Australian PHEV sales: How they're tracking as 2024 nears its end

Much has been said of hybrids surging in popularity as electric vehicle (EV) growth cools, but plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) have been enjoying their moment, too.

From January to the end of September 2024, PHEV sales are up 120.5 per cent on the same period last year. That saw their growth outpace hybrids (up 87 per cent) and EVs (up 6.6 per cent).

This growth comes from a low base, however, and total PHEV sales of 15,546 pale in comparison to EVs (70,094) and hybrids (129,895).

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The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV remains Australia’s best-selling PHEV, but it faces a formidable foe in the new BYD Sealion 6. BYD has sold 3207 examples of the Sealion 6, its first PHEV in Australia, despite only launching it in June.

That meant the Chinese SUV outsold its Japanese rival in the June-September period, with a total of 2462 Outlander PHEVs being delivered to customers in that time.

It remains to be seen whether the Outlander PHEV will again be toppled in the sales charts, if not this year than next, like it was in 2022 by the MG HS.

That year, Mitsubishi was running out the previous-generation Outlander PHEV, and now this year MG is in the same position with its HS Plus EV which has fallen several spots.

While the Outlander PHEV is the best-selling PHEV, it accounts for 20 per cent of total Outlander sales.

There are other vehicles, however, where PHEV variants account for a larger share of a model’s sales. These include the Volvo XC60 (40.6 per cent), Cupra Formentor (52.4 per cent), Alfa Romeo Tonale (46.5 per cent) and Volvo S60 (41.4 per cent).

MORE: Australian EV sales: How they’re shaping up as 2024 nears its endMORE: BYD Sealion 6: The Chinese SUV driving PHEV sales in Australia