VFACTS: A new record for September

AUSTRALIAN new vehicle sales continue to grow with FCAI data showing a year-on-year increase of 18.3 per cent for the month of September, and a total of 110,702 new vehicles sold and a new September record.

There were 25.6 selling days in September 2023, one more than the same time last year, resulting in an increase of 521.2 vehicle sales per day.

Broadly, sales of all vehicle types were up, including a 6.4 per cent passenger vehicle market uptick of 1121 deliveries over the same month last year; the SUV market up 14,409 units (or 29.0 per cent); the light commercial vehicle market up by 1541 sales (or 6.9 per cent) and the heavy commercial vehicle market up 76 vehicles (or 1.8 per cent) versus September 2022.

Toyota was again Australia’s best-selling marque with 20,912 unit sales, followed by Mazda (8031), Ford (8015), Kia (7303) and Hyundai (6217). Toyota led Mazda by a margin of 12,881 vehicles sales (or 11.6 market share points), with the HiLux again Australia’s best-selling vehicle with 5776 sales.

Other popular models for the month of September included the Ford Ranger (5429), Tesla Model Y (3811), Isuzu Ute D-Max (2885), and Toyota RAV4.

Tesla’s third-place position in September shows growing acceptance of new energy vehicles in Australia with battery electric vehicles now accounting for 8.0 per cent of all new cars sold. Electrified models (BEV, HEV, and PHEV) now account for 18.3 of all new vehicles sold locally.

Sales across every State and Territory increased this month compared with September 2022.

With such high sales – and assuming trends continue unabated – Australia could easily top the 1.1 million sales mark come December 31.

Heavy hitters to date in 2023 include Toyota with 154,659 unit sales (down 12.3 per cent from 176,410 this time last year), Mazda with 75,220 unit sales (up 1.8 per cent from 73,894), Ford with 61,204 unit sales (up 34.6 per cent from 45,475), Kia with 59,123 unit sales (down 1.8 per cent from 60,200), and Hyundai with 56,958 unit sales (down 2.0 per cent from 58,103).

Sales in the Australian Capital Territory were up 20.6 per cent (1806), New South Wales 24.3 per cent (35,968), Queensland 13.5 per cent (23,415), South Australia 11.2 per cent (6676), Tasmania 21.0 per cent (1972), Victoria 16.0 per cent (29,426), Western Australia 22.4 per cent (10,577), and Northern Territory 3.6 per cent (862).

According to FCAI chief executive, Tony Weber, the record sales in September come on top of similar records set over the past four or five months, taking the total of new cars registered in Australia to date in 2023 to almost 900,000.

“The record result shows that Australian car buyers value a broad choice of vehicles in a range of price brackets that suit the family or business budget,” said Mr Weber.

“Consumers have a choice of vehicles across 20 light vehicle segments – from small passenger cars through to larger utes – confirming Australia’s position as one of the most open and competitive new vehicle markets in the world.

“Our advice is that the supply of vehicles into Australia, including electric vehicles, continues to improve so those consumers who want to buy a new vehicle should visit a dealer or manufacturer.”

Top 10 vehicle sales by make (September 2023):

Top 10 vehicle sales by model (September 2023):

State by state (September 2023):