At the long-awaited return of the Melbourne Motorshow, Thomas Drew, Country Director (Motors) for Tesla Australia and New Zealand, delivered a keynote that traced Tesla’s journey in the region and previewed the next chapter in the EV leader’s evolution. Addressing a packed audience, Drew reflected on how far the industry — and Tesla — has come since the last local motorshow in 2011, and introduced the latest iteration of the world’s best-selling car: the new Tesla Model Y.
“This is an exciting time to be here,” Drew opened. “At the 2011 show, we were still talking top speeds, not charging speeds. Only a handful of EVs were on display. Today, the automotive landscape has changed dramatically — and Tesla has been at the forefront of that transformation.”
From Roadster to Market Leader
Tesla’s Australian story began in 2010 with the first Roadster deliveries, and since then the company has grown to a national footprint of over 130,000 vehicles on the road, covering more than 4.5 billion kilometres.
Drew recounted milestones that included the launch of the Model S in 2014, the Model X in 2016, and the runaway success of the Model 3, which began local deliveries in 2019. The Model 3 would go on to become Australia’s best-selling electric vehicle and a global phenomenon, selling over one million units worldwide.
By 2022, the Model Y emerged as the next-generation family EV, quickly rising to become the world’s best-selling passenger vehicle in 2023 and 2024 — regardless of powertrain.
Introducing the New Model Y
The centrepiece of Tesla’s display was the updated Model Y, revealed in Australia for the first time at the show. With a refreshed design and numerous upgrades, the new Model Y is aimed at keeping Tesla ahead in an increasingly competitive EV segment.
Drew highlighted the model’s key advancements:
- Redesigned front and rear lighting for a distinctive visual identity, including a full-width light bar at the rear with Tesla wordmark projection.
- Enhanced aerodynamics with a new front bumper and mirror-integrated airflow channels.
- A revised cabin featuring soft-touch materials, ambient lighting, and a silver-coated panoramic glass roof that reflects seven times more solar energy.
- Improved comfort, with a 22% reduction in road noise and a 20% decrease in ride harshness.
- The addition of a front-facing camera, enabling enhanced safety features and autonomous capability.
“It’s not just a refresh,” said Drew. “It’s a reinvention. Everything from the ride quality to the user interface has been elevated. This is our most refined and capable Model Y yet — and we’re confident it will remain Australia’s favourite EV.”
The Infrastructure Advantage
Drew also pointed to Tesla’s rapidly expanding Supercharger network, which now includes over 110 locations and 661 charging plugs across Australia. With 99.5% uptime, Tesla drivers enjoy unmatched charging convenience — a factor that has been crucial to the brand’s sustained growth.
“The road to sustainable transport isn’t just about the vehicles,” Drew concluded. “It’s about building the ecosystem — and Tesla is doing both.”
With new products, refined designs, and proven infrastructure, Tesla’s presence at the Melbourne Motorshow reaffirmed its leadership in Australia’s electric future — and its commitment to staying one step ahead.
