We’ve known this for a long time, and what we’re seeing right now is clearly reinforcing it.
As the market shifts, buyers aren’t waiting. They’re coming straight to carsales to work through their options, compare and move toward a decision.
internal data (Feb-March 2026)
Interest in brand new vehicles has surged overall, reaching its highest level on record last month (internal data March 2026).
EVs are leading that momentum, with searches up 261% month-on-month (internal data March 2026), alongside the increases across the broader new car category. This is where buyers go when they’re actively searching, enquiring and making a decision.
carsales isn’t just part of the car buying journey, it’s where a large portion of it happens. Today, around 60% of buyers on carsales are searching for new cars (carsales Consumer Sentiment, latest wave), supported by the largest range of new and near-new inventory in Australia.
Alongside OEM websites, we’re the first place buyers go when looking for a brand new vehicle. It’s where they come to validate their thinking, compare one option against another, understand value, and get confidence in the decision they’re about to make (Australia’s Car Buyer Report, 2026, conducted by Nature, Sep 2025, n=2,008).
The past few weeks have made one thing clear. Demand can shift quickly. Brands that didn’t exist in the Australian market 18 months ago have overtaken some of the more established OEMs in new car EV enquiry share, in just a few weeks.
That’s a clear signal of how quickly consideration sets can change when a brand is visible and inventory is available.
Brands need to be ready and in the best position to adapt with the market.
From better listing experiences and real-time visibility of OEM retail offers, through to trusted editorial and reviews that reflect the market closely and make comparisons easier, everything is designed to help buyers make stronger decisions.
That’s extended into tools that speed up research and help buyers arrive with clearer intent, so when they do enquire or walk into a dealership, they’re already further down the path to purchase.
We don’t just reflect what’s happening in the market, we help people move through it.
The audience for new cars is already here, actively researching, comparing and making decisions on carsales every day. The pace we’re seeing now, is just making that more visible than ever.
For OEMs, it’s about making sure your brand is present when that consideration set is being shaped.
For dealers, it’s about having new car inventory visible where buyers are already looking.
Because when buyers are ready to act, they’re not deciding where to go, they’re already on carsales.
Craig Fraser, Managing Director – carsales
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