Christopher Hughes
Research expert covering Australia and New Zealand
Vehicles in Australia - statistics & facts
Given the geographical size and makeup of Australia and its comparatively sparse intercity public transport infrastructure, it is hardly surprising that road (and off road) vehicles play a significant role in the daily lives of Australians.
What types of vehicles are popular, and how are they powered?
When it comes to fuel, Australians still prefer petrol propulsion by a significant margin, with sales of petrol vehicles far outweighing other fuel types. While petrol is the most popular fuel choice, it is interesting to note that hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) outsold diesel-powered options by around a third in 2021. Sports-utility vehicles (SUVs) are one of the most popular vehicle types amongst Australians, with both small and large SUVs only being outsold by four-wheel drive pick-ups in 2021. Commercial vehicles, too, have enjoyed steady sales in recent years, peaking at just under 300 thousand units at the end of 2021.Australia and the electric vehicle
Mirroring global trends, there has been a significant year-on-year increase in the sales of electric vehicles in Australia, with a particular jump in numbers from 2018 to 2019. The former saw sales of just over 2.2 thousand, whereas just one year later, 6.7 thousand were sold. Of course, with increased sales comes an increase in need for owners to be able to charge their vehicles. Australia’s charging network has seen an increase in both AC and DC charger availability since 2018, with AC chargers seeing a faster year-on-year increase.
