Australia’s electric vehicle market is undergoing what’s being described as its fastest brand reshuffle on record, with new data from JOLT revealing nearly half of EV drivers are already planning their next purchase – and increasingly looking to Chinese manufacturers.
The study, based on verified users of JOLT’s fast-charging network across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide, points to a rapid and structural shift in how – and when – Australians choose their next car.
It comes after Carsales recently reported a 76.7 per cent spike in EV searches after the war broke out.
A Primara Research survey found 25 per cent of Australians are now considering buying an EV for the first time, up from just seven per cent before the conflict. Among 25 to 34-year-olds, that figure is 42 per cent.
In JOLT’s study, it found nearly three in five drivers (59 per cent) now include at least one Chinese brand in their EV consideration set, signalling a dramatic change in brand perception in less than 12 months. One major manufacturer, the company said, saw its consideration share fall by 44 per cent over just nine months.
“This isn’t marginal churn – it’s a structural reset,” said JOLT CEO Doug McNamee. “The consideration set for Australia’s most active EV buyers has been completely redrawn in under a year.”
Half of EV drivers preparing to buy
The data shows 47 per cent of surveyed drivers are currently considering or planning to purchase a new EV, with 17 per cent intending to buy within the next 12 months.
Among households still running a petrol or hybrid vehicle alongside an EV, 58 per cent plan to replace it with a fully electric model within three years — reinforcing the category’s continued growth trajectory.
At the same time, what buyers value is shifting.
Driving range has surged as the top purchase factor, rising 23 percentage points, followed by price sensitivity (+21 points). Interior quality and luxury feel also saw a notable increase, doubling as a decision driver (+14 points).
By contrast, the importance of in-car technology declined slightly, down five percentage points.
“The EV buyer of 2026 wants more range, better value, and a premium feel,” McNamee said. “They’re no longer impressed by technology for its own sake.”
Decisions made before the dealership
Perhaps the most significant finding for marketers is when decisions are being made.
Half of respondents (50 per cent) said they had already decided on the exact vehicle they wanted before entering a dealership, while just 5 per cent relied on the dealer or test drive to make their final choice.
That leaves the vast majority of purchase decisions effectively locked in before brands have a chance to influence buyers at the point of sale.
“Only 5 per cent of the most valuable auto segment is genuinely open to influence in-dealership,” McNamee said. “The other 95 per cent have already made up their minds.”
The findings suggest a growing mismatch between traditional automotive media spend — often weighted toward lower-funnel conversion — and the earlier-stage consideration phase where decisions are increasingly formed.
EV demand accelerates
The shift comes as EV adoption continues to accelerate. JOLT reported a 54.5 per cent month-on-month increase in new user registrations in March, expanding both its audience reach and its pool of first-party data.
The research is based on a March 2026 survey of 702 verified EV drivers using JOLT’s charging network, with comparisons to a June 2025 wave of more than 1,100 respondents.
