Port Melbourne: Single photo of imported electric vehicles that shows why the industry is in trouble in Australia

A telling photo of new Teslas idling in an Australian port has revealed the challenge facing the industry in Australia.

While Elon Musk’s electric cars were once pre-sold before they even entered Australia, an alarming image captured countless rows of cars idling in Port Melbourne,

Industry experts believe the reason for the apparent boycott of Tesla EVs is poor charging infrastructure, along with a highly competitive market, with many Australians now buying cheaper Chinese-made electric vehicles.

2,000 Teslas arrive at Port Melbourne every month, but the Victorian Transport Association’s Peter Anderson has warned very few are leaving.

‘Suddenly we have a huge backlog of Teslas that are not moving. They just stopped moving,” he told Seven News.

‘Teslas usually come into this country pre-sold, these cars don’t. They are here waiting for buyers.’

An alarming image has captured thousands of Teslas sitting idle in a Port Melbourne car yard

According to the NRMA, Tesla’s sales fell by two-thirds in April this year compared to the same period last year.

Overall sales of electric cars fell by five percent in April, after three consecutive years of substantial growth.

The situation for Tesla has become so dire that the company has been forced to drastically reduce its prices.

A Tesla Model 3 with rear-wheel drive was on the market late last year for $61,900, but now costs $54,900.

Similarly, a rear-wheel drive Tesla Model Y cost $65,400 but now has a price tag of $55,900.

Other EV companies have also been forced to cut prices as drivers turn to more affordable Chinese models.

In 2023, China’s BYD will have sold more cars worldwide than Tesla.

Their cheapest model, the BYD Dolphin, sells for $38,000.

Meanwhile, the European-made 2023 GWM Ora retails for $35,990.

It comes after US company ChargePoint closed its 46 charging stations around NSW, Victoria and Queensland on February 1.

ChargePoint installed its first EV station in Australia in 2010 and expanded across the country’s east coast as the popularity of electric cars increased among motorists.

However, in 2020 the brand stopped servicing its charging ports in Australia, while its network of stations operated via remote support from the US.