BYD Sealion 7 outsells Tesla Model Y to become Australia’s most popular EV

The BYD Sealion 7 knocked off the Tesla Model Y as the best-selling electric car in Australia in July, marking the second month this year the Chinese electric SUV has managed this feat.

In July, BYD delivered 1427 examples of the Sealion 7 – which only landed in showrooms six months ago – to find almost three times as many buyers as the Model Y, which slumped to 555 for the month. 

It came as overall electric vehicle (EV) sales in July increased 7.1 per cent year on year, despite a significant slump for Tesla.

To the end of July, the Tesla Model Y still leads the EV sales charts in Australia with 10,986 deliveries. The Sealion 7 sits in second place with 5183 deliveries, though this still puts it ahead of the Tesla Model 3 (4077), Kia EV5 (3227) and MG 4 (2429).

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While July was only the second time it was ahead of the Model Y – April being the previous month, with 743 sales against 280 for the Tesla – the Sealion 7 has outsold the Model 3 every month since April 2025. 

The Sealion 7 outsold both combined in July, the Model 3 adding 362 sales for a Tesla brand total of 917 vehicles. 

The Tesla remains ahead year-to-date by a healthy 5803 vehicles, but the US automaker continues to struggle to return to its previous heights. 

It posted its first global sales decline in its history in 2024 – including a 16.9 per cent fall in Australia.

A strong June result – the brand’s highest in a year – now appears a false dawn for Tesla after a torrid July where its sales fell 64.6 per cent year-on-year.

BYD, in contrast, saw sales growth of 158 per cent in July, following on from its June result where it became the first Chinese car brand to make the top five best-sellers in Australia. 

BYD Sealion 7 vs Tesla Model Y sales in 2025

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