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Nearly one in two: the electrification story the BEV headline misses

Inside Line

Battery electric vehicles share hit 16.4 percent in April and earned its coverage. But add plug-in hybrids and non-plug hybrids to the picture, and 46 percent of new vehicles sold last month had some form of electric drive. That's the electrification story few have clocked — and for the industry, it's arguably more important than the BEV figure alone.

Mike Sinclair
6 May 2026 · 5 min read

The FCAI's "one in six" framing of the BEV share in the April VFACTS registration data is accurate and attention-grabbing. But it's short of the mark.

When you add PHEVs at 10.2 percent of the market, and non-plug hybrids at 19.3 percent, the total electrified share in April was 46 percent. Approaching one in two new vehicles sold. In March, it was 38.6 percent. In April 2025, it was 25.1 percent.

That trajectory, from one in four to nearly one in two in a year, is the measure of how far

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Mike Sinclair
Mike Sinclair
Partner and Principal Columnist, TheAutoExec Network

Mike Sinclair is an equity partner and Principal Columnist for TheAutoExec Network. Mike has been testing and writing about cars, motorcycles and more for over 30 years. He was a key executive team member when ACP Media and Carsales formed Australia's leading automotive, industrial, marine and motorcycle online network in the 2000s, and the driving force behind the launch of motoring.com.au. For two decades, Mike led the large multimedia and editorial team at Carsales, and all PR and corporate communications. With significant exposure to both OEM and dealership disciplines, Mike now consults with a number of key brands on a range of automotive and powersports opportunities.

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