Chinese carmakers, particularly those focused on new energy vehicles, are making rapid gains in Australia's highly competitive market as they have won the confidence of the country's consumers, the head of Australia's top auto industry body has said.

The shift toward low-emission electric vehicles is an inevitable trend, and the rapid growth of Chinese automotive brands in Australia reflects their ability to meet consumer needs through competitive products and services, Tony Weber, chief executive of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), told Xinhua in a recent interview in Canberra.

According to data from the FCAI, sales of new energy vehicles in Australia have increased significantly this year, while Chinese-made vehicles have performed strongly in the new-car market. In February, China became Australia's largest source of new vehicles for the first time in a single month.

Weber said Chinese automakers are deepening their presence in the Australian market by continuing to expand their dealer networks and providing the after-sales support required by consumers, giving Australians confidence in their products.

"If there isn't any measure of that, the Australian consumers do not have that confidence. They will not buy the vehicles. And now we know that the Australian consumers are already buying Chinese products," Weber said.

"You need to support the car. You need to innovate. And that's what the Chinese manufacturers are doing," he said. "Australia is a very open market. It's a very competitive market."

The latest data showed that sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) from all reporting sources were 23,510 in July, accounting for 21.7 percent of the entire market, which marks two consecutive months where BEVs represented more than one-fifth of all sales. Including hybrid vehicles, "electrified" vehicles accounted for 48.4 percent of Australia's new-vehicle market in July.

Weber said he was "very confident" about the future of electric vehicles in the Australian market, while emphasizing that the development of charging infrastructure is also "absolutely critical."

The FCAI chief noted that analysis by the International Energy Agency shows that Australia has one of the highest levels of electric vehicles per public charging infrastructure. "That needs to change and that needs to change quickly," he said.

Asked whether China, which has a mature charging infrastructure industry chain, should participate in the development of charging infrastructure in Australia, Weber said: "We're a very open economy. When there are countries that have a commercial advantage, a technological advantage, we obviously support those countries and their suppliers coming into the Australian market and providing the infrastructure," he added.

Weber noted that he had visited China to see its automotive industry's research and development, manufacturing facilities and the Shanghai motor show, saying he was deeply impressed by the development of China's automotive industry and the country as a whole.

"When I go to China and look at the automotive industry, I see the future of the automotive world," he said. "I think in China more broadly, I see a very sophisticated, advanced well-functioning society. It's part of the modern world."