An EV is now Australia's cheapest car

BYD has cut the Australian price of its entry-level 2026 Atto 1 Essential by AU$4,000, making a new EV cheaper than a petrol car in Australia. The price drops from AU$23,990 to AU$19,990 inclusive of all additional fees, undercutting previous cheapest-new-car options such as the manual 2026 Kia Picanto Sport at AU$19,190 (before on-road costs). The offer gives BYD the cheapest-car spot overall as of now, including the MG3 Vibe petrol model’s AU$1,000 cashback deal ending Sept. 30. However, the AU$19,990 price is only available for three months from Sept. 15 to Dec. 15. In August, EVs reached 24.9% of new vehicle sales in Australia, up 171% year-on-year.