What is Driving Record Australian Car Sales? 1,000,000 Sold YTD

The economy might well be in the toilet, but Australian car buyers didn’t get the memo, and a record million sales show no signs of slowing. It is even more remarkable given the delivery challenges, long wait times, recalls, and parts shortages.

This stella figure breaks all-time sales records.

FCAI Chief Executive, Tony Weber said, “The Australian market has demonstrated incredible strength and vitality throughout 2023, culminating in Australia reaching one million sales in October for the first time. After some challenging years through COVID, this milestone speaks to the range of vehicles available to consumers, affirming Australia’s position as one of the world’s most dynamic and competitive markets. It also reflects vastly improved supply chains.

In the past six months, five have broken all-time sales records compared with previous years and in October 106,809 new vehicles were delivered to Australian customers.”

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ABOVE: top Australian Vehicle Sales

In October, 38.3 per cent of sales were either in light commercial utes, large, or upper large SUVs vehicle categories. EV sales, while still strong, fell slightly to 5.7 per cent of the market. EV infrastructure is in the midst of receiving the love and attention it deserves, as new charging stations are rolled out. The first of the bi-directional chargers are now in operation in South Australia, and the draconian taxes on EVs have re-examined.

Sales across every State and Territory increased this month compared with October 2022. Sales in the Australian Capital Territory were 18.9 per cent (1,552); New South Wales 22.8 per cent (33,001); Queensland 16.4 per cent (21,937); South Australia 20 per cent (6,677); Tasmania 20.8 per cent (1,996); Victoria 32 per cent (30,740); Western Australia 12.3 per cent (10,166) and Northern Territory 1.9 per cent (740).

Toyota continues to hold the top spot with 20,298 sales. Mazda was next, with 9,316, followed by Ford (8,605), Hyundai (6,620) and Mitsubishi (6,395).

The top 3 sellers were Ford Ranger with 6,215 sales, then Toyota HiLux (5,766), Isuzu Ute D-Max (3,198) Toyota RAV4 (2,598) and Toyota Landcruiser (2561). Of the top ten vehicles, none were passenger cars. Passenger cars have made up a mere 17.6% of the market to the end of October as the segment continues to shrink.

The top ten sellers are mainly Japanese brands, but they are joined by the Koreans, Kia and Hyundai, the Chinese MG, and American Tesla. Tesla is the biggest selling EV brand, and is one of the very few car makers selling only electric cars.

VW just misses out on the top ten with 36,204 sales, but fellow ex-top-tenner, Honda has moved only 10,899 units.

The countries of manufacture are equally interesting, with the top four being Japan with 284,876, then Thailand with 213,225, China with 160,396 and Korea with 137,194.

It signals a shift in thinking, with China rocketing up the charts. Many of the Teslas sold in Australia are made in China, as are all of the Polestars, some of the Volvos, and of course, Chinese brands like GWM and MG.

In the final roundup, 56.1% of sales for the year are SUVs, 22.0% for LCVs like Hilux and Navara, 4.3% are heavy commercial vehicles, and a mere 17.6% are passenger cars such as sedans, coupés, and convertibles. Passenger cars once accounted for 90% of sales or more.

Like the rest of the world, Australia has all but abandoned the passenger car segment in favour of SUVs. The one anomaly is Australia’s continuing obsession with large utes, with the top three selling vehicles being Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, and Isuzu D-Max in the order. Surely there can’t be so many tradies buying utes making them top of the charts every month.

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