VFACTS: April 2022 car sales numbers

Ongoing supply chain woes compressed April car sales, with the charts again dominated by 4x4 utes and mid-sized SUVs.

4 May 2022 at 12:54 pm

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Mike Costello

Senior Contributor

Mike Costello

Senior Contributor

Australia’s new car sales fell a sharp 12.2 per cent in April compared to the same month in 2021, as supply constraints continue to take their toll.

VFACTS sales data recorded 81,065 new vehicle sales in April, with monthly sales declining across all states and territories. The year-to-date (YTD) tally at the one-third mark of the calendar year sits at 343,501 sales, down a more modest 3.5 per cent YTD.

Toyota led the market with a total of 17,956 vehicles sold and a solid 22.2 per cent market share. Mazda came in second (7378), ahead of Mitsubishi (6463), Kia (6180), and Hyundai (5552).

The Toyota HiLux was as per usual the top-selling model (4493), while the Ford Ranger came second despite the changeover to a brand-new version being imminent (3581). The Toyota RAV4 was third (3373), the Mazda CX-5 fourth (2701), and the Isuzu D-Max fifth (2374).

“We know this [result] is not a reflection on the demand for new vehicles in the marketplace,” said Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive Tony Weber.

“This is a reflection on the global automotive industry’s ability to supply vehicles to not only the Australian market, but all markets throughout the world.

“Automotive manufacturers continue to suffer from a shortage of microprocessor units which is impacting their ability to ramp up production to pre-pandemic levels.

“COVID-19 continues to impact manufacturing and supply, particularly where factories have been forced to close and shipping operations are yet to fully recover. This is being reflected in the extended delivery times for new vehicles.”

The supply constraints being cited by the FCAI as responsible for the disappointing sales month are top-of-mind for most OEMs. Just yesterday we spoke to Nissan Australia managing director Adam Paterson, who said:

“I’d love to tell our dealer partners that there wasn’t any volatility from a production and supply standpoint. [But] there is definitely volatility, and we’re far from through any supply challenges.

“We were expecting in the middle of this calendar year to have normalisation of supply, [but] that is not a reality.”

Brands

Toyota, Mazda and Mitsubishi led the way despite all recording double-digit drops in sales, while Kia bucked the trend and finished fourth – placing it ahead of sister brand Hyundai for both the month and YTD.

Ford was sixth, MG seventh, Isuzu Ute eighth despite only selling two models, while Mercedes-Benz and Nissan rounded out the top 10.

Brands that showed growth, belying the market, included Citroen (eight-fold growth off a tiny base), Renault (up an impressive 103.4 per cent under new Ateco distribution), Ram Trucks (converted to right-hand drive locally, up 86.4 per cent), and fellow local RHD converter Chevrolet, sold by GMSV, up 62.2 per cent.

The brands that took the biggest sales hits on percentage terms included Subaru (down 52.4 per cent), Volkswagen (down 44.9 per cent), Peugeot (down 44.4 per cent), Jeep (down 42.4 per cent), Nissan (down 41.4 per cent), Lexus (down 39.2 per cent), and Honda (37.2 per cent).

Brand	April sales	% change
Toyota	17,956	Down 11.1
Mazda	7378	Down 26.6
Mitsubishi	6463	Down 14.0
Kia	6180	Up 8.3
Hyundai	5552	Down 3.8
Ford	4974	Down 30.4
MG	4773	Up 58.7
Isuzu Ute	3032	Up 6.4
Mercedes-Benz	2682	Up 3.8
Nissan	2050	Down 41.4
Suzuki	1786	Up 36.5
Volkswagen	1721	Down 44.9
BMW	1663	Down 22.8
Subaru	1644	Down 52.4
GWM	1353	Up 1.2
LDV	1265	Up 16.5
Honda	1073	Down 37.2
Audi	1036	Down 19.1
Volvo Car	854	Up 7.6
Renault	606	Up 103.4
Skoda	596	Down 36.3
Land Rover	585	Down 9.3
Lexus	552	Down 39.3
Porsche	481	Up 35.9
Ram	466	Up 86.4
Jeep	377	Down 42.4
Mini	202	Down 26.8
Chevrolet	180	Up 62.2
SsangYong	164	Down 23.7
Peugeot	105	Down 44.4
Jaguar	93	Down 1.1
Polestar	93	NA
Fiat	90	Down 32.3
Tesla	52	NA
Genesis	43	Up 38.7
Maserati	41	Down 12.8
Alfa Romeo	31	Down 38.0
Bentley	23	Up 91.7
Citroen	23	Up 666.7
Ferrari	15	Down 34.8
Chrysler	13	Up 116.7
Aston Martin	11	Up 22.2
Lamborghini	9	Down 50.0
Rolls-Royce	6	Up 20.0
Lotus	5	Down 16.7
McLaren	4	Down 42.9
Alpine	1	NA

Models

Utes again dominated the sales charts, occupying three of the top five spots, with two medium SUVs bisecting.

The top 20 list comprises mostly familiar nameplates, though the MG HS made its first appearance after a massive monthly haul by its standards.

The overall composition of the top 20 was five utes, five medium SUVs, three large SUVs, three small SUVs, three small cars, and one light car.

Within the top 20, Toyota-badged products occupied five spots, ahead of Mitsubishi with four. MG and Mazda each had three of the top 20 – in MG’s case, that means all of its models.

Model	Sales
Toyota HiLux	4493
Ford Ranger	3581
Toyota RAV4	3373
Mazda CX-5	2701
Isuzu D-Max	2374
Mitsubishi Triton	2357
Toyota Corolla	2202
Hyundai i30	2071
MG ZS	1923
Toyota Prado	1631
MG 3	1615
Toyota Kluger	1381
Mazda BT-50	1333
Kia Sportage	1327
Mitsubishi ASX	1300
MG HS	1235
Mazda CX-30	1175
Mitsubishi Pajero Sport	1124
Mitsubishi Outlander	1086
Kia Cerato	1007

Segments

Micro Cars: Kia Picanto (555), Mitsubishi Mirage (52), Fiat 500 (42)
Light Cars under $25,000: MG 3 (1615), Suzuki Baleno (991), Kia Rio (472)
Light Cars over $25,000: Mini Hatch (108), Audi A1 (31), Citroen C3 (9)
Small Cars under $40,000: Toyota Corolla (2202), Hyundai i30 (2071), Kia Cerato (1007)
Small Cars over $40,000: Mercedes-Benz A-Class (267), BMW 1 Series (105), Audi A3 (86)
Medium Cars under $60,000: Toyota Camry (519), Skoda Octavia (182), Mazda 6 (135)
Medium Cars over $60,000: Mercedes-Benz C-Class (477), BMW 3 Series (212), Mercedes-Benz CLA (129)
Large Cars under $70,000: Kia Stinger (316), Skoda Superb (79)
Large Cars over $70,000: Porsche Taycan (58), Audi A6 (26), BMW 5 Series (25)
Upper LargeCars: Mercedes-Benz S-Class (14), Chrysler 300 (13), BMW 7 Series (8)
People Movers: Kia Carnival (483), Hyundai Staria (92), Honda Odyssey (31)
Sports Cars under $80,000: Ford Mustang (97), Subaru BRZ (83), Mazda MX-5 (28)
Sports Cars over $80,000: BMW 4 Series (58), Mercedes-Benz C-Class (28), Audi A5 (20)
Sports Cars over $200,000: Porsche 911 (40), Ferrari range (15), Bentley two-door range (10)

Light SUVs: Kia Stonic (949), Hyundai Venue (576), Volkswagen T-Cross (491)
Small SUVs under $40,000: MG ZS (1923), Mitsubishi ASX (1300), Mazda CX-30 (1175)
Small SUVs over $40,000: Volvo XC40 (388), Audi Q3 (262), Mercedes-Benz GLA (250)
Medium SUVs under $60,000: Toyota RAV4 (3373), Mazda CX-5 (2701), Kia Sportage (1327)
Medium SUVs over $60,000: BMW X3 (483), Mercedes-Benz GLC (397), Volvo XC60 (376)
Large SUVs under $70,000: Toyota Prado (1631), Toyota Kluger (1381), Mitsubishi Pajero Sport (1124)
Large SUVs over $70,000: BMW X5 (184), Mercedes-Benz GLE (178), Land Rover Defender (152)
Upper Large SUVs under $100,000: Toyota LandCruiser Wagon (829), Nissan Patrol (275)
Upper Large SUVs over $100,000: Lexus LX (80), BMW X7 (64), Mercedes-Benz GLS (51)

Light Vans: Renault Kangoo (73), Volkswagen Caddy (57), Peugeot Partner (29)
Medium Vans: Toyota HiAce (657), Hyundai Staria Load (321), LDV G10 (224)
Large Vans: LDV Deliver 9 (319), Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (280), Renault Master (95)
Light Buses: Toyota HiAce (192), LDV Deliver 9 (19), Toyota Coaster (13)
4×2 Utes: Toyota HiLux (1052), Isuzu D-Max (643), Mitsubishi Triton (251)
4×4 Utes: Toyota HiLux (3441), Ford Ranger (3361), Mitsubishi Triton (2106)