Record-breaking May sales of the Tesla Model Y in Australia
Tesla's Record-Breaking May in Australia
Tesla has made a significant comeback in the Australian market, recording its strongest sales month in nearly a year. The electric vehicle giant delivered 3,897 vehicles in May 2025, marking a 123% increase compared to May 2024.
The boost in sales is largely attributed to the launch of the refreshed Model Y. The new Model Y, which has been the leading sales contributor in Tesla's May 2025 sales figures, reportedly saw some delivery centres handing over 70 to 100 units daily following their arrival from China.
The Model Y's sales figures were reported by Drive, and the slow start in 2025 for Tesla in Australia was primarily due to limited stock from China, as the company retooled Giga Shanghai to prepare for new versions of the Model Y.
Despite the Model 3 sedan's significant decrease in sales, falling 71% to 2,583 units year-to-date in 2025, the electric vehicle council provided the latest figures for Tesla's sales.
In addition to the sales surge, Tesla is on the verge of launching its Full Self-Driving (FSD) supervised system in Australia. The rollout will start with vehicles equipped with Tesla's latest Hardware 4 (HW4) platform, such as refreshed Tesla Model 3 and newer Model Ys delivered with HW4 since late 2023 and 2024, respectively.
Tesla has been collaborating with local authorities, and all regulatory approvals have been cleared for the FSD rollout in Australia and New Zealand. The company is currently in the final stages of validation and testing on local roads, with no regulatory blockers currently preventing the FSD release in Australia, as confirmed by Tesla's Country Director for Australia & New Zealand, Thom Drew.
The first video showcasing Full Self-Driving (FSD) operating on Melbourne streets, including a complex hook-turn, was also recently released by Tesla. Despite its name, FSD is a driver-assist technology that requires continuous driver supervision, with in-cabin monitoring to ensure drivers keep attention on the road (not full autonomy).
The figures show a significant increase in sales from April to May 2025, with only 500 vehicles delivered in April. However, Tesla's year-to-date vehicle sales in Australia are down 48% compared to the same period in 2024, with 9,557 vehicles sold as of May 2025. The Model Y's sales in May 2025 mark its best month since June 2024 and its best May performance in two years.
[1] Tesla Australia & New Zealand: Full Self-Driving (FSD) Update - Tesla (tesla.com) [2] Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) on the Verge of Launch in Australia - Electrek (electrek.co) [3] Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) Supervised System Imminent in Australia - CarAdvice (caradvice.com.au)
The surge in Tesla's sales in Australia, as seen in May 2025, can be largely attributed to the launch of the refreshed Model Y, which has reportedly been the leading sales contributor for the company. With the launch of Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) supervised system in Australia imminent, the company is poised to revolutionize not only the lifestyle of electric vehicle owners but also the technology sector, particularly in the automotive industry, with the introduction of electric-vehicles such as the Model 3 and Model Y.
