1,073 electric vehicles in May alone—surpassing MG (952 units), Volkswagen (452 units), Hyundai (336 units), and Toyota (217 units).

Looking at individual models, Kia’s electric SUV EV5 has been the primary driver behind its sales growth. By April, EV5 had already sold 794 units, securing its place among Australia’s best-selling electric vehicles. Recently, the sales of EV3 have also increased, further enhancing the brand’s competitiveness.

Hyundai continues to focus its sales strategy on the Ioniq series. However, as competition intensifies due to aggressive expansion by Chinese brands, the market appears increasingly fierce. Based on cumulative sales this year, Geely surpassed Hyundai with 4,453 units sold.

Meanwhile, the total electric vehicle sales for Hyundai Motor Group this year amount to 6,518 units. From a group-wide perspective, Hyundai Motor Group remains in a leading position among major EV manufacturers, ranking just behind BYD (19,037 units) and Tesla (14,918 units).

Industry experts assess that Australia’s electric vehicle market has entered a phase of comprehensive growth. In May, pure-electric vehicle sales reached 21,303 units—a 111% increase compared to the same period last year—accounting for approximately 20% of the total new car market volume.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870057510292492/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.