VFACTS August 2023: Another Aussie sales record as supply rebounds

The rebounding Australian car market has posted another all-time monthly sales record as supply normalises and backorders dwindle.

August new car sales totalled 109,966 units according to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), up 15.4 per cent on the same month in 2022. This is the best August on record.

The Australian market also broke all-time records this year in both May and July, and recorded the best June in five years. Year-to-date (YTD) sales sit at 788,584 sales, up 9.9 per cent for the highest tally since 2017.

This is suggestive of greatly improved imports despite ongoing quarantine issues at ports and lingering supply chain issues caused by COVID and the war in Ukraine, meaning order holders are taking their delayed deliveries.

“The Australian automotive sector continues to demonstrate its strength, with August recording unprecedented sales figures, reflecting both a high level of demand from Australians and improved supply of vehicles,” claimed FCAI chief executive Tony Weber, pointing to “the underlying strength of the market”.

“As consumers continue to embrace low emissions technologies we are seeing growth in electric, plug-in and hybrid vehicle sales. More than 1 in 6 vehicles sold in the month of August featured low emissions technologies,” he added.

Electric vehicles grabbed 8.6 per cent share of the passenger and SUV market, while hybrids including plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) took 15.6 per cent passenger and SUV share.

Sales across every state and territory increased, while the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger topped the overall sales charts once again.

Brands

Market leader Toyota (22,231 sales) returned its market share to above 20 per cent and had six models inside the overall top 20 nameplates. Mazda’s sales (8458) contracted slightly but it held onto second place ahead of Ford (7898), which managed 35.3 per cent growth for the month.

Hyundai (6513) edged Kia (6510) by the barest of margins, but both Korean brands contracted slightly. Completing the top 10 were MG (5368), Mitsubishi (4961, with another month in the red as the current Triton nears runout), Isuzu Ute (4712 for a new all-time record), Subaru (4706), and Nissan (4233, up more than 150 per cent).

Nissan’s result is a return to form on the back of the new-generation Qashqai and X-Trail, and a monster month (1032 units) for the mighty V8 Patrol.

Smaller brands that posted strong growth included Volkswagen (up 29.7 per cent thanks to improved supply), LDV (up 27 per cent), Lexus (easily on record pace, up a massive 253.2 per cent led by NX), Land Rover (up 217.7 per cent led by Defender and Range Rover Sport), Volvo (up 45.9 per cent), Skoda (up 70.7 percent), and SsangYong (up 36 per cent).

Several new or near-new brands managed solid results, notably BYD (803 sales), Chery (760 sales), Cupra (302 sales), Polestar (225 sales), and Genesis (190 sales).

A few smaller OEMs that struggled in August included Mitsubishi (down 22.2 per cent), Mercedes-Benz (down 12.8 per cent), Suzuki (down 33.3 per cent), Renault (down 10.5 per cent), and Jeep (down 45.2 per cent).

Models

The Toyota HiLux edged out the Ford Ranger by the barest of margins, but Ford won’t mind so much considering it dominated the more profitable 4×4 market. The Toyota RAV4 returned to third place on the charts.

The Isuzu D-Max had its best month on record as supply improves, making it three utes inside the top four. Add the Mazda BT-50 twin into the mix and the badge-engineered pair finished clear in third overall.

Rounding out the top 10 were the MG ZS, Toyota Corolla (after some time outside the top 10), Tesla Model Y, Hyundai Tucson, Mitsubishi Outlander, and Toyota Prado.

From the top 20 nameplates, seven were mid-sized SUVs, five were large SUVs, four were utes, two were small cars, one a mid-sized sedan, and one a small SUV.

1. Toyota HiLux: 5762
2. Ford Ranger: 5760
3. Toyota RAV4: 3317
4. Isuzu D-Max: 3281
5. MG ZS: 3193
6. Toyota Corolla: 2808
7. Tesla Model Y: 2314
8. Hyundai Tucson: 2084
9. Mitsubishi Outlander: 2030
10. Toyota Prado: 1969
11. Mazda CX-5: 1784
12. Hyundai i30: 1765
13. Subaru Outback: 1654
14. Toyota LandCruiser Wagon: 1641
15. Nissan X-Trail: 1533
16. Ford Everest: 1502
17. Isuzu MU-X: 1431
18. Subaru Forester: 1427
19. Mazda BT-50: 1406
20. Toyota Camry: 1337

Segments

• Micro Cars: Kia Picanto (978), Fiat 500 (69)
• Light Cars under $30,000: MG 3 (1153), Suzuki Swift (626), Kia Rio (355)
• Light Cars over $30,000: Mini (90), Skoda Fabia (48), Audi A1 (46)
• Small Cars under $40,000: Toyota Corolla (2808), Hyundai i30 (1765), Mazda 3 (1041)
• Small Cars over $40,000: Volkswagen Golf (500), MG 4 (296), Subaru WRX (245)
• Medium Cars under $60,000: Toyota Camry (1337), Skoda Octavia (118), Mazda 6 (112)
• Medium Cars over $60,000: Tesla Model 3 (995), BMW 3 Series (237), Polestar 2 (225)
• Large Cars under $70,000: Kia Stinger (47), Skoda Superb (25), Citroen C5 X (5)
• Large Cars over $70,000: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (31), BMW 5 Series (30), Mercedes-Benz EQE (30)
• Upper LargeCars: BMW i7 (10), Mercedes-Benz S-Class (9), Mercedes-AMG GT (9)
• People Movers: Kia Carnival (913), LDV MIFA (60), Volkswagen Multivan (53)
• Sports Cars under $80,000: Subaru BRZ (164), Toyota GR86 (128), BMW 2 Series (93)
• Sports Cars over $80,000: Mercedes-Benz C-Class (98), BMW 4 Series (92), Chevrolet Corvette (38)
• Sports Cars over $200,000: Porsche 911 (56), Lamborghini 2-door range (21), Ferrari range (20)

• Light SUVs: Mazda CX-3 (1115), Volkswagen T-Cross (598), Toyota Yaris Cross (547)
• Small SUVs under $45,000: MG ZS (3193), Subaru Crosstrek (1177), Mazda CX-30 (1132)
• Small SUVs over $45,000: Volvo XC40 (592), BMW X1 (537), Lexus UX (252)
• Medium SUVs under $60,000: Toyota RAV4 (3317), Hyundai Tucson (2084), Mitsubishi Outlander (2030)
• Medium SUVs over $60,000: Tesla Model Y (2314), Lexus NX (866), Mazda CX-60 (572)
• Large SUVs under $70,000: Toyota Prado (1969), Subaru Outback (1654), Ford Everest (1502)
• Large SUVs over $70,000: Land Rover Defender (466), BMW X5 (307), Lexus RX (295)
• Upper Large SUVs under $120,000: Toyota LandCruiser (1641), Nissan Patrol (1032), Land Rover Discovery (84)
• Upper Large SUVs over $120,000: Range Rover (129), Lexus LX (81), BMW X7 (70)

• Light Vans: Peugeot Partner (62), Volkswagen Caddy (60)
• Medium Vans: Toyota HiAce (431), LDV G10 (290), Ford Transit Custom (199)
• Large Vans: LDV Deliver 9 (315), Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (266), Renault Master (200)
• Light Buses: Toyota HiAce (190), Toyota Coaster (37), LDV Deliver 9 (21)
• 4×2 Utes: Toyota HiLux (1201), Isuzu D-Max (653), Ford Ranger (379)
• 4×4 Utes: Ford Ranger (5381), Toyota HiLux (4561), Isuzu D-Max (2628)
• Utes above $100,000: Ram 1500 (457), Chevrolet Silverado HD (130), Chevrolet Silverado (121)

Miscellaneous

Sales by region

• New South Wales: 34,655, up 13.6 per cent
• Victoria: 29,126, up 16.3 per cent
• Queensland: 23,049, up 7.8 per cent
• Western Australia: 11,637, up 32.5 per cent
• South Australia: 6952, up 21.9 per cent
• Tasmania: 1843, up 14.4 per cent
• Australian Capital Territory: 1713, up 13.7 per cent
• Northern Territory: 991, up 21.4 per cent

Category breakdown

• SUV: 62,313 sales, 56.7 per cent share
• Light commercials: 24,031 sales, 21.9 per cent share
• Passenger cars: 19,336 sales, 17.6 per cent share
• Heavy commercials: 4286 sales, 3.9 per cent share

Top segments by market share

• Medium SUV: 21.7 per cent share
• 4×4 Utes: 16.9 per cent share
• Small SUV: 15.9 per cent share
• Large SUV: 12.8 per cent share
• Small Car: 8.0 per cent share

Sales by buyer type

• Private buyers: 57,916, up 12.1 per cent
• Business fleets: 37,937, up 14.4 per cent
• Rental fleets: 6567, up 18.5 per cent
• Government fleets: 3260, up 35.7 per cent

Sales by propulsion or fuel type

• Petrol: 52,407, up 7.8 per cent
• Diesel: 33,590, up 9.1 per cent
• Hybrid: 11,584, up 68.7 per cent
• Electric: 6984, up 64.9 per cent
• PHEV: 1113, up 106.1 per cent
• HydrogenFCEV: 2

Sales by country of origin

• Japan: 35,945, up 23.3 per cent
• Thailand: 23,095, up 16.2 per cent
• China: 16,150, up 44.8 per cent
• Korea: 13,764, down 1.8 per cent
• Germany: 5413, up 28.8 per cent

Some previous monthly reports

• July 2023 Australian new vehicle sales (VFACTS)
• June 2023 Australian new vehicle sales (VFACTS)
• May 2023 Australian new vehicle sales (VFACTS)
• April 2023 Australian new vehicle sales (VFACTS)
• March 2023 Australian new vehicle sales (VFACTS)
• Feb 2023 Australian new vehicle sales (VFACTS)
• Jan 2023 Australian new vehicle sales (VFACTS)
• Full year 2022 Australian new vehicle sales (VFACTS)

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