10 popular electric vehicles not yet available in Australia
Ford F-150 Lightning: The highly anticipated electric ute will go on sale in New Zealand early next year, and is already on US roads, but has no launch date for Australia.
VW ID.4: Volkswagen’s mid-sized SUV is due to arrive in Australia in 2024 after the company prioritised its European launch.
Peugeot e-208: France’s best-selling electric vehicle is already available in New Zealand but an Australian launch is still being assessed.
Kia Soul EV: This tall and boxy hatchback is available in the US and UK after launching in 2019.
Rivian R1T: This electric ute, backed by Ford and Amazon, will launch in Europe this year but has no confirmed Australian release.
MG5 EV: MG’s electric sedan arrived in the UK and Europe in 2020 after a 2019 launch in China.
GMC Hummer EV: This in-demand electric ute is reportedly sold out for the next two years in the US and has no Australian release date.
Skoda Enyaq iV: Launched in Europe in 2021, Skoda has confirmed its electric SUV will make it to Australia in mid-2024.
GWM Ora: Also known overseas as the Funky Cat, this small car is expected to arrive in Australia later this year, more than two years after its initial launch.
Renault Megane E-Tech: This five-door electric hatchback, on roads in Europe from early 2022, is expected in Australia late 2023.
10 top selling electric vehicles in Australia, March 2023
1. Tesla Model Y: The fourth model in Tesla’s range, a mid-sized electric SUV, shook up the Australian market when it launched last year and its price has been cut to $68,900.
2. Tesla Model 3: The top-selling electric car of 2022 was this four-door sedan, priced from $60,099, that became the first medium-sized vehicle to outsell Toyota’s Camry in 28 years.
3. BYD Atto 3: The first electric vehicle from BYD is one of the cheapest on the market at $48,011. The SUV offers a range of 410km and seats five.
4. MG ZS EV: This mid-sized SUV is the cheapest in Australia, at $43,990 before on-road costs, and features self-driving features, regenerative braking and a 320km range.
5. Polestar 2: Produced by Swedish auto giant Volvo, this mid-sized sedan is priced from $68,412, features a range of 478km and can hit 100km/h in less than eight seconds.
6. BMW iX: This luxury vehicle is the first electric SUV from the German automaker, comes with a 426km range as standard and costs $135,900.
7. Hyundai Ioniq 5: Renowned for selling out its Australian allocation, the company’s flagship mid-sized SUV costs $71,900 though entry-level models come with a waiting list.
8. BMW iX3: The German brand’s mid-sized electric SUV received a $10,000 price cut earlier this year to $104,990, potentially boosting its reach.
9. Kia EV6: This crossover electric SUV only launched in January but is already popular. The $72,590 vehicle features a base range of 484km and an augmented reality head-up display.
10. Mercedes-Benz EQB: The fourth electric SUV from Mercedes is the first to feature seven seats and is available from $87,800.
(Source: Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries)
Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson
(Australian Associated Press)
