VFACTS March 2024: Big month leads to record quarterly result

March was yet another record month for new vehicle sales in Australia, resulting in a record quarter for the market.

A total of 109,647 vehicles were delivered in March, beating the previous March record of 106,988 vehicles set back in 2018.

All up, 304,452 vehicles were delivered in the first quarter of 2024, up 13.2 per cent on the first quarter of 2023 and the best-ever first quarter for new vehicle sales in Australia.

March 2023, notably, was a weak month for the industry, having been the second-lowest March result across the last 10 years with only COVID-interrupted March 2020 yielding a lower total.

New vehicle sales had subsequently rebounded, however, with nine of the past 12 months being record results for the industry.

Two extra selling days (26.5 in total) also helped push March 2024’s tally above March 2023’s.

Electric vehicle (EV) sales rose by 58.3 per cent over March 2023 to 10,464 units, accounting for 9.5 per cent of the market – up from 6.8 per cent last March.

Combined, EVs, hybrids and plug-in hybrids accounted for just under a quarter of the total market at 23.5 per cent.

Hybrid sales were up 165.6 per cent over March 2023, accounting for 12.7 per cent of the total market on their own.

While the increasingly large variety of models in Australia undoubtedly played a hand in hybrid sales increasing, stronger supply from hybrid leader Toyota helped boost sales.

“This is a terrific result for the sector however, all car brands are well aware that these results cannot be taken for granted,” said Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) chief executive Tony Weber.

“We need to factor in the ongoing cost of living pressures and the challenges for industry and consumers that will emerge with the introduction of the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) in less than nine months.

“A fuel efficiency standard is long overdue. However, we remain concerned at the speed and magnitude of the change for both manufacturers and more importantly, consumers.

“The car makers will respond, however it will take time to develop new products, especially in the large SUV and Light Commercial segments, that meet expectations in terms of price, performance and emissions, noting these vehicles make up more than one third of new vehicle sales in Australia.”

Brands

Toyota sales were up 43.4 per cent to 18,961 sales, heads and shoulders above second-place Ford (8776 sales, up 35.3 per cent).

RAV4 sales were up 185.2 per cent to 5070 units, Corolla sales were up 103.5 per cent to 2027 units, and Camry sales were up 208.4 per cent to 1690 units.

It wasn’t all rosy for the market leader, however. While its RAV4 was the second best-selling vehicle in Australia in March, behind only the Ford Ranger, the HiLux failed to make the podium.

It was pipped by the Tesla Model Y (4379 sales vs. 3995 sales), with sales of HiLux 4×2 models plunging 60.1 per cent year-on-year.

Traditionally the dominant vehicle in the 4×2 ute sector, the HiLux in March fell behind both the Ranger and the Isuzu D-Max.

Ford overtook Mazda, whose sales were flat in March, for second place. A 16.6 per cent decline in Ranger 4×2 sales was offset by a 32.4 per cent increase in 4×4 sales, and a huge 129.8 per cent jump for the Everest.

Mitsubishi was in fourth place, up 34.2 per cent thanks to sales increases across its entire range, while Kia beat corporate cousin Hyundai for the second month in a row this year, sitting in fifth place.

Tesla sat in sixth place, with sales of its recently updated Model 3 increasing by only two units compared with March 2023; the Model Y was its best seller.

The top 10 was rounded out by Nissan, Isuzu Ute and MG.

Brands that saw the biggest gains, besides Toyota, were Tesla (up 68.2 per cent), Nissan (up 46.2 per cent), BYD (up 52.9 per cent), Porsche (52.2 per cent) and Genesis (up 88.4 per cent).

Brands that saw the biggest drops were Mercedes-Benz (including vans, down 31.4 per cent), LDV (down 31.1 per cent), Audi (down 27.1 per cent), Volvo (down 37 per cent), Ram (down 44.9 per cent), Jeep (down 54.7 per cent) and Cupra (down 52.6 per cent).

While the March 2024 VFACTS report lists zero Polestar sales, the company has confirmed it sold 84 vehicles in March. It’s no longer reporting its sales in VFACTS after it left the FCAI.

Models

The Ford Ranger was once again at the top, though the Toyota HiLux fell off the podium.

1. Ford Ranger: 5661
2. Toyota RAV4: 5070
3. Tesla Model Y: 4379
4. Toyota HiLux: 3995
5. Mitsubishi Outlander: 2764
6. Isuzu D-Max: 2465
7. Ford Everest: 2264
8. Nissan X-Trail: 2161
9. Toyota LandCruiser: 2159
10. Mazda CX-5: 2134
11. Kia Sportage: 2114
12. MG ZS: 2046
13. Toyota Corolla: 2027
14. Mitsubishi Triton: 1954
15. Isuzu MU-X: 1886
16. Toyota Camry: 1690
17. Tesla Model 3: 1638
18. Hyundai Kona: 1607
19. Hyundai Tucson: 1492
20. Mazda CX-3: 1467

Segments

• Micro cars: Kia Picanto (521), Fiat 500 (31)
• Light cars under $30,000: MG 3 (978), Suzuki Swift (558), Mazda 2 (400)
• Light cars over $30,000: Mini Hatch (181), Volkswagen Polo (141), Skoda Fabia (40)
• Small cars under $40,000: Toyota Corolla (2027), Kia Cerato (1193), Hyundai i30 (1021)
• Small cars over $40,000: MG 4 (352), Audi A3 (246), Volkswagen Golf (200)
• Medium cars under $60,000: Toyota Camry (1690), BYD Seal (365), Mazda 6 (168)
• Medium cars over $60,000: Tesla Model 3 (1638), BMW 3 Series (325), BMW i4 (236)
• Large cars under $70,000: Skoda Superb (25), Citroen C5 X (4)
• Large cars over $70,000: BMW 5 Series (65), Porsche Taycan (43), Audi A6 (28)
• Upper large cars over $100,000: BMW 7 Series (5), Lexus LS (5), Porsche Panamera (4)
• People movers under $70,000: Kia Carnival (592), Hyundai Staria (101), LDV MIFA (37)
• People movers over $70,000: Volkswagen Multivan (48), Mercedes-Benz V-Class (34), Lexus LM (33)
• Sports cars under $80,000: Subaru BRZ (80), Mazda MX-5 (69), Toyota GR86 (67)
• Sports cars over $80,000: BMW 2 Series two-door (155), BMW 4 Series two-door (98), Lotus Emira (33)
• Sports cars over $200,000: Porsche 911 (118), Ferrari two-door range (21), Aston Martin two-door range (17)

• Light SUVs: Mazda CX-3 (1467), Suzuki Jimny (856), Hyundai Venue (588)
• Small SUVs under $45,000: MG ZS (2046), Hyundai Kona (1607), GWM Haval Jolion (1203)
• Small SUVs over $45,000: Audi Q3 (492), BMW X1 (445), Volvo XC40 (305)
• Medium SUVs under $60,000: Toyota RAV4 (5070), Mitsubishi Outlander (2764), Nissan X-Trail (2161)
• Medium SUVs over $60,000: Tesla Model Y (4379), Lexus NX (546), BMW X3 (292)
• Large SUVs under $80,000: Ford Everest (2264), Isuzu MU-X (1886), Kia Sorento (955)
• Large SUVs over $80,000: BMW X5 (263), Land Rover Defender (211), Range Rover Sport (191)
• Upper large SUVs under $120,000: Toyota LandCruiser wagon (1219), Nissan Patrol (663), Kia EV9 (70)
• Upper large SUVs over $120,000: Range Rover (77), BMW X7 (65), Lexus LX (45)

• Light vans: Peugeot Partner (56), Volkswagen Caddy (46), Renault Kangoo (2)
• Medium vans: Toyota HiAce (829), Hyundai Staria Load (329), LDV G10 (276)
• 4×2 utes: Isuzu D-Max (618), Ford Ranger (526), Toyota HiLux (440)
• 4×4 utes: Ford Ranger (5135), Toyota HiLux (3555), Isuzu D-Max (1847)
• Large pickups: Ram 1500 (313), Ford F-150 (238), Chevrolet Silverado (184)

Sales by category

• SUVs: 64,631 sales, 58.9 per cent share
• Light commercial vehicles: 23,061 sales, 21.0 per cent share
• Passenger cars: 17,611 sales, 16.1 per cent share
• Heavy commercial vehicles: 4344 sales, 3.9 per cent share

Top segments by market share

• Medium SUVs: 28,840 sales, up 30.6 per cent
• Small SUVs: 16,062 sales, up 23.4 per cent
• 4×4 utes: 17,629 sales, up 7.0 per cent
• Large SUVs: 13,011 sales, up 3.2 per cent
• Small cars: 7502 sales, up 19.5 per cent

Sales by region

• New South Wales: 33,808 sales, up 11.7 per cent
• Victoria: 30,099 sales, up 24.9 per cent
• Queensland: 23,550 sales, up 5.9 per cent
• Western Australia: 11,074 sales, up 9.3 per cent
• South Australia: 6992 sales, up 6.9 per cent
• Tasmania: 1610 sales, down 0.6 per cent
• Australian Capital Territory: 1584 sales, up 0.5 per cent
• Northern Territory: 930 sales, up 19.8 per cent

Sales by buyer type

• Private buyers: 56,209 sales, up 10.2 per cent
• Business: 39,527 sales, up 15.7 per cent
• Rental fleets: 6284 sales, up 27.6 per cent
• Governments: 3283 sales, up 24.7 per cent

Sales by propulsion or fuel type

• Petrol: 47,761 sales, down 4.9 per cent
• Diesel: 31,731 sales, up 5.5 per cent
• Hybrid: 13,935 sales, up 165.6 per cent
• Electric: 10,464 sales, up 58.3 per cent
• Plug-in hybrid: 1412 sales, up 148.2 per cent

Sales by country of origin

• Japan: 33,588 sales, up 31.5 per cent
• Thailand: 24,233 sales, up 11.5 per cent
• China: 17,653 sales, up 16.7 per cent
• Korea: 13,755 sales, up 7.7 per cent
• Germany: 4815 sales, up 0.4 per cent

MORE: VFACTS January 2024: Record start to the year but slower times ahead
MORE: VFACTS February 2024: Another record month for Australian new car sales

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