VFACTS May 2024: Hybrid and EV sales drive another record month

Australian new car buyers are increasingly turning to hybrids rather than electric vehicles (EVs), with demand for fuel-saving electrified models driving another record month of sales.

A total of 111,099 new vehicles were sold in Australia throughout May 2024, a 5.1 per cent improvement on last year’s result in the same month – a record at the time.

It’s also a significant boost on the 92,202 vehicles sold in April, with buyers flocking to showrooms ahead of the end of financial year.

The largest growth in May came from hybrids, which recorded 16,218 sales for the month, a huge 113.4 per cent gain on the same month last year.

Plug-in hybrid sales also saw a big jump, up 73.6 per cent on 2023 with 1373 sales for the month, while EV sales also grew – however the 8974 sales represented an increase of just 10.5 per cent.

While this represented a turnaround from April where EV sales fell for the first time in more than two years, battery-powered vehicle sales increased by only a slim margin compared to the 7.4 per cent growth in the diesel segment, which recorded 34,479 sales through May.

Petrol power continues to be favoured by Australian car buyers, with 45,262 unleaded-fuelled vehicles sold last month, though this was the only segment with a decrease on 2023, down 13.5 per cent.

New vehicle sales were also up in every state and territory bar the Northern Territory, which recorded an 8.8 per cent dip, though this was offset by growth in all other jurisdictions.

“The continued growth highlights consumer confidence and the industry’s ability to meet diverse needs of Australian motorists despite current economic challenges,” said Tony Weber, chief executive of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI).

“The Australian market is one of the most open and competitive in the world which supply consumers with a wide choice of vehicle across all segments and price categories.”

Brands

Toyota continued its sales dominance for the year, with its 23,389 vehicles delivered to customers throughout May representing 21.1 per cent of all new vehicle sales in Australia, and a 27.5 per cent rise on last year.

It also helped the carmaker’s 2024 tally click over 100,000 sales before June, with its year-to-date figures up 40.8 per cent compared to the same period in 2023.

Hyundai managed to put itself back past Mitsubishi to fifth place in the monthly sales race, though the Korean marque still trails the Japanese manufacturer in the year-to-date sales race.

Tesla also returned to the top 10 despite a 20.3 per cent sales drop for the month – driven by a significant 49.4 per cent decrease for the Model Y, but limited by a 50.8 per cent rise for its Model 3.

Honda saw the largest sales growth for the month, with its 1333 sales in May 2024 up by 63.8 per cent compared to 12 months ago, while Ford and Mitsubishi recorded increases of 40.9 per cent and 39.8 per cent, respectively.

Ram sales continued to fall, down 64.4 per cent on May 2023, however its core V8-powered 1500 pickup has ended production in the US ahead of a switch to six-cylinder power.

Fellow Ateco-distributed brand Maserati also experienced a 62.7 per cent sales drop, while Jeep sales fell by 62.5 per cent.

Models

The Ford Ranger rebounded to take the top sales spot in May, having lost its title to the Toyota RAV4 in April – a rare loss for utes in recent times.

Ford sold 5912 Rangers throughout May, besting its Toyota HiLux rival by 210 sales, with the RAV4 also in the 5000-plus sales bracket with 5517 deliveries throughout the month. 

Despite its sales slide, the Tesla Model Y managed to remain in the top 20, though it was outsold by other mid-sized SUVs which it has until recently held an edge over.

Segments

• Micro cars: Kia Picanto (793), Fiat 500/Abarth 500 (40)
• Light cars under $30,000: MG 3 (1077), Mazda 2 (450), Suzuki Swift (442)
• Light cars over $30,000: Volkswagen Polo (195), Mini Cooper (80), Skoda Fabia (32)
• Small cars under $40,000: Toyota Corolla (2439), Kia Cerato (1538), Mazda 3 (884)
• Small cars over $40,000: MG 4 (565), Audi A3 (302), Mercedes-Benz A-Class (285)
• Medium cars under $60,000: Toyota Camry (2468), BYD Seal (1002), Skoda Octavia (87)
• Medium cars over $60,000: Tesla Model 3 (1958), BMW 3 Series (287), Mercedes-Benz C-Class (250)

• Large cars under $70,000: Skoda Superb (9), Citroen C5 X (6)
• Large cars over $70,000: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (64), BMW 5 Series (44), Mercedes-Benz EQE and Porsche Taycan (22)
• Upper large cars over $100,000: Porsche Panamera (7), BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe and 7 Series (5)
• People movers under $70,000: Kia Carnival (925), Hyundai Staria (154), LDV MIFA (44)
• People movers over $70,000: Volkswagen Multivan (63), Volkswagen California (19), Lexus LM (17)
• Sports cars under $80,000: Subaru BRZ (105), Mazda MX-5 (62), Nissan Z (44)
• Sports cars over $80,000: BMW 2 Series (205), BMW 4 Series (52), Mercedes-Benz CLE (50)
• Sports cars over $200,000: Porsche 911 (47), Lamborghini two-door range (19), Ferrari two-door range (18)

• Light SUVs: Mazda CX-3 (1300), Suzuki Jimny (878), Hyundai Venue (614)
• Small SUVs under $45,000: Hyundai Kona (1842), MG ZS (1841), GWM Haval Jolion (1265)
• Small SUVs over $45,000: Audi Q3 (533), Volvo EX30 (466), BMW X1 (312)
• Medium SUVs under $60,000: Toyota RAV4 (5517), Mitsubishi Outlander (2500), Mazda CX-5 (2180)
• Medium SUVs over $60,000: Tesla Model Y (1609), Mercedes-Benz GLC (464), BMW X3 (393)
• Large SUVs under $80,000: Ford Everest (2110), Isuzu MU-X (1789), Subaru Outback (995)
• Large SUVs over $80,000: BMW X5 (404), Land Rover Defender (323), Range Rover Sport (207)
• Upper large SUVs under $120,000: Toyota LandCruiser wagon (1482), Nissan Patrol (622), Kia EV9 (49)
• Upper large SUVs over $120,000: BMW X7 (109), Mercedes-Benz GLS (44), Range Rover (39)

• Light vans: Volkswagen Caddy (75), Peugeot Partner (43), Renault Kangoo (9)
• Medium vans: Toyota HiAce (1176), Hyundai Staria Load (373), Ford Transit Custom (370)
• 4×2 utes: Toyota HiLux (647), Isuzu D-Max (563), Ford Ranger (463)
• 4×4 utes: Ford Ranger (5549), Toyota HiLux (5055), Isuzu D-Max (2049)
• Large pickups: Ram 1500 (207), Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (205), Chevrolet Silverado HD (127)

Sales by category

Top segments by market share

Sales by region

Sales by buyer type

Sales by fuel or propulsion type

Sales by country of origin

MORE: VFACTS April 2024: Record month, hybrids and plug-in hybrids surge MORE: VFACTS March 2024: Big month leads to record quarterly result MORE: VFACTS February 2024: Another record month for Australian new car sales MORE: VFACTS January 2024: Record start to the year but slower times ahead