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.