VFACTS: April sales slightly up

THE Australian new car market set an upward trajectory in April, topping the year prior’s monthly number by 1.3 per cent, or 1072 vehicle sales, despite fewer selling days (there were 22 selling days in April 2023 compared with 23 in April 2022).

In all, Australia’s automotive industry delivered 82,137 vehicles for the month of April.

The results translated to an increase of 208.9 vehicle sales per day, the majority coming from the SUV market, which grew 8.6 per cent, or 3661 vehicles, and the heavy commercial vehicle sector, which rose 6.6 per cent or 240 vehicles, over the same time in 2022.

Australia’s passenger car market fell again in April, down 1.6 per cent or 253 vehicles against last year, while the light commercial sector also slipped, down a considerable 13.1 per cent or 2576 vehicles.

VFACTS data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) shows that Australians purchased 15,191 passenger vehicles in April and 46,031 SUVs – both the lowest monthly totals for 2023.

A total of 17,060 light commercial vehicles were sold in the same period – again the lowest monthly total for the year to date – as well as 3855 heavy commercials, which enjoyed their second-best month since the year began.

Viewing passenger, SUV, light- and heavy-commercial vehicle sales in aggregate, we find the SUV market is Australia’s strongest in year-to-date terms with 194,143 units sold. The light commercial sector places second with a tally of 76,338 unit sales, ahead of the 65,410 passenger models registered and 15,218 trucks and buses.

Despite the light commercial segment’s sales slide, the Ford Ranger retained its place as Australia’s best-selling vehicle with 3567 units delivered during April.

The Ranger pipped the second-placed Toyota HiLux by just 41 units, which in turn outsold third-placed Toyota RAV4 (2198 unit sales), fourth-placed Tesla Model Y (2095) and fifth-placed Hyundai i30 (2029).

But Ford’s seemingly singular vehicle focus meant it did not finish the month as Australia’s favourite brand. That honour was again bestowed upon Toyota (with 12,029 sales), which led Mazda (6926) with a margin of 5103 vehicle sales and 6.2 market share points.

Kia placed third for the month of April with 6200 vehicle sales ahead of Hyundai (5732) and Ford (5047).

The VFACTS data shows government and fleet sales increased by 8.1 per cent and 2.9 per cent respectively in April, while rental sales recorded a decline of 11.4 per cent.

Interestingly, but perhaps not unexpectedly, the data also shows that the number of new vehicles sourced from China continues to rise.

Year-to-date, the number of Chinese-made cars sold in Australia has risen by 68.5 per cent, with 13,426 units sold in April alone. Japan remains Australia’s largest source of new vehicles (22,304 in April 2023) ahead of Thailand (15,886) and South Korea (12,952).

On a state-by-state basis, new-vehicle sales in the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, Victoria, and Western Australia increased, while New South Wales, the Northern Territory and Tasmania were all down.

FCAI chief executive Tony Weber noted a strong shift toward vehicular electrification during April.

“Electric vehicles accounted for eight per cent of sales in April. This is well up from 1.1 per cent compared with April 2022,” he said.

“If you take all forms of electrification, that number has increased from 9.5 per cent to 15.4 per cent, and we know that this number would have been larger had the industry not faced global supply challenges.

“It is worth noting that five out of the top ten models sold in April offer some form of electrification.”

Top 10 vehicle sales by make (April 2023):

Top 10 vehicle sales by model (April 2023):

State by state (April 2023):

*All sales data supplied courtesy of the FCAI.