Australia’s EV Imports: Where Are Our Cars Really Coming From?

As Australia’s appetite for electric vehicles (EVs) continues to grow, so too does our reliance on overseas manufacturers. With no large-scale domestic EV production yet underway, every EV on Aussie roads today has been imported — but from where?

Understanding the origins of Australia’s EV fleet sheds light on shifting global automotive dynamics, trade dependencies, and future supply chain resilience.

Let’s take a closer look at where our EVs really come from, and why it matters.

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1. The Big Picture: Australia’s EV Import Landscape

Australia is entirely dependent on imports for electric vehicle supply — a situation unlikely to change in the near term. According to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), EVs now make up around 10–12% of new car sales nationally (as of mid-2025), and that share is climbing.

But where are all these EVs being built?

The vast majority are manufactured in Asia
A smaller but notable share comes from Europe
U.S. imports are limited by logistics and cost

Our EV market is shaped by global production trends, bilateral trade agreements, and carmakers’ strategic decisions about where to ship their stock.

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2. Top EV Exporting Countries to Australia

As of 2024–2025, these are the major sources of Australia’s EV imports (ranked approximately by volume):

🇨🇳 China (BYD, MG, Tesla Shanghai, Polestar 2)
🇰🇷 South Korea (Hyundai, Kia)
🇯🇵 Japan (Nissan Leaf, Toyota bZ4X)
🇩🇪 Germany (BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen)
🇸🇪 Sweden (Volvo, Polestar)
🇺🇸 United States (Tesla Fremont, Ford Mustang Mach-E)

Notably, many carmakers — even those headquartered in Europe or the U.S. — manufacture EVs in China for cost and scalability reasons. Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory is a prime example.

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3. China’s Dominance: More Than Just BYD

China is easily the largest source of EVs for Australia — and not just because of BYD. It’s a manufacturing hub for multiple global brands:

Tesla Model 3 and Model Y sold in Australia are built in Shanghai
Polestar 2 is assembled in China, despite its Swedish branding
MG4, one of Australia’s most affordable EVs, is Chinese-made
BYD’s Atto 3, Seal, and Dolphin models are all made domestically in China

China’s automotive sector is now globally competitive, offering solid technology, aggressive pricing, and fast production turnaround — especially attractive in a supply-constrained market like Australia.

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4. South Korea and Japan: Legacy Brands Join the Race

South Korea is punching above its weight in the EV market:

Hyundai Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, and Kona Electric
Kia EV6 and EV9

These models are praised for their design and tech features and are manufactured in South Korea with strong quality control.

Japan, long a leader in hybrid tech, is catching up on full EVs:

Nissan Leaf, made in Japan, remains one of the longest-running EVs in Australia
Toyota’s EVs, like the bZ4X, are now entering the market

Japanese brands are expected to ramp up EV exports to Australia in the coming years, though their rollout has been slower than rivals.

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5. European EVs: Premium Imports, Limited Volume

Europe is home to some of the most coveted EV marques — but their presence in Australia is smaller due to high costs and production capacity constraints.

Mercedes-Benz EQ series (mostly from Germany)
BMW i4, iX1, iX3, etc.
Audi e-tron and Q8 e-tron
Volkswagen ID series (slow to arrive but gaining traction)

These are often priced in the $80K+ range and face stiff competition from more affordable Asian models.

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6. The U.S. Factor: Tesla and Trade Challenges

Tesla remains the dominant EV brand in Australia, but its U.S.-made vehicles (Model S and X) are rare here due to:

High shipping costs
Lack of right-hand-drive production from Tesla’s Fremont plant
Preference for Shanghai-made Model 3 and Y for local supply

Other American EVs, like the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Chevrolet Bolt, have limited local availability due to similar issues. Australia simply isn’t a priority market for most U.S. automakers.

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7. Free Trade Agreements and Tariffs

Trade agreements play a huge role in shaping where Australia’s EVs come from:

China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) allows tariff-free imports
Korea-Australia FTA (KAFTA) and Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement also reduce duties
No free trade agreement currently exists with the EU or U.S., which can mean higher import costs

This means Chinese- and Korean-made EVs often enjoy a pricing advantage — critical in a price-sensitive market.

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8. What This Means for Supply, Cost, and Choice

Australia’s EV sourcing has several implications:

Supply Chain Stability: Heavy reliance on China is efficient now but may pose risks if geopolitical tensions rise
Cost Sensitivity: Chinese EVs have lowered the price barrier — good news for buyers, but a challenge for premium brands
Brand Perception: Some consumers are still hesitant about lesser-known Chinese brands, though this is rapidly changing
Domestic Policy: Without local manufacturing, Australia must ensure port infrastructure, trade policy, and logistics can scale with demand

It’s a delicate balancing act — but one that currently works in our favour.

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9. Conclusion

Australia’s EVs are overwhelmingly imports — and most of them are coming from Asia, especially China. While legacy brands from Europe and Japan play a role, it’s the Chinese and Korean automakers that are driving volume, affordability, and accessibility.

As global EV production scales up and trade policies evolve, Australia’s sourcing mix will continue to shift. But for now, where our EVs come from is clear — and it’s shaping how fast we move toward an electric future.

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Where do Australia’s electric vehicles really come from? Explore which countries are supplying our EV market — and what that means for pricing, supply chains, and consumer choice.