The peak body for Australia’s car dealers has touted the “ready supply” of electric vehicles (EVs) in local showrooms.
“There is no shortage of EVs available for purchase here in Australia. In many instances customers can walk into a dealership and drive out in a new EV in a matter of days,” said Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA) CEO James Voortman.
The AADA says many EV variants are available and in stock now, and for some vehicles wait times are as short as one month for new orders.
“In particular, EVs at the more affordable end of the spectrum have strong levels of supply which is good news for customers looking to make the transition to a BEV,” said Mr Voortman.
There’s been a surge of activity at the lower end of the EV space, led by Chinese brands.
BYD, GWM and MG all now offer EVs with a base price of below $40,000 before on-road costs.
Supply of affordable EVs out of China, including Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y, has been strong, but makers of more expensive EVs have also been advertising supply and even special offers.
BMW, for example, has been offering free servicing and other incentives for its iX and iX3 SUVs.
While some brands have only been able to bring in EVs in trickles, some – like Kia – have been able to boost supply in recent months.
“It’s really important that we stop talking down the supply of EVs in Australia because they are available for customers to purchase and take delivery soon,” said Mr Voortman.
“We have canvassed dealers across the country and checked delivery timeframes for online distributors. The supply situation for EVs is very healthy.
“Customers can be rest assured that there is plenty of stock and while there are some variants that continue to have extended wait times, supply issues are being resolved quickly, allowing customers to get into their new EV sooner.”
If you’re not after an EV, the AADA warns supply of some popular combustion-powered and hybrid vehicles remains an issue, but says the situation is improving.
In the first half of 2023, EVs accounted for a record 7.4 per cent of total new vehicle sales, with 43,151 sold. That actually saw EVs push past hybrids, though some of Australia’s most popular hybrid vehicles remain heavily supply-constrained.
The growing popularity of EVs has seen New South Wales follow Victoria in dropping its EV purchase incentives, which included rebates and stamp duty exemptions.
In Australia’s most populous state, these won’t be offered beyond January 1, 2024
