Australia's Best-Selling Cars Just Changed: How to Accessorise the New Favourites
CarMoods TeamIf you needed proof that the Australian car market is being reshaped before our eyes, the June 2026 sales figures delivered it. According to data reported by CarsGuide from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, the Tesla Model Y was the best-selling vehicle in the country in June, with 8,072 finding new homes — a jump of more than 130 per cent on the same month last year. Toyota held onto top spot among brands with 19,124 sales, but BYD was breathing down its neck with 18,881, an extraordinary result for a brand that only sells electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles here.
FCAI chief Tony Weber described the result as a shift for the new vehicle market, saying the Australian automotive landscape has "shifted on its axis" during the first months of 2026. The rest of the top ten tells the same story: GWM, MG and Chery all muscled out long-time favourites like Mitsubishi, Subaru and Nissan, while the BYD Sealion 7 and Toyota RAV4 posted huge gains among individual models.
What does all this mean for you? If you're one of the tens of thousands of Australians who drove home a new Model Y, Sealion 7, RAV4 or Haval Jolion last month — or you're about to — the accessory game has changed too. Here's how to set up the new generation of Australian favourites from day one.
This guide covers
- Why new-generation EVs need a different accessory approach
- Setting up a new Tesla or BYD from day one
- The first five accessories worth buying for any new car
- Tips for GWM, MG and Chery owners
- Protecting resale value from the first month
Jump to: New-Generation Cars · BYD Setup · First Five Accessories · GWM, MG & Chery · Resale Value · FAQ
Why new-generation cars need a different accessory approach
The cars dominating the sales charts in 2026 are quite different from the ones that topped them a decade ago. Minimalist EV interiors, glass roofs, vegan-leather seats and touchscreen-first cabins all change what's worth buying.
Take the Tesla Model Y. Its pared-back cabin looks stunning, but the white upholstery marks easily, the huge glass roof lets in serious Australian sun, and the slim steering wheel divides opinion. That's why fitted sunshades, steering wheel covers and seat protection are consistently the first purchases Model Y owners make.
Bestseller
Tesla Model 3/Y Sunroof Sunshade (2020–2025)
A custom-fit shade that tames glass-roof heat and UV through an Australian summer.
Shop now
Recommended
Tesla Model 3 Leather Steering Wheel Cover
Adds grip and keeps the factory wheel unmarked for resale day.
Shop nowYou'll find these and more in our Tesla accessories collection, built around Model 3 and Model Y pain points.
Setting up a new BYD: the fastest-growing badge on Australian roads
BYD owners face a similar situation. The Atto 3, Seal, Dolphin and Sealion have distinctive interiors — the Atto 3's "gym equipment" door handles and guitar-string door pockets are famous — and generic accessories often don't sit right. Brand-specific gear is designed around those exact shapes.
Editor's Choice
BYD Sealion 7 Leather Floor Mats (2024–2026)
A precise fit for Australia's breakout SUV of the year, protecting the carpet from day one.
Shop now
Recommended
BYD SEAL EV Windshield Sun Shade
Custom-cut for the Seal's windscreen to keep the cabin cool and the dash protected.
Shop nowBrowse the full range in our BYD collection, from key fob covers to fitted interior trim.
The first five accessories worth buying for any new car
Whatever badge is on the bonnet, the early priorities are the same. Based on what thousands of Australian drivers buy first, this is the sensible order:
1. Sun protection. Australian UV is brutal on dashboards, screens and seats. A windscreen sunshade — and for glass-roof EVs, a roof shade — is the single cheapest way to protect your interior and keep summer cabin temperatures bearable.
2. A steering wheel cover. It protects the part of the car you touch most, adds grip, and keeps the factory wheel underneath in as-new condition. Measure your wheel's diameter first, or choose a brand-specific cover for a factory fit.
3. Seat and boot protection. Kids, dogs, beach trips and flat-pack furniture all arrive eventually. Protecting seats and the boot floor early is far easier than repairing damage later.
4. Comfort upgrades. A neck pillow and lumbar support transform longer drives, especially in firmer-riding EVs.
Staff Pick
Sleek PU leather support that matches the minimalist cabin instead of fighting it.
Shop now
Recommended
BYD Leather Car Neck Pillow Headrest Cushion
Ergonomic neck support finished to match BYD's interior styling.
Shop now5. Organisation. Minimalist interiors often mean minimalist storage. Console organisers, seat-back tidies and boot dividers keep the new-car feeling alive well past the first month. You'll find most of these in our interior accessories collection.
| Accessory | Universal is fine | Go brand-specific |
|---|---|---|
| Floor mats | ✅ | |
| Sunshades | ✅ | |
| Steering wheel cover | ✅ | |
| Key fob cover | ✅ | |
| Organisers & tissue holders | ✅ | |
| Neck pillows | ✅ |
Accessorising the Chinese-brand wave: GWM, MG and Chery
With GWM, MG and Chery now all in Australia's top ten, hundreds of thousands of local drivers own cars that barely existed here five years ago. The good news: the accessory ecosystem has caught up.
Dedicated ranges now exist for the Haval Jolion, MG ZS and 4, and Chery's Tiggo and Omoda lines — meaning you no longer need to settle for one-size-fits-all gear that slides around or covers vents.
Several popular models have light-coloured interiors that benefit from early seat protection. And if your car came with a proximity key, a key fob cover is a small purchase that prevents the most common cosmetic damage of all — a scratched, worn key.
Pro tip
Many new GWM, MG and Chery models come with piano-black trim that scratches and gathers fingerprints easily. Keep a microfibre cloth in the console and consider protective film on high-touch areas.
Protecting resale value from day one
One under-appreciated lesson from the sales boom: with so many nearly-new cars set to hit the used market in a few years, the tidiest examples will command the best money. Accessories are the cheapest insurance you can buy.
A car that spends three years with its wheel covered, dash shaded and seats protected presents dramatically better at trade-in time. Keep the original parts unmarked underneath, and you get the best of both worlds — personalisation now, originality later.
Our top picks
- 🥇 Tesla Model 3/Y Sunroof Sunshade Bestseller Shop →
- 🥈 BYD Sealion 7 Leather Floor Mats Editor's choice Shop →
- 🥉 Tesla Car Neck Pillow Staff pick Shop →
- ⭐ BYD SEAL EV Windshield Sun Shade Customer favourite Shop →
The winds of change are clearly blowing through Australian driveways. Whichever of the new favourites you've parked in yours, setting it up properly in the first month is the difference between a car that still feels new in three years and one that doesn't.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will accessories void my new car's warranty?
No. Cosmetic and comfort accessories like seat covers, sunshades, organisers and steering wheel covers don't affect your manufacturer warranty. Warranty issues only arise from modifications to mechanical, electrical or safety systems.
What should I buy first for a Tesla Model Y?
Most owners start with a glass roof sunshade (essential for Australian summers), a steering wheel cover and boot protection. Fitted accessories designed for the Model Y will sit better than universal ones.
Do universal accessories fit BYD, GWM and Chery models?
Often, but not always. Steering wheel sizes, console shapes and headrest designs vary, so brand-specific accessories are worth it for anything that needs a precise fit. Universal items like organisers and tissue holders work fine across most models.
Are accessories a good gift for someone who just bought a new car?
They're one of the best. New owners have usually spent their budget on the car itself, so quality accessories — a neck pillow, a fitted sunshade, a smart key cover — are thoughtful, useful and always appreciated.
