Although BYD’s Dolphin was the cheapest EV when it landed in Australia in 2023, it’s now even more affordable. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, a new Dolphin Essentials trim is now available to order starting at $29,990 (plus on-road costs). It’s the first EV to start at under $30,000 in Australia.

The first electric vehicle priced under $30,000 is now on sale in Australia, with a stripped-back version of the Dolphin vehicle from Chinese carmaker BYD heading a growing list of lower-cost clean cars for Australia.

Despite potential fuel savings, the purchase price of new EVs is a significant point of difference with petrol and diesel vehicles. There are only six EV models available for under $40,000, with an MG4 the cheapest at a retail price of about $30,000. Ten hybrid electric vehicles retail for under $40,000, with the cheapest at $30,000.

A new entry-level BYD Dolphin sees it slide under $30,000 before on-road costs, while the Atto 3 now starts from less than $40,000.

Despite new players entering the market and some of the cheapest electric vehicles in the world landing on our shores, EV sales in Australia increased by just 4.7% in 2024 with a total of 91,292 cars sold.