Tesla is poised to set a new Australian annual sales record after recovering almost all the ground it lost during two years of declining deliveries, according to figures published on Thursday.
The American electric car brand has delivered 45,755 vehicles in Australia through October, leaving it needing just 362 more sales across November and December to beat its 2023 record of 46,116.
A remarkable turnaround
Tesla’s January-to-October deliveries are up 94.1 per cent on 2025, according to the Electric Vehicle Council. With two months still to run, its 2026 tally is already 58.6 per cent higher than its entire 2025 result. Deliveries climbed from 23,569 in the same period last year to 45,755 this year.
The recovery has been dominated by the Model Y SUV family, which has contributed 39,035 deliveries this year, up 117.2 per cent on the same period last year. The Model Y accounted for 3,105 October sales, making it Australia’s best-selling electric car and the fourth best-selling vehicle overall.
October dip does not dent the chase
October’s 4,050 deliveries were Tesla’s lowest since April and fell 28.4 per cent on September, largely explaining why electric deliveries eased month on month. But the record needs only a fraction of Tesla’s recent monthly volume. June remains its high point at 8,670 deliveries, followed by August with 7,685. Barring a dramatic slump, the record should fall before Christmas.
What the record would mean
A new annual record would cap a remarkable turnaround for a brand that saw Australian sales fall 24 per cent in 2025, according to the Electric Vehicle Council. The Model Y family has done the heavy lifting, with 39,035 deliveries this year, and the arrival of the Model Y L variant added 1,010 sales in October alone. October’s dip to 4,050 deliveries, the lowest since April, shows the recovery is not a straight line, and supply timing between quarters can swing monthly figures sharply. Even so, Tesla needs only 362 more sales in two months, a fraction of its recent monthly volume. The broader question is whether the brand can hold its lead as BYD closes in and the overall electric market keeps growing.
