The latest data released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) on Wednesday shows that four Chinese automakers - BYD, Great Wall Motors, MG and Chery - have entered the top 10 of Australia's car sales rankings in August, outperforming many major European, Korean and Japanese competitors.

In August alone, 20,070 Chinese-made cars were sold in Australia, a year-on-year increase of 67.6%.

Tony Weber, CEO of FCAI, said the figures reflect that the entire industry and consumers are rapidly adapting to new choices. He pointed out: "The presence of four Chinese brands in the top 10 indicates that the Australian car market is continuously evolving. Consumers now have an extremely rich range of choices - over 400 models, with about 100 of them being electric vehicles."

Chinese brands are making a strong comeback

In the August monthly sales ranking, Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD ranked sixth, with popular models including the Shark 6 plug-in hybrid pickup (1,261 units) and the Sealion 7 (1,413 units). Its year-to-date cumulative sales have increased by as much as 145.9%.

Close behind is Great Wall Motors, with its main models including the Haval Jolion (1,562 units) and the tough off-roader Tank 300 (461 units).

Despite a slight decline in overall sales this year, MG still holds a top ten position thanks to a 70.1% year-on-year increase in sales of the ZS SUV.

After a ten-year absence, Chery Automobile has returned to the Australian market and quickly established a foothold with affordable SUV models such as the Tiggo 4 Pro (1,780 units) and the Tiggo 7 Pro.

Industry analysts believe that the rapid growth of Chinese automakers is due to multiple factors: competitive prices, stable supply chains, and strong consumer demand for high-specification, low-priced models.

Chinese car brands have seized market gaps by launching models equipped with large screens, driving assistance technologies, and electric power systems to attract more buyers.

Meanwhile, Japanese automaker Toyota remains the top automaker in Australia, leading in both August's single-month sales and cumulative sales since 2025.

Top 10 car brands in the Australian market in August 2025:

1. Toyota: 20,791 units

2. Ford: 8,002 units

3. Kia: 7,402 units

4. Mazda: 6,814 units

5. Hyundai: 6,322 units

6. BYD: 4,877 units

7. Mitsubishi: 4,551 units

8. GWM: 4,488 units

9. MG: 3,927 units

10. Chery: 3,305 units

Top 10 car brands in the Australian market as of August 2025:

1. Toyota: 163,491 units

2. Ford: 62,581 units

3. Mazda: 63,208 units

4. Kia: 55,554 units

5. Hyundai: 51,957 units

6. Mitsubishi: 42,913 units

7. GWM: 34,398 units

8. BYD: 32,839 units

9. MG: 28,609 units

10. Isuzu Ute: 29,092 units

The National Energy Administration released the July electricity consumption data on August 21st. The total electricity consumption reached 1.02 trillion kilowatt-hours, marking the first time that China's monthly electricity consumption exceeded one trillion kilowatt-hours. It increased by 8.6% year-on-year. This electricity consumption scale has doubled compared to ten years ago and is equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of ASEAN countries. China has thus become the first country in the world to have a monthly electricity consumption exceeding one trillion kilowatt-hours.

However, this figure might not mean much to everyone. Only through comparison can one understand how remarkable it is to consume over 100 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity each month. It is worth noting that the annual electricity consumption of over 200 countries worldwide is only around 32 trillion kilowatt-hours in 2024. This means that China's monthly electricity consumption is approximately 3% of the global annual electricity consumption.

Moreover, a monthly electricity consumption of over 100 billion kilowatt-hours is a first for humanity. Before this, no country had ever achieved such a figure in a single month. Even the annual electricity consumption of most countries worldwide does not exceed 100 billion kilowatt-hours.

Even a powerful country like the United States, with an annual electricity consumption of only around 4.6 trillion kilowatt-hours, averages only about 383.3 billion kilowatt-hours per month.

Only through comparison can one truly appreciate the significance of 100 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity.

Of course, what is even more remarkable than 100 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity is China's power generation and transmission capabilities. To generate and transmit such a large amount of electricity within a month is a highly challenging task for any country in the world. If the power infrastructure is not up to par, it would lead to a complete breakdown.

In recent years, during peak electricity consumption periods, many countries have experienced total grid failures. For instance, in April this year, due to high temperatures, Spain's electricity consumption reached record highs, causing the grid to collapse and leaving 70% of the country without power, affecting about 35 million people.

Similarly, in July this year, due to high temperatures, the power systems of many European countries faced significant challenges. At the beginning of July, some cities including Rome in Italy experienced short power outages, affecting households, businesses, and traffic signals.

Even a powerful country like the United States has experienced grid failures. For example, on July 13, 2019, a large-scale power outage occurred in New York, USA, causing the subway to stop operating, and traffic lights and street lamps to go out. Even the concert of "Latin Queen" Jennifer Lopez was interrupted due to the power outage.

In a statement, Claude Guay announced that NRCan will allocate over CAD 9.7 million in dedicated funding for 23 projects to deploy more than 850 new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across Canada—many of which will be installed in Quebec—while supporting the advancement of domestic breakthrough technologies designed to enhance the performance, safety, and reliability of Canadian-made EVs, thereby accelerating the transition to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). These charging stations will be strategically located at workplaces, public spaces, highway corridors, and multi-unit residential buildings, with funding sourced from the Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP).

Canadian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson emphasized in the same statement: "We are taking bold steps to position Canada as an energy superpower. Through these initiatives, we are delivering practical solutions for EV users in Quebec while collaborating with local industries to decarbonize transportation, strengthen supply chains, and enhance energy independence. Such investments represent our pathway to building a cleaner, safer, and more competitive economy."

However, Brian Kingston, CEO of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association—which represents the Canadian interests of Detroit's Big Three automakers—contended that both the funding and the number of charging stations remain insufficient.

In an interview with *Automotive News Canada*, Kingston noted: "Canada faces a significant and growing public charging infrastructure gap, requiring the installation of 40,000 chargers annually to bridge it. At the current infrastructure rollout pace, meeting the federally mandated EV sales targets is unachievable."

Starting next year, the Canadian federal government will require that 20% of all new light-duty vehicles sold be zero-emission (including plug-in hybrids), with this benchmark increasing annually to reach 100% by 2035.

The federal government faces mounting pressure to rescind this ZEV sales mandate, as automakers argue the targets are unattainable without displacing internal combustion vehicles—a move that would undermine domestic manufacturing.

Canada's existing charging infrastructure falls far short of supporting the mandated ZEV adoption targets. Researchers at Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisory highlighted in a report that Canada's current count of just over 35,000 charging stations remains well below the 100,520 required to meet policy objectives.

Kingston stressed: "While today's announcement supporting additional EV charging projects is welcome, what's urgently needed is a comprehensive national strategy to develop ubiquitous, accessible, and reliable public charging infrastructure coast to coast."

Latest Natural Resources Canada data reveals 88% of charging ports are concentrated in British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec—provinces that accounted for 92% of Canada's new EV sales last year.

David Adams, CEO of Global Automakers of Canada (representing international brands), dismissed the announcement as "lacking substance," stating: "Although federal investment in EV infrastructure is positive, government reports confirm Canada remains far behind in deployment. More strategic investments outside existing hotspots could significantly boost EV adoption. What we truly require is federal focus on addressing the unattainable targets set by its ZEV mandate."

International consulting firm Gartner predicts that by 2025, the global stock of electric vehicles will increase by 33% year-on-year to 85 million. China is expected to account for 58% of the global total.

The latest industry report released by Gartner shows that including cars, buses, trucks and heavy-duty trucks, the global stock of electric vehicles will reach 64 million in 2024 and is expected to increase by 33% in 2025 to 85 million.

Jonathan Davenport, senior research director at Gartner, analyzed on the 12th that the growth in sales of electric vehicles in China and Europe will be the main reason for the increase in the global stock of electric vehicles in 2025. It is expected that the stock of electric vehicles in these two markets will account for 82% of the global total, with China accounting for 58% and Europe 24%.

Gartner predicts that in terms of types of electric vehicles, pure electric vehicles will account for 73% of the total number of electric vehicles in 2025. Regionally, China's stock of electric vehicles is expected to be higher than the total stock of the rest of the world in 2025 and the next decade. The demand for electric vehicles in Europe and North America is expected to grow steadily.

As the sales of electric vehicles increase year by year, the problem of raw material shortage will become prominent. According to Gartner's prediction, by 2030, car manufacturers will be able to recycle 95% of electric vehicle batteries, thereby reducing this risk. Davenport's analysis points out that since the concentration of rare metals in batteries is higher than that in natural ores, used batteries can be regarded as highly enriched ores. If the recycling of used batteries can be vigorously carried out and the materials in used batteries and the waste generated during the manufacturing process can be fully utilized, the demand for mineral extraction can be reduced. At the same time, it can improve the overall commercial feasibility of electric vehicles by lowering battery prices. It can also prevent used batteries from being improperly disposed of or landfilled.