VFACTS June 2023: Massive sales spike

Australian new vehicle sales totalled 124,926 units in June 2023 – the best result since 2018 when 130,300 cars were sold – to wrap the financial year up in style.

This figure represents 25 per cent growth against June 2022, equates to 8.0 per cent growth for the first half of 2023 over the first half of 2022.

However it could have been an all-time record if vehicle supply matched demand, according to the peak body for Australia’s car brands.

“The end of the financial year has traditionally been a strong month for vehicle sales,” said Federal Chamber of Automotive chief executive Tony Weber.

“Indications from our members are that demand for new vehicles remains solid, but the supply is not yet at a point to meet this demand. To put it simply, if we could have landed more vehicles, this would have been a record June result,” he claimed.

“We will monitor the broader economic conditions and their potential to impact on vehicle purchasing decisions by fleets, businesses and families during the second half of this year.”

Battery electric vehicles accounted for 8.8 per cent of June sales, driven by a spectacular result from the Tesla Model Y which was the second top-selling vehicle outright, behind only the Toyota HiLux. EVs made up an even bigger 12 per cent of passenger/SUV sales.

EVs also made up a record 7.4 per cent of new vehicle sales during the first half 2023, with 43,092 sales representing 345 per cent growth YoY. Sales of all electrified vehicles continued to grow as well, with 16.6 per cent of all deliveries being EV, hybrid or plug-in hybrid.

Brands

Toyota topped the tables as always but its market share of 16.8 per cent remains much lower than the 22.6 per cent it achieved in June 2022. It still has its share of supply problems leading to ongoing wait times, particularly on its in-demand hybrids.

Mazda finished June in second on the back of very strong growth (55 per cent), edging out Hyundai, Ford and Kia. Tesla ended up an impressive sixth in June, ahead of MG, Mitsubishi, Volkswagen and Subaru.

Positions 11-20 were occupied in running order by GWM (including Haval), Isuzu Ute, BMW (the top luxury brand if you take out Tesla), Mercedes-Benz, LDV, Nissan, Audi, Suzuki, BYD and Lexus. That means four of the top 20 brands were Chinese.

Some smaller-volume OEMs that recorded above-average monthly sales growth included Ram (up 85 per cent), SsangYong (up 144 per cent), Land Rover (up 84 per cent), Mini (up 82 per cent), Chevrolet (207.5 per cent), and Peugeot (up 94 per cent).

Models

The Toyota HiLux was top of the pops, but its Ford Ranger adversary was relegated to third place by the Tesla Model Y – which finished second before the recent price cuts were announced.

Rounding out the top 10 were the MG ZS, Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson, Mazda BT-50, Hyundai i30, Isuzu D-Max and Mitsubishi Triton. Half of the top 10 were utes, you’ll note, coinciding with the demise of the instant asset tax write-off.

The top 25 list below comprises six utes and eight mid-sized SUVs, reflecting their ongoing dominance on a segment basis. This top 25 also comprised six Toyotas.

1. Toyota HiLux: 6142
2. Tesla Model Y: 5560
3. Ford Ranger: 5334
4. MG ZS: 3756
5. Toyota RAV4: 2858
6. Hyundai Tucson: 2667
7. Mazda BT-50: 2560
8. Hyundai i30: 2523
9. Isuzu D-Max: 2500
10. Mitsubishi Triton: 2259
11. Mazda CX-5: 1812
12. Toyota Corolla: 1703
13. Toyota Prado: 1627
14. Mitsubishi Outlander: 1624
15. Toyota Landcruiser Wagon: 1562
16. Toyota Kluger: 1554
17. BYD Atto 3: 1532
18. Mazda CX-3: 1502
19. Subaru Crosstrek: 1481
20. Tesla Model 3: 1458
21. Subaru Forester: 1436
22. Subaru Outback: 1435
23. MG 3: 1403
24. GWM Ute: 1259
25. Kia Sportage: 1252

Segments

• Micro Cars: Kia Picanto (673), Fiat 500 (66)
• Light Cars under $30,000: MG 3 (1403), Suzuki Swift (784), Kia Rio (536)
• Light Cars over $30,000: Mini (289), Skoda Fabia (44), Audi A1 (34)
• Small Cars under $40,000: Hyundai i30 (2523), Toyota Corolla (1703), Mazda 3 (860)
• Small Cars over $40,000: Volkswagen Golf (326), Audi A3 (315), Subaru WRX (264)
• Medium Cars under $60,000: Toyota Camry (908), Skoda Octavia (135), Mazda 6 (119)
• Medium Cars over $60,000: Tesla Model 3 (1458), BMW 3 Series (478), Mercedes-Benz C-Class (302)
• Large Cars under $70,000: Kia Stinger (324), Skoda Superb (31), Citroen C5 X (3)
• Large Cars over $70,000: Porsche Taycan (74), BMW 5 Series (65), Mercedes-Benz EQE (47)
• Upper LargeCars: Mercedes-Benz S-Class (13), BMW 8 Series GC (11), BMW i7 (9)
• People Movers: Kia Carnival (1053), Hyundai Staria (182), Volkswagen Multivan (89)
• Sports Cars under $80,000: Ford Mustang (276), Subaru BRZ (137), Toyota 86 (131)
• Sports Cars over $80,000: BMW 4 Series (106), Mercedes-Benz C-Class (78), Porsche Cayman (31)
• Sports Cars over $200,000: Porsche 911 (65), Lamborghini 2-door range (18), Ferrari range (14)

• Light SUVs: Mazda CX-3 (1502), Kia Stonic (921), Volkswagen T-Cross (671)
• Small SUVs under $45,000: MG ZS (3756), Subaru Crosstrek (1481), Kia Seltos (1234)
• Small SUVs over $45,000: BMW X1 (624), Volvo XC40 (541), Audi Q3 (511)
• Medium SUVs under $60,000: Toyota RAV4 (2858), Hyundai Tucson (2667), Mazda CX-5 (1812)
• Medium SUVs over $60,000: Tesla Model Y (5560), Lexus NX (646), Mercedes-Benz GLC (440)
• Large SUVs under $70,000: Toyota Prado (1627), Toyota Kluger (1554), Subaru Outback (1435)
• Large SUVs over $70,000: BMW X5 (386), Land Rover Defender (324), Lexus RX (287)
• Upper Large SUVs under $120,000: Toyota LandCruiser (1562), Nissan Patrol (638), Land Rover Discovery (33)
• Upper Large SUVs over $120,000: Lexus LX (118), Mercedes-Benz GLS (92), BMW X7 (84)

• Light Vans: Peugeot Partner (108), Volkswagen Caddy (32), Renault Kangoo (2)
• Medium Vans: Toyota HiAce (756), LDV G10 (520), Ford Transit Custom (427)
• Large Vans: LDV Deliver 9 (571), Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (362), Volkswagen Crafter (143)
• Light Buses: Toyota HiAce (284), LDV Deliver 9 (42), Toyota Coaster (39)
• 4×2 Utes: Toyota HiLux (1327), Mazda BT-50 (558), Isuzu D-Max (523)
• 4×4 Utes: Ford Ranger (4895), Toyota HiLux (4815), Mazda B T-50 (2002)
• Utes above $100k: Ram 1500 (992), Chevrolet Silverado (429)

Miscellaneous

Sales by region

• New South Wales: 37,020, up 15.6 per cent
• Victoria: 33,966, up 31.8 per cent
• Queensland: 28,029, up 27.6 per cent
• Western Australia: 13,073, up 33.2 per cent
• South Australia: 7974, up 28.3 per cent
• Tasmania: 1923, up 22.3 per cent
• Australian Capital Territory: 1856, up 24.9 per cent
• Northern Territory: 1085, down 2.7 per cent

Category breakdown

• SUV: 55.3 per cent share
• Light commercials: 23.1 per cent share
• Passenger cars: 16.3 per cent share
• Heavy commercials: 5.3 per cent share

Top segments by market share

• Medium SUV: 22.6 per cent share
• 4×4 Utes: 16.7 per cent share
• Small SUV: 14.2 per cent share
• Large SUV: 12.3 per cent share
• Small Car: 6.1 per cent share

Sales by buyer type

• Private buyers: 62.351, up 22.5 per cent
• Business fleets: 46,038, up 33.3 per cent
• Rental fleets: 6977, up 3.0 per cent
• Government fleets: 2923, up 12.6 per cent

Sales by propulsion or fuel type

• Petrol: 59,995, up 16.8 per cent
• Diesel: 37,497, up 6.2 per cent
• Electric: 11,042, up 871.2 per cent
• Hybrid: 9020, up 40.6 per cent
• PHEV: 735, up 28.9 per cent
• HydrogenFCEV: 0

Sales by country of origin

• Japan: 30,112, up 16.2 per cent
• Thailand: 25,063, up 10.4 per cent
• China: 23,233, up 158.2 per cent
• Korea: 17,227, down 1.4 per cent
• Germany: 6226, up 17.1 per cent

Some previous monthly reports

• 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!