March 31, 2026 – As the escalating situation in the Middle East triggers a global energy ripple effect, Australia is facing a severe fuel supply crisis.
According to reports, the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has led to a sharp surge in international oil prices. As a result, retail gasoline prices across multiple regions in Australia have soared to between 2.52 and 2.6 Australian dollars per liter, and the supply gap continues to widen.
In comparison, it only costs about 24 Australian dollars to fully charge a 60-kilowatt-hour electric vehicle, with fuel costs being approximately four times that of electricity costs.
Driven by the soaring oil prices, many Australian residents are now turning their attention to Chinese electric vehicles.
It is reported that several BYD dealerships in Australia are experiencing a significant increase in customer traffic. Sales have surged by over 50% year-on-year, with some models already out of stock. Customers are queuing up to wait for BYD roll-on/roll-off ships to arrive at the port. Popular dealerships in Melbourne, for example, are selling more than 10 vehicles per day on average. One salesperson has sold over 100 new BYD cars in less than a month and is now struggling with vehicle delivery. Customers are constantly pressing for updates as everyone awaits the arrival of the BYD ships.
Additional data shows that BYD sold 52,000 vehicles in Australia in 2025, marking a 156% year-on-year increase, with several models ranking high on the sales charts. Now, with the impact of soaring oil prices, it is expected that even more Australian residents will become owners of BYD and other Chinese electric vehicle brands this year.
