Queensland motorists are increasingly looking beyond traditional automotive brands, with emerging manufacturers and electrified vehicles reshaping the state’s new-car market, according to the Motor Trades Association Queensland.
A total of 20,849 new vehicles were sold in Queensland during August 2026, down 4.8 per cent compared with August last year. However, almost 43 per cent of vehicles sold featured an electrified powertrain.
Zero and Low Emission Vehicles (ZELVs) accounted for 8,948 sales, comfortably exceeding the 5,385 petrol vehicles sold during the month.
MTA Queensland CEO Rod Camm said the figures showed buyers were increasingly prepared to consider unfamiliar badges when vehicles delivered the value, technology and suitability they wanted.
“Queensland motorists are showing they are prepared to look beyond familiar badges if a vehicle offers strong value, good technology and suits their lifestyle,” Camm said.
The changing market was particularly evident in the performance of newer manufacturers. MTA Queensland reported BYD sales increased 76 per cent year-on-year, Chery rose 59 per cent, Geely increased 643 per cent and Zeekr surged 2,512 per cent.
However, MTA Queensland warned the influx of new brands and technologies would require the automotive industry to keep pace.
Workshops will increasingly need access to appropriate technical information, diagnostic equipment, specialist tooling, replacement parts and technicians trained to safely service and repair newer vehicles. Continued electrification would also require charging infrastructure to keep pace, particularly in regional and remote Queensland.
“New vehicle sales are only the beginning of the ownership journey,” Camm said.
Despite the rapid changes, familiar models continue to dominate the sales charts. The Toyota HiLux remained Queensland’s top-selling new vehicle year-to-date at the end of August with 9,036 sales, followed by the Ford Ranger with 6,916 and Toyota RAV4 with 5,106.