VFACTS October 2023: Another month, another Australian new car sales record

The Australian new vehicle market has eclipsed the magic million sales mark with two months to spare, the first time it has done so.

Five of the past six months have broken existing sales records, with the October tally sitting at 106,809 units, up 22.3 per cent over the same month in 2022.

Year-to-date (YTD) the tally sits at 1,006,095 units, up 12 per cent.

However while the market is on record pace, a sizeable proportion of this comes is a COVID hangover, with improved supply pipelines leading to overdue deliveries.

The forward order-write for dealers is another story, given ongoing economic uncertainty.

“The Australian market has demonstrated incredible strength and vitality throughout 2023, culminating in Australia reaching one million sales in October for the first time,” claims Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) CEO Tony Weber.

“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.”

Brands

Toyota was up a solid 11.2 per cent and outsold its closest competitor by more than two to one, with 20,298 sales. Mazda’s 9316 sales haul was up 61.3 per cent, putting Ford into third with 8605 sales (up 10 per cent). Hyundai finished fourth on 6620 sales, up 25.2 per cent, ahead of Mitsubishi on 6395 sales (up 6.9 per cent).

Rounding out the top 10 were MG (6102 sales, up 21.3 per cent), Kia (a rare down month with 5647 sales, down 11.5 per cent), Volkswagen (4361, up 36.3 per cent as European supply improves), Isuzu Ute (4160, up 45.2 per cent), and Nissan (3756, up 201.2 per cent courtesy of its largely new SUV range).

Other brands that had great months included Subaru (up 55.4 per cent), GWM (up 20.6 per cent), BMW (again beating Mercedes-Benz and up 28.8 per cent), Tesla (up 79.3 per cent), Audi (up 50.7 per cent), Lexus (another massive haul after several months of records, up 109.4 per cent), and Land Rover (up 70.3 per cent).

OEMs that battled and went backwards other than Kia included Suzuki (down 19.1 per cent), Honda (down 12.3 per cent), Volvo (down 7.5 per cent), Skoda (down 6.0 per cent), Renault (down 23.4 per cent), Porsche (down 29.9 per cent), Ram (down 41.7 per cent), Jeep (down 27.6 per cent), and Polestar (down 68.3 per cent).

Models

1. Ford Ranger – 6215
2. Toyota HiLux – 5766
3. Isuzu D-Max – 3198
4. Toyota RAV4 – 2598
5. MG ZS – 2537
6. Mazda CX-5 – 2509
7. Toyota Prado – 2320
8. Mitsubishi Outlander – 2238
9. Ford Everest – 1803
10. Hyundai Tucson – 1762
11. Toyota Corolla – 1746
12. Mazda CX-30 – 1646
13. Mitsubishi Triton – 1643
14. Kia Sportage – 1529
15. Hyundai i30 – 1521
16. Toyota LandCruiser Wagon – 1450
17. MG 3 – 1412
18. Hyundai Kona – 1378
19. Subaru Forester – 1351
20. Mazda BT-50 – 1289
21. Nissan X-Trail – 1210
22. Tesla Model 3 – 1178
23. Toyota Kluger – 1126
24. Toyota LandCruiser 70 cab-chassis – 1111
25. Mazda CX-3 – 1085
26. MG HS – 1047
27. Volkswagen Amarok – 1024
28. Mitsubishi ASX – 996
29. Subaru Outback – 981
30. Isuzu MU-X – 962

Segments

• Micro Cars: Kia Picanto (738), Fiat 500 (67)
• Light Cars under $30,000: MG 3 (1412), Suzuki Swift (580), Mazda 2 (495)
• Light Cars over $30,000: Mini (207), Audi A1 (48), Skoda Fabia (42)
• Small Cars under $40,000: Toyota Corolla (1746), Hyundai i30 (1521), Mazda 3 (653)
• Small Cars over $40,000: MG 4 (751), Volkswagen Golf (414), Audi A3 (342)
• Medium Cars under $60,000: Toyota Camry (925), Mazda 6 (114), Skoda Octavia (108)
• Medium Cars over $60,000: Tesla Model 3 (1178), BMW 3 Series (324), Mercedes-Benz C-Class (131)
• Large Cars under $70,000: Skoda Superb (28), Kia Stinger (22), Citroen C5 X (1)
• Large Cars over $70,000: Porsche Taycan (80), Mercedes-Benz E-Class (41), BMW 5 Series (40)
• Upper Large Cars: Mercedes-Benz S-Class (12), BMW 7 Series/i7 (12), Porsche Panamera (8)
• People Movers: Kia Carnival (901), Hyundai Staria (65),Volkswagen Multivan (55)
• Sports Cars under $80,000: BMW 2 Series (156), Toyota GR86 (138), Mazda MX-5 (127)
• Sports Cars over $80,000: BMW 4 Series (76), Mercedes-Benz C-Class (58), Porsche Cayman (40)
• Sports Cars over $200,000: Porsche 911 (52), Lamborghini 2-door range (16), Ferrari range (12)

• Light SUVs: Mazda CX-3 (1085), Toyota Yaris Cross (726), Hyundai Venue (554)
• Small SUVs under $45,000: MG ZS (2537), Mazda CX-30 (1646), Hyundai Kona (1378),
• Small SUVs over $45,000: BMW X1 (527), Audi Q3 (468), Volvo XC40 (319)
• Medium SUVs under $60,000: Toyota RAV4 (2598), Mazda CX-5 (2509), Mitsubishi Outlander (2238)
• Medium SUVs over $60,000: Tesla Model Y (810), Lexus NX (645), Mazda CX-60 (425)
• Large SUVs under $70,000: Toyota Prado (2320), Ford Everest (1803), Toyota Kluger (1126)
• Large SUVs over $70,000: Land Rover Defender (299), Audi Q7 (281), Range Rover Sport (258)
• Upper Large SUVs under $120,000: Toyota LandCruiser (1450), Nissan Patrol (733), Land Rover Discovery (80)
• Upper Large SUVs over $120,000: BMW X7 (93), Range Rover (67), Lexus LX (60)

• Light Vans: Volkswagen Caddy (115), Peugeot Partner (34), Renault Kangoo (5)
• Medium Vans: Toyota HiAce (712), LDV G10 (347), Hyundai Staria Load (223)
• Large Vans: LDV Deliver 9 (274), Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (172), Renault Master (169)
• Light Buses: Toyota HiAce (197), Toyota Coaster (17), LDV Deliver 9 (14)
• 4×2 Utes: Toyota HiLux (937), Isuzu D-Max (607), Mitsubishi Triton (322)
• 4×4 Utes: Ford Ranger (5949), Toyota HiLux (4829), Isuzu D-Max (2591)
• Utes above $100,000: Ram 1500 (308), Chevrolet Silverado (256), Chevrolet Silverado HD (74)

Miscellaneous

EV-specific models top-sellers*:

1. Tesla Model 3: 1178
2. BYD Atto 3: 912
3. Tesla Model 3: 810
4. MG 4: 751
5. Kia EV6: 220
6. Mercedes-Benz EQA: 162
7. Cupra Born: 128
8. Hyundai Ioniq 5: 99
9. Mercedes-Benz EQB: 91
10. Porsche Taycan: 80

Doesn’t include models with both ICE and EV options eg. MG ZS or Hyundai Kona. We will run a full EV breakdown when we get more data

Sales by region

• New South Wales: 33,001, up 22.8 per cent
• Victoria: 30,740, up 32 per cent
• Queensland: 21,937, up 16.4 per cent
• Western Australia: 10,166, up 12.3 per cent
• South Australia: 6677, up 20 per cent
• Tasmania: 1996, up 20.8 per cent
• Australian Capital Territory: 1552, up 18.9 per cent
• Northern Territory: 740, up 1.9 per cent

Category breakdown

• SUV: 59,259 sales, 55.5 per cent market share
• Light commercials: 25,681 sales, 24 per cent market share
• Passenger cars: 17,616 sales, 16.5 per cent market share
• Heavy commercials: 4253 sales, 4.0 per cent market share

Top segments by market share

• Medium SUV: 20.4 per cent market share
• 4×4 Utes: 18.8 per cent market share
• Small SUV: 14.9 per cent market share
• Large SUV: 13.9 per cent share
• Small Car: 7.0 per cent share

Sales by buyer type

• Private buyers: 55,443 sales
• Business fleets: 37,831 sales
• Rental fleets: 6186 sales
• Government fleets: 3096 sales

Sales by propulsion or fuel type

• Petrol: 49,604 sales
• Diesel: 35,970 sales
• Hybrid: 9187 sales
• Electric: 6057 sales
• PHEV: 1738 sales
• Hydrogen FCEV: 0

Sales by country of origin

• Japan: 31,719 sales
• Thailand: 24,892 sales
• China: 15,112 sales
• Korea: 12,591 sales
• Germany: 5165 sales

Some previous monthly reports

Got any questions about car sales? Ask away in the comments and we’ll jump in!