June 2021 new car sales figures – VFACTS

Market up a fraction, diesel utes dominate the charts, Kia edges Hyundai two months in a row, China's MG and GWM flying, Honda plummets, and EVs spike

4 Years Ago

Mike Costello

Mike Costello

Australia’s new car sales growth slowed in June 2021, though the monthly tally of 110,664 units was still up 0.4 per cent on June 2020’s figure.

More telling is the first-half yearly (H1) result, with cumulative January to June sales up 28.3 per cent over the first half of 2020 to 567,468 units.

This is actually the highest H1 tally since 2018, showing despite continued COVID-19 flare-ups and semiconductor-related supply shortages, demand remains healthy.

The private market grew 3.7 per cent to 54,601 sales in June, government sales were up 10.4 per cent to 2800, and rental sales skyrocketed 192 per cent to 5601. But business fleet sales dipped 12 per cent to 42,670.

Brands

Despite a decline of 7.8 per cent Toyota still dominated the market with 21,076 sales. Mazda grew almost 30 per cent to 12,225 to be a clear second ahead of Ford, up 10.9 per cent to 8456.

Kia outsold its big brother Hyundai for the second month in succession, with 7890 sales (up 37.8 per cent) versus 7357 (down 4.9 per cent).

Rounding out the top 10 were Mitsubishi (5641, down 24 per cent despite the rental market booming), Volkswagen (4674, down 18.5 per cent), MG (4303, up a remarkable 219.2 per cent thanks in part to clear supply lines), Nissan (4036, down 5.3 per cent), and Isuzu Ute (3964, up 49.2 per cent).

It’s the fourth time Isuzu Ute has finished inside the top 10 despite it only having two models. Tellingly, all of these top 10 results have occurred since November 2020.

Other growing brands included

GWM Haval (2075 sales, up 237.9 per cent with expansion to come)
LDV (1725, up 64 per cent)
Renault (1186, up 49.4 per cent under new distributor Ateco)
Skoda (880, up 26.3 per cent); Jeep (874, up 25.9 per cent)
Mini (570, up 26.7 per cent)
SsangYong (295, up 38.5 per cent)
Genesis (85, up 304.8 per cent)

Brands that battled included

Mercedes-Benz (3866, down 28.8 per cent)
Subaru (3021, down 20 per cent)
Audi (1608, down 20.7 per cent)
Lexus (992, down 36.4 per cent)
Honda (tumbled to 21st with 977, down 71.5 per cent ahead of embarking on its new business model)
Land Rover (908, down 19.4 per cent)
Porsche (411, down 20.8 per cent)

See the full list below

Brand	June 2021	Change
Toyota	21,076	-7.8%
Mazda	12,225	29.8%
Ford	8456	10.9%
Kia	7890	37.8%
Hyundai	7357	-4.9%
Mitsubishi	5641	-24.0%
Volkswagen	4674	-18.5%
MG	4303	219.2%
Nissan	4036	-5.3%
Isuzu Ute	3964	49.2%
Mercedes-Benz	3866	-28.8%
BMW	3078	-6.9%
Subaru	3021	-20.0%
GWM	2075	237.9%
Suzuki	1875	18.1%
LDV	1725	64.0%
Audi	1608	-20.7%
Renault	1186	49.4%
Volvo Car	1083	-2.7%
Lexus	992	-36.4%
Honda	977	-71.5%
Land Rover	908	-19.4%
Skoda	880	26.3%
Jeep	874	25.9%
Ram	581	-3.8%
Mini	570	26.7%
Porsche	411	-20.8%
Chevrolet	315	NA
SsangYong	295	38.5%
Peugeot	250	-12.3%
Jaguar	249	-2.7%
Fiat	111	-33.1%
Genesis	85	304.8%
Alfa Romeo	72	24.1%
Maserati	66	8.2%
Citroen	22	0.0%
Bentley	21	-16.0%
Lamborghini	16	100.0%
Ferrari	13	30.0%
McLaren	10	100.0%
Chrysler	8	-76.5%
AstonMartin	7	16.7%
Lotus	5	-54.5%
Rolls-Royce	4	33.3%
Alpine	1	-50.0%

Models

Looks like those instant asset write-downs come EOFY helped out the ute market, since the top three sellers were all diesel pickups. The top 10 were:

This top list comprises four utes, two medium SUVs, one large SUV, and three small cars.

Here’s a list of the top 30 models for June

Model	June 2021	Change
Ford Ranger	6058	13.7%
Toyota HiLux	5412	-17.2%
Isuzu D-Max	3167	92.9%
Mazda CX-5	3018	19.3%
Kia Cerato	2711	34.5%
Toyota Prado	2610	9.9%
Toyota RAV4	2501	-5.0%
Hyundai i30	2331	-1.6%
Mitsubishi Triton	2240	-17.7%
Toyota Corolla	2175	-27.7%
MG ZS	2073	442.7%
Mazda BT-50	1886	6.7%
Mazda 3	1867	8.4%
Toyota Kluger	1856	49.3%
Nissan Navara	1846	26.0%
Mazda CX-30	1561	90.4%
Hyundai Tucson	1496	-32.2%
Hyundai Kona	1410	1.8%
Subaru XV	1292	14.9%
MG 3	1227	90.8%
Mazda CX-3	1206	4.2%
Toyota L’Cruiser wagon	1162	-23.6%
Mitsubishi Outlander	1122	-14.1%
Kia Seltos	1097	81.9%
Toyota HiAce	1087	-11.5%
Toyota Camry	1026	-8.6%
Nissan X-Trail	1009	-27.3%
MG HS	1003	210.50%
Toyota L’Cruiser Ute	978	-29.5%
GWM Ute	868	NA

Segments

We can also identify the most popular models in each vehicle segment, as defined by industry VFACTS data.

Micro Cars: Kia Picanto (788), Fiat 500 (63), Mitsubishi Mirage (60)
Light Cars under $25,000: MG 3 (1227), Mazda 2 (767), Volkswagen Polo (607)
Light Cars over $25,000: Mini Hatch (292), Audi A1 (69), Citroen C3 (18)
Small Cars under $40,000: Kia Cerato (2711), Hyundai i30 (2331), Toyota Corolla (2175)
Small Cars over $40,000: Mercedes-Benz A-Class (621), BMW 1 Series (287), BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe (281)
Medium Cars under $60,000: Toyota Camry (1026), Mazda 6 (140), Hyundai Sonata (123)
Medium Cars over $60,000: BMW 3 Series (574), Mercedes-Benz C-Class (536), Lexus IS (135)
Large Cars under $70,000: Kia Stinger (189), Skoda Superb (68)
Large Cars over $70,000: BMW 5 Series (101), Mercedes-Benz E-Class (58), Porsche Taycan (43)
Upper LargeCars: BMW 6 Series GT (43), Mercedes-Benz S-Class (27), BMW 7 Series (7)
People Movers: Kia Carnival (494), Honda Odyssey (126), LDV G10 (118)
Sports Cars under $80,000: Ford Mustang (437), Mazda MX-5 (111), BMW 2 Series (57)
Sports Cars over $80,000: BMW 4 Series (158), Mercedes-Benz C-Class (128), Mercedes-Benz E-Class (33)
Sports Cars over $200,000: Porsche 911 (57), Ferrari range (13), McLaren range (10)

Light SUVs: Mazda CX-3 (1206), Kia Stonic (745), Toyota Yaris Cross (687)
Small SUVs under $40,000: MG ZS (2073), Mazda CX-30 (1561), Hyundai Kona (1410),
Small SUVs over $40,000: Volvo XC40 (465), BMW X1 (458), Mercedes-Benz GLA (445)
Medium SUVs under $60,000: Mazda CX-5 (3018), Toyota RAV4 (2501), Hyundai Tucson (1496)
Medium SUVs over $60,000: Volvo XC60 (470), BMW X3 (459), Audi Q5 (454)
Large SUVs under $70,000: Toyota Prado (2610), Toyota Kluger (1856), Mazda CX-9 (836)
Large SUVs over $70,000: BMW X5 (341), Mercedes-Benz GLE (289), Land Rover Defender (275)
Upper Large SUVs under $100,000: Toyota LandCruiser (1162), Nissan Patrol (148)
Upper Large SUVs over $100,000: Mercedes-Benz GLS (113), Land Rover Discovery (97), BMW X7 (89)

Light Vans: Renault Kangoo (131), Peugeot Partner (40), Volkswagen Caddy (5)
Medium Vans: Toyota HiAce (910), Ford Transit Custom (475), LDV G10 (445)
Large Vans: Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (317), Renault Master (288), LDV Deliver 9 (247)
Light Buses: Toyota HiAce (177), Ford Transit (23), Toyota Coaster (20)
4×2 Utes: Toyota HiLux (1112), Isuzu D-Max (628), Ford Ranger (448)
4×4 Utes: Ford Ranger (5610), Toyota HiLux (4300), Isuzu D-Max (2539)

Miscellaneous

Category breakdown

SUV: 53,761 units
Light commercials: 28,550
Passenger cars: 23,361

Top segments by market share

4×4 Utes: 19.7 per cent
Medium SUV: 15.0 per cent
Large SUV: 13.8 per cent
Small SUV: 13.3 per cent
Small Car: 10.5 per cent

Sales by buyer type

Private buyers: 54,601 (up 3.7 per cent)
Business fleets: 42,670 (down 12.0 per cent)
Rental fleets: 5601 (up 192.0 per cent)
Government fleets: 2800 (up 10.4 per cent)
Heavy Trucks: 4992 (up 8.0 per cent)

Sales by propulsion or fuel type

Petrol: 60,701 units (down 3.5 per cent)
Diesel: 38,285 units (up 0.5 per cent)
Hybrid: 5842 units (up 37.7 per cent)
Electric (*excluding Tesla): 526 units (up 198.9 per cent)
Plug-in hybrid: 318 units (up 52.9 per cent)

* Tesla refuses to supply sales information

Sales by country of origin

Japan: 31,563 units (down 2.8 per cent)
Thailand: 25,269 units (down 10.0 per cent)
Korea: 15,893 units (up 16.4 per cent)
China: 8439 units (up 178.6 per cent)
Germany: 5341 (down 38.5 per cent)

Quotes

Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries Chief Executive Tony Weber said:

“Expectations for a strong result in June had remained high given the traditional end of financial year demand from business and private buyers driven by Government incentives such as the extension of the depreciation allowance announced in the Federal budget coupled with intensive marketing activity from vehicle brands,” he said.

“In spite of some States being forced into COVID-19 lockdowns towards the end of June, the acquisition of a new vehicle remains a popular option for buyers across all market segments.

“The delivery challenges caused by microprocessor shortages and bottlenecks in the supply chain are yet to be fully resolved, however, all parties are continuing to find ways to meet the strong demand for customers across all sectors.

“It is our expectation that these issues will begin to be resolved as the global economy continues to recover from the impacts of COVID-19.

“Right now, we would expect customer demand across all segments to remain strong in the second half of 2021 which has the market on track to return to a result in excess of one million vehicles.”