Market Insight: 2023 marks faster sales shift
AUSTRALIA broke a new cars sales record in 2023 with more than 1.2 million units delivered, convincingly higher than the previous record of 1,189,116 units set in 2017.
It is an unprecedented milestone that demonstrates not only an increasing appetite for new and more efficient vehicles, but also larger vehicles, with SUV and LCV sales at an all-time high.
While the shifting trend towards higher-riding vehicles comes as no surprise to industry analysts, it is one that is increasingly tempered by a return to the traditional sedan format, led largely by popular battery electric models such as the Tesla Model 3, Polestar 2 and more recently the BYD Seal.
Whether it is availability, range benefits or some other factor, battery electric vehicle (BEV) buyers seem to prefer a three-box body style over that of an equivalent SUV almost without exception – the runaway success of Tesla’s Model Y appearing to be the only standout.
Battery electric vehicles accounted for 7.2 per cent of all new vehicles sold in Australia throughout 2023 with combined BEV, plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and hybrid (HEV) vehicles achieving 196,868 sales, or 16.2 per cent of the new vehicle sales mix.
Overall, there were 98,439 HEV, 87,217 BEV, and 11,212 PHEV units sold versus traditional internal combustion powered vehicles running on petrol (588,622 units) and diesel (379,512 units).
Indeed, there are several trends emerging in the new car market that are tipped to carry through the new year, and possibly beyond.
Micro and light passenger car sales are virtually dead in the water while the small passenger car segment holds its own.
Sales of medium passenger car sales are slowing, except perhaps for the supply constrained Toyota Camry, while large passenger car sales are a shadow of what they were just a decade ago.
Total passenger car sales for 2023 tallied just 211,361 – the lowest number outside of the heavy commercial vehicle category.
Look toward the SUV market and it is evident there are gains across the board. Six of the top 10 best-selling models for 2023 were SUVs, with four of those from the medium SUV segment (Kia Sportage, MG ZS, Mitsubishi Outlander, and Toyota RAV4).
In all, SUV sales tallied higher than any other category with 679,462 deliveries across the calendar year.
Of course, the light commercial category continues its unabated success, with the top three sellers of 2023 being utes.
The Ford Ranger beat the previous best-selling Toyota HiLux to take the title of Australia’s best-selling new vehicle in 2023, amassing an impressive 63,356 unit sales – or 23.1 per cent of the overall category (274,185).
Isuzu’s D-Max came a distant third with more than 31,000 sold – just over half the HiLux’s tally – in a demonstration of how dominant the Ranger and HiLux have become.
Australia is also changing its trajectory in terms of vehicle sourcing. Chinese imports are growing rapidly (up 57.5 per cent to 193,433 units), now the third most-popular source of origin behind Japan (345,071) and Thailand (264,253).
Despite the changes, Australian buyers continue to favour trusted brands over more recent arrivals with Toyota maintaining its position at the top of the new car sales ladder again in 2023.
Toyota (with 215,240 unit sales) led Mazda (100,008 units) and Ford (87,800 units) to be the only importer to exceed 200,000 vehicle sales for 19 of the past 20 years.
A strong year of government and rental fleet purchases is a further key contributor to the overall sales mix in 2023 with increases across Passenger, SUV and Light Commercial segments.
Private vehicle sales were down on average across Passenger and SUV categories, but up considerably in the Light Commercial sector.
Below, we look at some of the most important trends developing across the Australian new cars sales market.
Sales figures for the top five most popular vehicles are listed in terms of their unit sales with year-on-year variances detailed aside. We will also look at segment and sourcing changes to see how these have shifted over the past 12 months.
Overall
2023 best-selling make (overall):
|
Toyota |
215,240 |
-6.8% |
|
Mazda |
100,008 |
+4.5% |
|
Ford |
87,800 |
+31.8% |
|
Kia |
76,120 |
-2.8% |
|
Hyundai |
75,183 |
+2.5% |
2023 best-selling model (overall):
|
Ford Ranger |
63,356 |
+33.4% |
|
Toyota HiLux |
61,111 |
-5.1% |
|
Isuzu D-Max |
31,202 |
+28.2% |
|
Toyota RAV4 |
29,627 |
-15.0% |
|
MG ZS |
29,258 |
+30.2% |
Passenger
2023 best-selling Micro passenger car (overall):
|
Kia Picanto |
7706 |
+48.3% |
|
Fiat 500 / Abarth |
755 |
+111.5% |
|
Mitsubishi Mirage |
1 |
-99.9% |
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
2023 best-selling Light passenger car under $30K (overall):
|
MG 3 |
15,430 |
-4.6% |
|
Suzuki Swift |
6914 |
+57.0% |
|
Mazda 2 |
5181 |
+0.7% |
|
Kia Rio |
4067 |
-11.1% |
|
Toyota Yaris |
2098 |
-29.6% |
2023 best-selling Light passenger car over $30K (overall):
|
Mini Hatch |
2011 |
+21.8% |
|
Audi A1 |
462 |
+18.5% |
|
Skoda Fabia |
433 |
+56.9% |
|
Citroen C3 |
69 |
-10.4% |
|
N/A |
|
|
2023 best-selling Small passenger car under $40K (overall):
|
Hyundai i30 |
20,626 |
-2.6% |
|
Toyota Corolla |
19,986 |
-21.0% |
|
Mazda 3 |
9079 |
-5.8% |
|
Kia Cerato |
5795 |
-53.1% |
|
MG 5 |
2398 |
N/A |
2023 best-selling Small passenger car over $40K (overall):
|
Volkswagen Golf |
3592 |
+11.4% |
|
Audi A3 |
3319 |
+57.3% |
|
MG 4 |
3134 |
N/A |
|
Subaru WRX |
2743 |
+14.7% |
|
Mercedes-Benz A-Class |
2392 |
-15.8% |
2023 best-selling Medium passenger car under $60K (overall):
|
Toyota Camry |
10,581 |
+10.9% |
|
Mazda 6 |
1528 |
+1.1% |
|
Skoda Octavia |
1395 |
+44.9% |
|
Volkswagen Passat |
677 |
-10.8% |
|
BYD Seal |
471 |
N/A |
2023 best-selling Medium passenger car over $60K (overall):
|
Tesla Model 3 |
17,347 |
+59.5% |
|
BMW 3 Series |
3147 |
+11.7% |
|
Mercedes-Benz C-Class |
2625 |
-26.4% |
|
Polestar 2 |
2463 |
+61.6% |
|
Lexus ES |
1727 |
+107.8% |
2023 best-selling Large passenger car under $70K (overall):
|
Kia Stinger |
1806 |
-19.4% |
|
Skoda Superb |
278 |
-57.6% |
|
Citroen C5 X |
68 |
+11.5% |
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
2023 best-selling Large passenger car over $70K (overall):
|
Porsche Taycan |
535 |
+24.4% |
|
BMW 5 Series |
507 |
+10.9% |
|
Mercedes-Benz EQE |
437 |
N/A |
|
Mercedes-Benz E-Class |
421 |
+21.3% |
|
Audi e-tron GT |
339 |
N/A |
2023 best-selling Upper Large passenger car under $100K (overall):
|
Chrysler 300 |
7 |
-91.1% |
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
2023 best-selling Upper Large passenger car over $100K (overall):
|
Mercedes-Benz S-Class |
108 |
-35.3% |
|
BMW 7 Series |
84 |
+27.3% |
|
Porsche Panamera |
70 |
+16.7% |
|
Mercedes-Benz EQS |
67 |
-4.3% |
|
BMW i7 |
63 |
+384.6% |
2023 best-selling People Movers under $70K (overall):
|
Kia Carnival |
11,312 |
+40.5% |
|
Hyundai Staria |
1141 |
-33.7% |
|
Volkswagen Multivan |
711 |
+51.6% |
|
LDV Mifa |
452 |
N/A |
|
Volkswagen Caddy |
72 |
+9.1% |
2023 best-selling People Movers over $70K (overall):
|
Mercedes-Benz V-Class |
377 |
-33.9% |
|
Mercedes-Benz Vito |
127 |
+67.1% |
|
Toyota Granvia |
112 |
-28.2% |
|
Volkswagen California |
108 |
+25.6% |
|
Lexus LM |
41 |
N/A |
Sports
2023 best-selling Sports car under $80K (overall):
|
Subaru BRZ |
1573 |
+35.0% |
|
Ford Mustang |
1475 |
-21.8% |
|
BMW 2 Series |
1164 |
+73.7% |
|
Toyota GR86 |
1144 |
+439.6% |
|
Mazda MX-5 |
653 |
+31.9% |
2023 best-selling Sports car over $80K (overall):
|
BMW 4 Series |
858 |
-14.3% |
|
Mercedes-Benz C-Class |
808 |
+42.5% |
|
Chevrolet Corvette |
338 |
+50.2% |
|
Porsche Cayman |
282 |
+77.4% |
|
Toyota Supra |
276 |
+95.7% |
2023 best-selling Sports car over $200K (overall):
|
Porsche 911 |
558 |
+2.0% |
|
Ferrari (cumulative) |
215 |
+5.9% |
|
Lamborghini (cumulative) |
159 |
+84.9% |
|
Bentley (cumulative) |
105 |
+28.0% |
|
McLaren (cumulative) |
85 |
+39.3% |
SUV
2023 best-selling SUV Light (overall):
|
Mazda CX-3 |
15,776 |
+32.5% |
|
Kia Stonic |
6983 |
-18.4% |
|
Toyota Yaris Cross |
6514 |
-22.7% |
|
Hyundai Venue |
6152 |
-4.5% |
|
Volkswagen T-Cross |
5762 |
+12.0% |
2023 best-selling SUV Small under $45K (overall):
|
MG ZS |
29,258 |
+30.2% |
|
Mazda CX-30 |
13,115 |
-5.6% |
|
GWM Haval Jolion |
11,252 |
+36.9% |
|
Hyundai Kona |
11,183 |
-3.1% |
|
Kia Seltos |
10,473 |
+23.2% |
2023 best-selling SUV Small over $45K (overall):
|
Volvo XC40 |
5837 |
+14.0% |
|
BMW X1 |
4644 |
+91.5% |
|
Audi Q3 |
4457 |
-11.7% |
|
Lexus UX |
2468 |
+110.8% |
|
Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class |
1881 |
-38.5% |
2023 best-selling SUV Medium under $60K (overall):
|
Toyota RAV4 |
29,627 |
-15.0% |
|
Mitsubishi Outlander |
24,263 |
+24.1% |
|
Mazda CX-5 |
23,083 |
-14.7% |
|
Hyundai Tucson |
21,224 |
+18.8% |
|
Subaru Forester |
16,381 |
+54.0% |
2023 best-selling SUV Medium over $60K (overall):
|
Tesla Model Y |
28,679 |
+230.0% |
|
Lexus NX |
6875 |
+104.5% |
|
Audi Q5 |
4210 |
+31.2% |
|
BMW X3 |
4002 |
-12.0% |
|
Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class |
3631 |
-16.0% |
2023 best-selling SUV Large under $70K (overall):
|
Toyota LandCruiser Prado |
20,710 |
-1.9% |
|
Ford Everest |
15,071 |
+46.1% |
|
Isuzu MU-X |
14,139 |
+28.7% |
|
Subaru Outback |
12,903 |
+32.5% |
|
Toyota Kluger |
10,430 |
-17.0% |
2023 best-selling SUV Large over $70K (overall):
|
Land Rover Defender |
3846 |
+137.0% |
|
BMW X5 |
3682 |
+18.4% |
|
Lexus RX |
2743 |
+102.9% |
|
Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class |
2535 |
-18.0% |
|
Range Rover Sport |
2224 |
+144.9% |
2023 best-selling SUV Upper Large under $120K (overall):
|
Toyota LandCruiser |
15,035 |
+14.3% |
|
Nissan Patrol |
7812 |
+36.5% |
|
Land Rover Discovery |
533 |
+319.7% |
|
Kia EV9 |
208 |
N/A |
|
N/A |
|
|
2023 best-selling SUV Upper Large over $120K (overall):
|
BMW X7 |
1012 |
+20.5% |
|
Lexus LX |
982 |
+241.0% |
|
Range Rover |
713 |
+436.1% |
|
Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class |
648 |
-19.3% |
|
Mercedes-Benz G-Class |
394 |
-7.7% |
Light Commercial
2023 best-selling Light Bus (overall, combined):
|
Toyota HiAce Commuter |
2366 |
-8.8% |
|
Toyota Coaster |
337 |
+8.4% |
|
LDV Deliver 9 Bus |
284 |
+32.1% |
|
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter |
4 |
-91.1% |
|
Iveco Minibus |
2 |
-89.5% |
2023 best-selling Van under 2.5t (overall):
|
Volkswagen Caddy |
628 |
+11.2% |
|
Peugeot Partner |
552 |
+92.3% |
|
Renault Kangoo |
18 |
-96.5% |
|
N/A |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
2023 best-selling Van 2.5-3.5t (overall):
|
Toyota HiAce |
7133 |
-18.5% |
|
LDV G10 |
3638 |
+15.2% |
|
Ford Transit Custom |
2843 |
+66.4% |
|
Hyundai Staria Load |
2497 |
-24.1% |
|
Renault Trafic |
1296 |
-10.6% |
2023 best-selling Pick-Up/Cab-Chassis 4x2 (overall):
|
Toyota HiLux |
12,116 |
-29.0% |
|
Isuzu D-Max |
5759 |
+36.7% |
|
Ford Ranger |
5095 |
+17.1% |
|
Mazda BT-50 |
3483 |
+44.9% |
|
Mitsubishi Triton |
2909 |
-16.5% |
2023 best-selling Pick-Up/Cab-Chassis 4x4 (overall):
|
Ford Ranger |
58,261 |
+35.1% |
|
Toyota HiLux |
48,995 |
+3.5% |
|
Isuzu D-Max |
25,443 |
+26.4% |
|
Mazda BT-50 |
14,043 |
+33.3% |
|
Mitsubishi Triton |
13,732 |
-42.7% |
2023 best-selling Pick-Up/Cab-Chassis over $100K (overall):
|
Ram 1500 |
5922 |
+8.0% |
|
Chevrolet Silverado |
2260 |
+24.0% |
|
Chevrolet Silverado HD |
1105 |
+95.2% |
|
Ram 2500 |
824 |
+34.2% |
|
Ford F-150 |
145 |
N/A |
Country of origin
2023 most popular country of origin:
|
Japan |
345,071 |
+4.5% |
|
Thailand |
264,253 |
+7.6% |
|
China |
193,433 |
+57.5% |
|
South Korea |
161,614 |
+1.5% |
|
Germany |
56,850 |
+35.6% |
Fuel type
2023 most popular fuel type:
|
Petrol |
588,622 |
+6.7% |
|
Diesel |
379,512 |
+5.0% |
|
Hybrid |
98,439 |
+20.3% |
|
Battery Electric |
87,217 |
+161.1% |
|
Plug-in Hybrid |
11,212 |
+88.8% |
Region
2023 most popular sales by region:
|
New South Wales |
374,432 |
+10.8% |
|
Victoria |
327,229 |
+13.9% |
|
Queensland |
261,532 |
+11.0% |
|
Western Australia |
124,630 |
+17.7% |
|
South Australia |
79,009 |
+13.9% |
|
Tasmania |
21,150 |
+10.4% |
|
Australian Capital Territory |
18,531 |
+14.2% |
|
Northern Territory |
10,267 |
+4.2% |
*All data supplied courtesy of the FCAI.
