This photo taken inside an Aussie car dealership tells you everything about where drivers’ heads are at right now
A photo snapped inside a Melbourne car dealership says everything about where Aussie commuters’ priorities are right now.
The picture, taken at GWM Werribee, shows a cupboard that once overflowed with keys for brand new hybrid cars – ready for eager buyers.
But a recent picture showed the cupboard almost empty, save for one lonely set of keys. The reason? A sharp, unprecedented spike in demand has left the dealership waiting for its next shipment to arrive.
GWM confirmed that shortly after the photo was taken, the last set of keys vanished by lunchtime.
The image perfectly sums up motorists’ response to the current fuel crisis – a catalyst for masses of Aussies to switch to electric and hybrid cars.
Kelly Van Blommestein, Dealer Principal at GWM Werribee, said she was floored by the recent impact of skyrocketing petrol prices, which have driven hybrid sales to unprecedented levels.
After years working in the car sales industry, she’s now witnessed a rapid shift: ordinary Aussies, who just months ago wouldn’t have considered anything but petrol cars, now walk in and sign contracts on the spot for hybrids.
As a result, the dealership has been consistently smashing its own sales records week after week – as highlighted by the snapshot of their usually bulging key cupboard.
This photo, obtained exclusively by Daily Mail Australia, depicts a cupboard at GWM Werribee that would normally be overflowing with keys for brand new hybrid cars. But recent demand meant they were down to their last vehicle – and awaiting the next shipment of cars
Kelly Van Blommestein, Dealer Principal at GWM Werribee, said she was floored by the recent impact of skyrocketing petrol prices on hybrid car sales
GWM Australia’s figures back this up: February saw 4,689 vehicle sales, rising to 5,680 in March, marking not just a record month but a 21.1 per cent monthly jump. Importantly, nearly half of March’s sales were New Energy Vehicles, including hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric models.
Yet, Kelly says some customers are still holding out for relief at the bowser.
‘There are still Australians waiting for petrol prices to go down – families sticking with petrol cars because it’s what they’ve always known.’
She predicts, however, ‘petrol prices won’t be going down for a while’, and sees this as a watershed moment for conversion to electric and hybrid cars.
‘The most dangerous mindset right now is hoping things stay the same,’ she mused. ‘The question is: are you ready for what comes next?’
Australia’s latest VFACTS data confirms it’s not just sentiment, but reality. March saw the biggest month ever for low-emission vehicle sales, with pure electric models hitting a record 14.6 per cent of all new car sales – nearly double last March’s figure. Petrol car sales, meanwhile, collapsed by 20.8 per cent year-on-year.
The finance sector is seeing the shift too. NAB reported a 100 per cent increase in new EV loans in March, while CommBank also noted a 161 per cent lift in EV finance demand since the start of the month.
Online, it seems that Australians are increasingly curious about looking into EVs. For instance, Carsales reports that EV searches nearly tripled in March versus February, and 55 per cent of users are now considering a low-emission vehicle as their next purchase.
The long-time car industry salesperson has witnessed a rapid shift in customers’ perception towards low emission and fully electric vehicles
The 2026 GWM Haval Jolion Premium Hybrid Auto is priced between $28,990 and $31,790 depending on location and state-specific on-road costs
Still, Kelly notes that a sticking point for some Aussies is the perception of long waiting periods and hassle installation of charging units.
For those unsure about making the leap, she recommends hybrids which ‘solve many of these issues – including charging itself while you drive.’
She notes that for a family driving 15,000km a year, that’s more than $1,500 in savings annually. ‘No waiting. No plugging in.’
One such currently available vehicle that offers this potential is the 2026 GWM Haval Jolion Premium Hybrid Auto. It’s priced between $28,990 and $31,790 depending on location and state-specific on-road costs.
Meanwhile, Daily Mail recently cited an AAP report showing demand for second-hand EVs is surging as petrol prices climb, with enquiries more than doubling since the fuel crisis began.
Automotive experts say the surge also extends to new vehicles and could prompt delays, as some buyers snap up cars still en route to Australia.
Pickles Car Auctions recently reported searches for electric vehicles up 111 per cent in the three weeks to March 21, as widespread fuel shortages and record prices have seen some regional stations charge over $4 a litre for diesel.
Interest in battery-powered cars spiked mid-March, Pickles’ general manager Brendon Green said, with 98 per cent more customers adding EVs to their wish lists.
More car buyers are putting EVs on their shopping lists as petrol prices climb
Interest in electric cars is rising as petrol prices soar
‘There seems to be a direct line between the petrol spike and people looking at EVs – and I think this will accelerate the trend,’ he said.
Whether this marks a permanent shift depends partly on fuel prices, Green adds, although sales have been climbing steadily.
Interest in EVs comes after they hit a new record, representing 11.8 per cent of new car sales last month. But the full impact may take months to become clear, Australian Electric Vehicle Association president James Pickering said, given manufacturers are now accepting pre-orders.
‘We’re hearing a lot of dealers are running down stock in the country – and some are running down stock in transit,’ he explained. ‘The true picture of what’s happening will show not just in March sales but in April as well.’
