(Yicai) July 15 -- China solidified its position as Australia's largest source of car imports last month, widening the gap from Japan after surpassing it in February.

Australia imported 46,600 cars from China and 27,100 from Japan in June, according to the latest data from the Australian Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries. They accounted for 36 percent and 21 percent, respectively, of the country's total vehicle imports.

In February, sales of cars from China totaled 22,362 units, while those from Japan reached 21,671 units.

Toyota Motor remained the best-selling auto brand in Australia in June with 19,100 units, followed closely by BYD with 18,900 units. The Chinese exports to Australia also included 8,600 Tesla cars made at the US electric vehicle maker's factory in Shanghai.

More than 10 Chinese auto brands, such as BYD, Xpeng Group, Great Wall Motor, Chery Automobile, and GAC Group, have entered the Australian market, with over a dozen models available. According to data from the China Passenger Car Association, China's vehicle exports to Australia surged 80 percent in May from a year ago, with an average export price of USD23,100.

June was a record-breaking month for car sales in Australia. New vehicle registrations in the country rose 7 percent to 131,100 last month from the same period last year, according to the country's official vehicle registration statistics database.

Geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East and sharp fluctuations in oil prices have increased consumers' willingness to purchase vehicles less sensitive to fuel costs, said Tony Weber, chief executive of the FCAI. While these factors provided short-term stimulus, the deeper driver behind the rise in EV sales is the industry's permanent structural transformation, he added.

Editor: Futura Costaglione