VFACTS: November car sales tumble, stock shortages sink in

Toyota and Mazda tumble as chip shortage bites, brand China storms up the charts, business fleets right down, Honda falls again, and more.

4 Dec 2021 at 9:05 am

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Mike Costello

Mike Costello

Australia’s new vehicle sales fell 15.3 per cent during November – the second month in succession – reflective of ongoing stock shortages created principally by semiconductor supply constraints.

Sales across all eight States and Territories went backwards compared to November 2020’s tally – though it’s important to note that last year’s 11th month was a ripper, having turned around 31 successive months of decline.

Toyota fell nearly 35 per cent yet stayed on top
China’s MG, GWM and LDV surged upwards
Honda took another sales dive
Ford Ranger topped the model charts
EVs and PHEVs were both up more than 200 per cent
Business fleet sales tumbled nearly 30 per cent

VFACTS data released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) shows that 80,639 new vehicles were sold in November, down from 95,205 in the same month last year.

This figure doesn’t include Tesla, which alone among the mainstream brands doesn’t disclose sales data.

“Demand across the sector remains strong with the drop in sales reflecting well recognised international supply chain issues,” said FCAI chief executive Tony Weber.

“This includes constraints around microprocessor supplies as well as the ongoing impact of the pandemic restricting factories.

“Car makers are competing with many other sectors, such as white goods manufacturers, for microprocessors across the globe. Some new vehicles sold in the Australian market can require up to 3000 of these parts, so this shortage is definitely being felt by the industry.

“Challenges aside, we are less than 29,000 vehicles away from 1 million new cars being put into the hands of Australian motorists in 2021,” Mr Weber concluded.

Year-to-date (TYD) sales with just December to go show that Australians have purchased 971,429 new cars and commercials this year, up 18.3 per cent on a heavily interrupted 2020.

Last year excluded, the YTD tally for 2021 is the lowest since 2011. In simpler terms, despite strong post-COVID demand the overall rate of car sales is back where it was a decade ago.

MORE: Stock shortages, production cuts all over as chip crunch hits MORE: Staggering impact of semiconductor shortage on car industry revealed

Brands

Toyota’s supply out of various Southeast Asian plants has been decimated lately and most of its core cars are subject to wait lists, yet despite a sales downturn it maintained 18.9 per cent market share and its strong lead. Unbreakable indeed…

Hyundai snagged second spot by almost breaking even compared to November 2020, edging out both Ford and Mitsubishi. Mazda sales tumbled 41.5 per cent, pushing the usual silver medallist into fifth spot for the month – though it sits comfortably in second spot YTD, still.

Rounding out the top 10 were Kia, a rampaging MG which finished a remarkable seventh place, Nissan, Volkswagen, and Subaru. BMW and Mercedes-Benz were knocking on the door (the Bavarian brand took the honours), with Isuzu Ute sandwiched between.

While MG remains the number-one Chinese brand, Great Wall Motor (GWM and Haval) conquered LDV, though both brands were up. Completing the top 20 were Suzuki, Honda (tumbling to 17th), Audi, Renault, and Jeep.

BRAND	NOV SALES	CHANGE
Toyota	15,239	Down 34.3%
Hyundai	6854	Down 0.7%
Ford	6215	Down 6.0%
Mitsubishi	5720	Up 4.2%
Mazda	5295	Down 41.5%
Kia	4915	Down 8.6%
MG	3743	Up 85.2%
Nissan	3509	Down 12.3%
Volkswagen	3098	Down 5.5%
Subaru	2712	Down 15.3%
BMW	2211	Down 16.5%
Isuzu Ute	2138	Down 27.4%
Mercedes-Benz	2110	Down 33.7%
GWM	1972	Up 228.7%
LDV	1771	Up 30.4%
Suzuki	1465	Down 1.7%
Honda	1362	Down 45.8%
Audi	1293	Down 28.9%
Renault	1028	No change
Jeep	632	Down 14.9%
Lexus	628	Down 40.4%
Skoda	560	Down 18.6%
Volvo Car	554	Down 33.7%
Ram Trucks	395	Up 73.2%
SsangYong	270	Up 12.5%
Porsche	264	Down 37.4%
Peugeot	261	Up 38.1%
Land Rover	253	Down 54.8%
Fiat	221	Up 57.8%
Mini	209	Down 36.9%
Chevrolet	177	N/A
Genesis	100	Up 108.3%
Maserati	57	Up 72.7%
Jaguar	55	Down 36%
Alfa Romeo	41	Down 24.1%
Citroen	32	Up 23.1%
Ferrari	26	Up 188.9%
Bentley	21	Down 19.2%
Aston Martin	15	Up 50.0%
Chrysler	10	Down 23.1%
Lamborghini	10	Up 25.0%
Alpine	9	Up 800.0 %
McLaren	6	No change
Rolls-Royce	4	Down 50.0%
Lotus	3	Down 40.0%

The five biggest growth brands by volume were: MG, GWM, LDV (all three being Chinese), Mitsubishi and Chevrolet, as sold by GMSV. The five biggest losers by volume were: Toyota, Mazda, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, and Isuzu Ute.

In most cases, but not all, this was caused by supply shortages rather than lack of demand.

Models

BRAND	NOV SALES	CHANGE
Ford Ranger	4429	Up 4.0%
Toyota HiLux	4228	Down 16.1%
Hyundai i30	2254	Up 10.1%
Toyota Corolla	2104	Down 24.2%
Toyota RAV4	1820	Down 52.1%
Nissan Navara	1792	Up 78.1%
Mitsubishi Outlander	1633	Up 53.8%
Mitsubishi ASX	1625	Up 10.9%
MG ZS	1576	Up 39.1%
Hyundai Tucson	1541	Down 22.8%
Toyota Kluger	1466	Up 209.3%
Isuzu D-Max	1407	Down 32.8%
MG 3	1366	Up 116.1%
Nissan X-Trail	1328	Down 5.5%
Toyota LandCruiser 70 C/C & Troopie	1197	Up 23.9%
Subaru Outback	1174	Up 103.8%
Toyota HiAce	1122	Doen 32.6%
Ford Everest	1038	Up 46.2%
Mazda CX-30	1027	Down 1.1%
Kia Cerato	1015	Down 37.5%

Segments

We can also identify the most popular models in each vehicle segment.

Micro Cars: Mitsubishi Mirage (649), Kia Picanto (511), Fiat 500 (81)
Light Cars under $25,000: MG 3 (1366), Volkswagen Polo (486), Kia Rio (381)
Light Cars over $25,000: Mini Hatch (129), Audi A1 (28), Citroen C3 (13)
Small Cars under $40,000: Hyundai i30 (2254), Toyota Corolla (2104), Kia Cerato (1015)
Small Cars over $40,000: BMW 1 Series (228), BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe (167), Mercedes-Benz A-Class (160)
Medium Cars under $60,000: Toyota Camry (967), Volkswagen Passat (123), Mazda 6 (115)
Medium Cars over $60,000: BMW 3 Series (422), Mercedes-Benz CLA (110), Lexus ES (104)
Large Cars under $70,000: Kia Stinger (37), Skoda Superb (33)
Large Cars over $70,000: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (68), BMW 5 Series (30), Porsche Taycan (20)
Upper LargeCars: Mercedes-Benz S-Class (24), Chrysler 300 (10), BMW 7 Series (9)
People Movers: Kia Carnival (386), Hyundai Staria (182), LDV G10 (128)
Sports Cars under $80,000: Ford Mustang (294), Mazda MX-5 (76), Nissan 370Z (23)
Sports Cars over $80,000: BMW 4 Series (82), Mercedes-Benz C-Class (53), Mercedes-Benz E-Class (24)
Sports Cars over $200,000: Porsche 911 (39), Ferrari range (26), Aston Martin coupe/conv (12)

Light SUVs: Kia Stonic (799), Toyota Yaris Cross (627), Hyundai Venue (586)
Small SUVs under $40,000: Mitsubishi ASX (1625), MG ZS (1576), Mazda CX-30 (1027)
Small SUVs over $40,000: Audi Q3 (527), BMW X1 (165), Lexus UX (126)
Medium SUVs under $60,000: Toyota RAV4 (1820), Mitsubishi Outlander (1633), Hyundai Tucson (1541)
Medium SUVs over $60,000: BMW X3 (393), Volvo XC60 (328), Mercedes-Benz GLC (296)
Large SUVs under $70,000: Toyota Kluger (1466), Subaru Outback (1174), Ford Everest (1038)
Large SUVs over $70,000: Mercedes-Benz GLE (326), BMW X5 (258), Audi Q7 (151)
Upper Large SUVs under $100,000: Toyota LandCruiser Wagon (155), Nissan Patrol (55)
Upper Large SUVs over $100,000: Mercedes-Benz GLS (123), BMW X7 (99), Mercedes-Benz G-Class (44)

Light Vans: Renault Kangoo (109), Volkswagen Caddy (64), Peugeot Partner (7)
Medium Vans: Toyota HiAce (896), LDV G10/G10+ (449), Mitsubishi Express (221)
Large Vans: LDV Deliver 9 (200), Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (155), Fiat Ducato (140)
Light Buses: Toyota HiAce (226), Ford Transit (44), LDV Deliver 9 (25)
4×2 Utes: Toyota HiLux (1479), Isuzu D-Max (509), Ford Ranger (481)
4×4 Utes: Ford Ranger (3948), Toyota HiLux (2749), Nissan Navara (1608)