VFACTS September 2022: Sales rebound, EV share hits new high

Australia’s new car sales according to the VFACTS industry database grew 12.3 per cent in September to 93,555 vehicles, with EVs setting a new record market share.

It’s the second month in succession of solid growth, with the market also growing 17.3 per cent in August. This suggests stock levels and supply are on the improve.

Year-to-date car sales now sit at 811,130 with three months left to run, down 0.6 per cent over the 2021 cumulative tally.

The top-three selling vehicles for September were the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger, and quite remarkably the newly launched Tesla Model Y.

EVs nabbed a 7.7 per cent market share in September, breaking August’s previous record. They also outsold both hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars combined.

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Toyota topped the charts with 14,852 sales, despite tumbling 26.5 per cent due to ongoing stock shortages and 12-month-plus wait lists on key models.

Its market share plummeted to 15.9 per cent, whereas in September 2021 it owned 24.3 per cent market share.

Kia grabbed second place on the back of a bumper month, with 7290 sales and 41.4 per cent growth. It bumped regular silver medallist Mazda into third place, with 7259 sales (up a respectable 10.7 per cent).

Next were Mitsubishi (6784, up a strong 47.3 per cent), Ford (6635, up 15.2 per cent), Hyundai (6501, up 19.1 per cent), and Tesla (5969 sales). Because Tesla only started publishing its local sales data this year, there’s no comparative 2021 figure.

Rounding out the top 10 were Volkswagen (3698 sales, down 2.5 per cent due to continued shortages), MG (3261, up 8.3 per cent), and Subaru (3167, up 3.4 per cent).

Knocking on the door of its first top 10 spot, but finishing one position short, was GWM on 3050 sales, up a healthy 69.4 per cent led by the Haval H6 medium SUV on 1294 units.

See the full list below.

Models

1. Toyota HiLux – 5170
2. Ford Ranger – 4890
3. Tesla Model Y – 4359
4. Mazda CX-5 – 2439
5. Mitsubishi Triton – 2319
6. Isuzu D-Max – 1924
7. Mitsubishi Outlander – 1879
8. Toyota RAV4 – 1856
9. Kia Sportage – 1775
10. Hyundai i30 –1733
11. Toyota Prado – 1698
12. Tesla Model 3 – 1610
13. Hyundai Tucson – 1579
14. Toyota Corolla – 1554
15. MG 3 – 1423
16. Mitsubishi ASX – 1408
17. GWM Haval H6 – 1294
18. Kia Cerato – 1257
19. Hyundai Kona – 1098
20. Mazda CX-3 – 1094

Segments

• Micro Cars: Kia Picanto (519), Mitsubishi Mirage (48), Fiat 500 (12)
• Light Cars under $25,000: MG 3 (1423), Kia Rio (460), Mazda 2 (383)
• Light Cars over $25,000: Mini Hatch (189), Audi A1 (65), Citroen C3 (3)
• Small Cars under $40,000: Hyundai i30 (1733), Toyota Corolla (1554), Kia Cerato (1257)
• Small Cars over $40,000: Audi A3 (285), Mercedes-Benz A-Class (262), BMW 1 Series (195)
• Medium Cars under $60,000: Toyota Camry (663), Mazda 6 (112), Volkswagen Passat (97)
• Medium Cars over $60,000: Tesla Model 3 (1610), BMW 3 Series (356), Mercedes-Benz C-Class (278)
• Large Cars under $70,000: Kia Stinger (98), Skoda Superb (44)
• Large Cars over $70,000: BMW 5 Series (50), Mercedes-Benz E-Class (39), Audi A6 (27)
• Upper Large Cars: Mercedes-Benz S-Class (12), Mercedes-Benz EQS (11), BMW 7 Series (5)
• People Movers: Kia Carnival (697), Hyundai Staria (334), Volkswagen Multivan (90)
• Sports Cars under $80,000: Ford Mustang (237), Toyota GR86 (92), Subaru BRZ (80)
• Sports Cars over $80,000: BMW 4 Series (115), Mercedes-Benz C-Class (49), Mercedes-Benz E-Class (26)
• Sports Cars over $200,000: Porsche 911 (26), Lamborghini two-door range (15), Bentley Continental (11)

• Light SUVs: Mazda CX-3 (1094), Kia Stonic (906), Hyundai Venue (556)
• Small SUVs under $40,000: Mitsubishi ASX (1408), Hyundai Kona (1098), MG ZS (994)
• Small SUVs over $40,000: Volvo XC40 (515), Audi Q3 (429), Mercedes-Benz GLA (218)
• Medium SUVs under $60,000: Mazda CX-5 (2439), Mitsubishi Outlander (1879), Toyota RAV4 (1856)
• Medium SUVs over $60,000: Tesla Model Y (4359), BMW X3 (338), Volvo XC60 (268)
• Large SUVs under $70,000: Toyota Prado (1698), Isuzu MU-X (894), Subaru Outback (815)
• Large SUVs over $70,000: BMW X5 (269), Mercedes-Benz GLE (226), Volvo XC90 (168)
• Upper Large SUVs under $100,000: Toyota LandCruiser Wagon (634), Nissan Patrol (479)
• Upper Large SUVs over $100,000: Mercedes-Benz GLS (87), BMW X7 (60), Audi Q8 (42)

• Light Vans: Volkswagen Caddy (70), Renault Kangoo (9), Peugeot Partner (4)
• Medium Vans: Toyota HiAce (394), Ford Transit Custom (322), Hyundai Staria Load (241)
• Large Vans: LDV Deliver 9 (247), Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (207), Renault Master (148)
• Light Buses: Toyota HiAce (151), Toyota Coaster (33), LDV Deliver 9 (15)
• 4×2 Utes: Toyota HiLux (1626), Ford Ranger (509), Mitsubishi Triton (290)
• 4×4 Utes: Ford Ranger (4381), Toyota HiLux (3544), Mitsubishi Triton (2029)

Miscellaneous

Sales by region

• New South Wales: 28,945, up 20.8 per cent
• Victoria: 25,367, up 23.8 per cent
• Queensland: 20,634, up 2.9 per cent
• Western Australia: 8644, down 6.0 per cent
• South Australia: 6005, down 2.2 per cent
• Tasmania: 1630, down 0.9 per cent
• Australian Capital Territory: 1498, up 67.7 per cent
• Northern Territory: 832, down 9.8 per cent

Category breakdown

• SUV: 49,643 sales, 53.1 per cent market share
• Light commercials: 22,252 sales, 23.8 per cent market share
• Passenger cars: 17,490 sales, 18.7 per cent market share
• Heavy commercials: 4170 sales, 4.5 per cent market share

Top segments by market share

• Medium SUV: 19.6 per cent
• 4×4 Utes: 18.0 per cent
• Large SUV: 13.0 per cent
• Small SUV: 12.9 per cent
• Small Car: 8.5 per cent

Sales by buyer type

• Private buyers: 50,889, up 23.7 per cent
• Business fleets: 31,027, up 4.3 per cent
• Rental fleets: 5304, down 9.7 per cent
• Government fleets: 2165, down 17.7 per cent

Sales by propulsion or fuel type

• Petrol: 47,620
• Diesel: 29,377
• Hybrid: 4616
• Electric: 7247
• PHEV: 525
• Hydrogen FCEV: 0

Sales by country of origin

• Japan: 23,880
• Thailand: 20,363
• China: 14,889
• Korea: 14,443
• USA: 4116

Quote

FCAI chief executive Tony Weber said that the number of battery electric vehicles sold in September signalled that a growing number of Australians were committed to decarbonising their transport.

“During September 2022, 7247 battery electric vehicles were sold, more than hybrid and plug-in-hybrid combined (5141). Year to date, 21,771 battery electric vehicles have been sold,” he said.

“While the overall market share of battery electric vehicles remains low (2.7 per cent), there is a clear market trend towards zero emission technology.”

While supplies of new cars to the Australian market are showing signs of improvement, Mr Weber cautioned that logistical and supply chain issues remained problematic as the global automotive market recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Some previous monthly reports