VFACTS: June sales up 25pc

AUSTRALIAN new car buyers took delivery of a considerable 124,926 vehicles over the 25.2 selling days of June, an increase of 24,952 units over the same month last year, or an even 25 per cent sales uptick – and the best June result since 2018.

The numbers equate to an increase of 990.2 vehicle sales per day, with the exact same number of selling days in both June 2023 and June 2022, and represents an 8.2 per cent rise compared with the six-month period of January to June 2022.

According to figures published by the FCAI this week, the Australian new passenger vehicle market is up by 1947 units (+10.6 per cent) over the same month last year, the SUV market rising 16,552 units (+31.5 per cent), the light commercial vehicle market 4981 units (+20.9 per cent) and the heavy commercial vehicle market 1472 units (+28.5 per cent) versus June 2022.

According to FCAI chief executive Tony Weber, the positive June sales would have been higher were supply able to meet demand.

“The end of the financial year has traditionally been a strong month for vehicle sales,” he said.

“Indications from our members are that demand for new vehicles remains solid, but the supply is not yet at a point to meet this demand. To put it simply, if we could have landed more vehicles, this would have been a record June result.

“Also, we will monitor the broader economic conditions and their potential to impact on vehicle purchasing decisions by fleets, businesses and families during the second half of this year.”

Toyota led the Australian market once more in June with a total of 20,948 vehicles sold, leading second-place Mazda by 11,242 units and 9.0 market share points. Mazda sold 9706 vehicles during June, followed by Hyundai (8215), Ford (7753) and Kia (7551).

The Toyota HiLux was again the highest selling model in June with 6142 sales. Tesla’s Model Y recorded 5560 unit sales in June, bumping the Ford Ranger from second place. The Ford Ranger sold 5534 units across the last month of the financial year, ahead of the MG ZS (3756) and Toyota RAV4 (2858).

Mr Weber said the rise in sales of new energy vehicles is an encouraging part of the bigger picture.

“The early adopters of the new powertrain technology continue to push up the sales of electric vehicles across the country,” he said.

“The steady introduction of new battery electric models across all model segments at more competitive price points is critically important as we deal with the challenges of supplying electric vehicles that meet business and personal consumer needs at prices the mainstream buyers can afford.”

Sales of zero- and low-emissions vehicles continued to grow in June, with 16.6 per cent of all vehicles sold having some form of electrification (hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or battery electric).

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for 8.8 per cent of June sales and make up 7.4 per cent of new vehicle sales during the first half of the calendar year.

Sales grew across every Australian state and territory in June excluding the Northern Territory, which recorded 1085 sales, or a reduction of 2.7 per cent compared with the same time last year.

Sales in the Australian Capital Territory increased by 24.9 per cent (+1856 units); New South Wales 15.6 per cent (37,020); Queensland 27.5 per cent (28,029); South Australia 28.3 per cent (7974); Tasmania 22.3 per cent (1923); Victoria 31.8 per cent (33,966); and Western Australia 33.2 per cent (13,073).

Top 10 vehicle sales by make (June 2023):

Top 10 vehicle sales by model (June 2023):

State by state (June 2023):

*All sales data supplied courtesy of the FCAI.