The car industry has seen a dramatic change in the rise in electric car sales, impacting the purchases of standard combustion cars.
Many people have selected the electric vehicle as their main car, due to the ongoing threat of fuel shortages caused by the war in Iran.
Car dealerships have been impacted, with decreasing sales of combustion cars.
As a result many brands have begun to launch various new models, which also includes an electric option.
Pennant Hills Kia Manager, Tony Nguyen says he has seen a recent change in the number of electric cars the dealership has sold.
“The cost of fuel and the war are big factors,” Mr Nguyen said.
“They’ve been considering an EV car for a while, so now is a perfect time for them to buy one.”
Mr Nguyen shared an approximation of the difference that he has seen within the car dealership, and the types of cars bought.
“Currently, I would say if you considered a hybrid as an EV, 60 per cent hybrid EV, compared to 40 per cent combustible.”
Recent statistics released in April by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries has displayed the sales that have been made within the different fuel types and the decrease that has been highlighted within the year.
Battery electric vehicles had risen by 157 per cent from April 2025 to April 2026, while petrol and diesel cars had dropped in sales by 27 per cent.
Though sales of combustible cars remain at the top of the industry, there has been a significant drop in sales, with a fast rise in electric car sales.
The greatest change in the electric car is coming from hybrid electric vehicles. This type of vehcile has the benefit of not being fully electric, ensuring it can run with or without petrol as the main controller.
The year-to-date data highlights changes in the different types of cars over the year and the sales that have risen and fallen as a result.
The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries has compared the starting quarter months of 2025 and 2026 and noted a noticeable change, with a decrease in ICE cars and a rise in BEV cars.
Registration clerk Cristi Kozyra has seen a change in the number of cars that she has registered within the year being mostly electric vehicles.
“I’ve seen it spike a bit ever since the war started,” Ms Kozyra Said.
Ms Koxyra has also noticed a change in popular brands, as companies adapt to customers’ demands during this fuel crisis.
“A lot more cars now turning into either plug-in hybrid slash hybrid, which used to be diesel slash petrol, for utility cars.”
According to the Electric Vehicle Council, there are more than 150 types of electric vehicles are on offer within the Australian market.
Although many car brands offer the option of a hybrid electric car, a lot of brands mainly produce combustion cars as their main product, creating a great impact on the brand and the sales within the year.
Many customers who purchase electric cars have displayed a trend of trading in a combustion car; this has proven to be more beneficial for the customer, when comparing the overall price of the car.
Retiree Jim Bailey says why he believes the hybrid car was better suited for him and his wife as the sole car for their family.
“The car I had was a little Hyundai I-30 that was very economical, but this will probably do twice what that little car would do,” Mr Bailey said.
“I didn’t want a full-on electric, but I liked the idea of the fuel end.”
Mr Bailey says that one of the main factors for purchasing a hybrid electric car rather than a full electric car is the option of having both the fuel aspect and charging, considering that there are minimal plug-in stations around country, making it hard to travel further into rural regions.
“The hybrids are charging themselves all the time,” Mr Bailey said.
“Even though it’s using petrol, it’s charging, so you don’t have to stop and charge it.”
It is uncertain if the rapid rate of electric vehicles will continue when the Iran war ends.
