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.

YEAR	AUG SALES	YTD SALES
2023	109,966	788,584
2022	95,256	717,575
2021	81,199	732,828
2020	60,986	575,906
2019	85,633	723,283
2018	95,221	786,294
2017	96,662	788,968
2016	94,909	784,380
2015	90,705	761,440
2014	88,157	737,975

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.

VFACTS August 2023: Another Aussie sales record as supply rebounds — ***Isuzu Ute had a record month***

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).

BRAND	SALES	CHANGE
Toyota	22,321	8.3%
Mazda	8458	-4.1%
Ford	7898	35.3%
Hyundai	6513	-2.0%
Kia	6510	-4.0%
MG	5368	74.6%
Mitsubishi	4961	-22.2%
Isuzu Ute	4712	68.3%
Subaru	4706	59.0%
Nissan	4233	154.1%
Volkswagen	3721	29.7%
Tesla	3309	-2.6%
GWM	2878	9.1%
Mercedes-Benz	2508	-12.8%
BMW	2272	-5.1%
LDV	1826	27.0%
Lexus	1685	253.2%
Suzuki	1430	-33.3%
Audi	1344	-0.4%
Honda	1184	-6.0%
Land Rover	1039	217.7%
Volvo Car	1037	45.9%
BYD	803	–
Chery	760	–
Skoda	698	70.7%
Renault	668	-10.5%
Ram	541	-2.0%
SsangYong	487	36.0%
Porsche	418	38.9%
Jeep	374	-45.2%
Cupra	302	160.3%
Chevrolet	289	5.9%
Peugeot	275	35.5%
Mini	242	-22.4%
Polestar	225	492.1%
Genesis	190	113.5%
Fiat	184	152.0%
Alfa Romeo	80	35.6%
Maserati	64	42.2%
Jaguar	47	-45.3%
Citroen	29	222.2%
Lamborghini	28	12.0%
Lotus	21	–
Ferrari	20	-13.0%
Bentley	13	-23.5%
McLaren	9	-30.8%
Chrysler	7	600.0%
Aston Martin	6	-53.8%
Rolls-Royce	6	50.0%

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.

Toyota HiLux: 5762
Ford Ranger: 5760
Toyota RAV4: 3317
Isuzu D-Max: 3281
MG ZS: 3193
Toyota Corolla: 2808
Tesla Model Y: 2314
Hyundai Tucson: 2084
Mitsubishi Outlander: 2030
Toyota Prado: 1969
Mazda CX-5: 1784
Hyundai i30: 1765
Subaru Outback: 1654
Toyota LandCruiser Wagon: 1641
Nissan X-Trail: 1533
Ford Everest: 1502
Isuzu MU-X: 1431
Subaru Forester: 1427
Mazda BT-50: 1406
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 Large Cars: 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)