Australians are purchasing more electric vehicles than ever amid rising fuel costs

Rising fuel costs are driving a major shift in Australia’s automotive industry.

According to the Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA), there has been a marked change in consumer preferences, with more Australians opting for electric vehicles.

As the conflict in the Middle East escalated in March, Australians bought a total of 15,839 battery-electric vehicles – a record number according to the AADA.

That number represents an increase of 42 percent compared to February 2026, and a 92 percent increase compared to March last year. 

Plug-in hybrid vehicles increased to 8,215 units sold, resulting in a 40 percent increase compared to both the previous month and March 2025.

Together, battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles accounted for 19 percent of all new car sales this year.

CUPRA has been in the EV market here in Australia since 2022, and the brand’s Head of Product Jeff Shafer told nine.com.au that fuel costs aside, increasing interest in electric vehicles has remained a consistent trend.

“Obviously fuel prices have accelerated a bit over the last few weeks or a few months, but there’s a much longer-term trend towards electrification behind that,” he says.

He said with advancements in technology, battery costs are coming down and there is also shorter charging time.

“I think it’s just as important for people to become more familiar with electric cars,” Shafer says.

“Not so long ago, maybe five years ago, seeing an electric car on the road was a bit unusual, while now they are everyday encounters.

“And I think the more people are exposed to electric vehicles, the better they understand how they work [become] familiar with them, that matters [people] confidence to understand how an electric car can fit into their daily lifestyle.”

Because there is a lot of competition in the electric vehicle space, Shafer says what sets CUPRA apart from the rest is the brand’s access to cutting-edge technology and focus on design.

“CUPRA is part of the larger Volkswagen Group, and that gives us access to great technology and some really exciting underpinnings in terms of the EV platforms we can bring in,” he explains.

“But more than that, CUPRA has a very clear vision for the future of electrified driving, which is basically that driving pleasure can be brought into the electric age.

“So we still design the car around the driver, the driving experience, and we want a car that is going to stimulate your emotions while driving.”

Shafer said design is “at the core” of what the brand does, with an emphasis on creating vehicles with a “bold and provocative” appearance.

“I think that, compared to some other brands that take a more technological and fairly generic approach, that makes CUPRA EVs stand out.”

On June 18, CUPRA will be hosting a major launch event to introduce the brand new Formentor range to the Australian market. Nine.com.au is the media partner for that launch.

The event is hosted by celebrity chef Miguel Maestre and headlined by internationally renowned artists, Anna Lunoe and Memphis LK. Tickets are for sale here.

This article was produced in collaboration with CUPRA as part of a partnership with nine.com.au.