Motoring
Andrea Matthews
Posted July 18, 2024
Sales of brand new cars in Australia have set a record pace in the first half 2024, with small, medium, hybrid and PHEVs, and SUVs the big winners.
Australian new car sales have continued at a record pace in 2024 with half year deliveries of 632,412 vehicles beating 2018’s record of 605,522, according to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI).
However, the new car market may be starting to slow. While June is a traditionally strong month for end of financial year deals, 119,659 sales were recorded for June 2024, down 4.2 per cent compared to the same month last year.
Hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles have been the big winners of 2024, with sales up 113 and 130 per cent respectively compared to the first half of 2023.
The Toyota RAV4 is Australia's best-selling SUV so far in 2024.
What is the best-selling car in Australia in 2024?
The Ford Ranger isAustralia’s best-selling vehiclefor the first half of 2024, with 33,531 total sales for the year to date.
Three of the best four selling cars in Australia so far in 2024 are utes, while the Toyota Corolla is the only hatch or sedan to feature in the top 10, underlining buyer preference for small and medium SUVs, and utes.
Best selling vehicles in Australia: January – June 2024
- Ford Ranger - 33,531
- Toyota HiLux - 28,515
- Toyota RAV4 -25,405
- Isuzu Ute D-Max -15,829
- Mitsubishi Outlander -14,443
- Toyota Corolla -13,179
- Tesla Model Y -12,516
- Mazda CX-5 -11,920
- MG ZS -11,809
- Ford Everest -11,276
What is the best-selling electric car in Australia in 2024?
50,219 battery electric cars have been sold so far in 2024, making up around 8 per cent of the total new car market - up from 43,092 vehicles for the same period last year.
Tesla and BYD continue to account for the vast majority of electric car sales in Australia, while BMW is now the country's third biggest seller of EVs thanks to the success of the iX1 small compact SUV and i4 medium sedan.
The Tesla Model Y remains Australia’s best-selling EV, reflecting its success as 2023's world's best-selling car.
The updated Tesla Model 3 has found over 10,000 buyers year to date, but saw sales decline by 8.4 per cent compared to the first half of 2023.
More:Australia's cheapest electric cars for sale
Best-selling electric cars in Australia: January – June 2024
- Tesla Model Y - 12,516
- Tesla Model 3 - 10,600
- BYD Seal - 4,092
- BYD Atto 3 - 3,726
- MG4 - 2,771
- BYD Dolphin - 1,248
- BMW iX1 - 1,237
- BMW i4 - 1,177
- Kia EV6 - 1,060
- Volvo EX30 - 1,001
The Tesla Model Y is Australia's best-selling medium SUV over $60K and best-selling electric car.
Improved supply of new cars helps Toyota sales grow
Toyota has improved its share of new car sales in Australia significantly in 2024. So far this year, Toyota has sold 121,301 vehicles to achieve a market share of 19.2 per cent, selling 29,066 more cars so far this year than in the same period in 2023.
Toyota also become the first manufacturer to sell over 100,000 hybrid vehicles in a financial year, with 100,761 hybrids sold between July 2023 and June 2024.
Improved supply has seen the Toyota Corolla and Toyota RAV4 increase sales by over 30 per cent so far in 2024, with hybrids proving so popular that Toyota recently announced it will stop placing orders for petrol only vehicles where a hybrid equivalent is available.
Toyota new car wait times as of July 2024
- Toyota C-HR: 3 months
- Toyota RAV4: 4 months
- Toyota HiLux: 3-4 months
- Toyota Corolla and Yaris Cross: 5-6 months
- Toyota Landcruiser 300: less than 6 months
- Toyota Kluger and Toyota Yaris: 7-8 months
Ford sales dominated by Ranger and Everest
On the second spot of the sales podium is Ford with total sales of 49,622 for the half year, up 30 per cent over the same period last year. Ford sales are skewed significantly by the Ranger ute and Ranger-based Everest SUV, which combined represent around 90 per cent of all Ford sales.
Lagging behind on EV sales is the Ford Mustang Mach-E which has so far sold 326 units for the year. The Mustang Mach-E is currently on sale from $77,268 drive away for the Select rear wheel drive model equipped with a 72kWh battery for a claimed 470km range.
Mazda Australia is currently sitting on the third step of the sales podium so far in 2024 with total sales of 48,547 - down 3.7 per cent on 2023. Mazda sales are well distributed across its broad range, with its long standing Mazda CX-5 SUV sustaining strong performance as the country's fourth best-selling SUV.
Which are the fastest growing car brands in Australia?
New brands to Australia continued to grow sales in the first half of 2024, with Chinese manufacturer Chery recording 166 per cent growth. Chery launched in Australia less than eighteen months ago and already has three SUVs on sale here.
The Chery OMODA 5, TIGGO 7 Pro and seven seat Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max collectively sold over 1000 units in June, with the brand also ticking over 10,000 sales since launch. Chery expects to increase sales further when it introduces its first electric vehicle, the OMODA E5, later this year.
Fellow Chinese brand BYD Automotive also celebrated strong sales growth of 54.1 per cent following the first month of sales data for its plug-in hybrid medium SUV, the BYD Sealion 6. BYD Automotive has committed to introducing a vehicle in each major sales segment, with a larger SUV and the BYD Shark ute expected to join the line-up in the near future.
The Toyota HiLux continues to battle the Ford Ranger for the title of Australia's best-selling car.
Which vehicles and segments are seeing sales growth in 2024?
Some new car segments that have fallen out of favour with car shoppers in recent years have bounced back in 2024 thanks to the arrival of new brands and electric vehicles.
Small cars
In the first half of 2024, small car sales are up 33 per cent as consumers seek more affordable vehicles, and fleets return to the market.
While small car sales were impacted favourably by increased availability of the Toyota Corolla (13,179 sales year to date) and a big spike in sales for the value-driven Kia Cerato (8219 sales year to date), they were also supported by falling prices of electric cars including the MG4(2771 sales year to date),and theGWM Ora, now Australia's cheapest EV(592 sales year to date).
Best-selling small carsin Australia: January - June 2024
- Small cars <$40K: Toyota Corolla, Kia Cerato, Hyundai i30
- Small cars >$40K: MG4, Subaru WRX, Audi A3
Medium cars
Medium cars are up 29 per cent, reflecting increased supply of the Toyota Camry (10,788 sales year to date), which is neck and neck in sales with the electric Tesla Model 3 (10,600 sales year to date), 2023's sales champion in this segment.
Making an impact on medium car sales is the svelteBYD Sealmid-size electric sedan, which has already sold 4092 vehicles so far in 2024 after just seven months on sale.
Best-selling medium cars in Australia: January - June 2024
- Medium sedan <$60K: Toyota Camry, BYD Seal, Mazda6
- Medium sedan>$60K: Tesla Model 3, BMW 3 Series, BMW i4
Small SUVs
Sales of small SUVs have grown 15.8 per cent for the year, up 12,642 vehicles on the first half of 2023. The small SUV segment is now firmly positioned as the third best-selling vehicle type in Australia, behind medium SUVs and light commercial vehicles.
Fast-growing models in the small SUV segment include the new Hyundai Kona and Subaru Crosstrek.
Best-selling small SUVsin Australia: January - June 2024
- SUV small < $45K:MG ZS,Hyundai Kona,GWM Haval Jolion
- SUV small > $45K:Audi Q3,BMW X1,Volvo XC40
More: Australia's best small and compact SUVs
Medium SUVs
Improved supply of the Toyota RAV4 (up 88 per cent year to date) coupled with the ongoing success of the Tesla Model Y saw over 130,000 mid-size SUVs sold in the first half of 2024, almost 10 per cent higher than the same period last year.
Other big winner seeing improved supply from Japan is the Mitsubishi Outlander, which includes anexcellent plug-in hybrid variantin its line-up.
Best-selling medium SUVs in Australia: January - June 2024
- SUV medium < $60K: Toyota RAV4, Mitsubishi Outlander,Mazda CX-5
- SUV medium > $60K: Tesla Model Y, Lexus NX, Mazda CX-60
More: Australia's best medium SUVs
4x4 and 4x2 utes
The 4x4 ute segment continued to show solid growth of 14 per cent in sub $100,000 category, thanks to increased sales of the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux and Isuzu D-Max. 4x2 workhorse sales were also down 9.2 per cent, while sales of 4x4 utes priced above $100,000 fell 11.4 per cent.
Best-selling 4x2 and 4x4 utes in Australia: January - June 2024
- 4x2 utes: Toyota HiLux, Isuzu Ute D-Max, Ford Ranger
- 4x4 utes: Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux, Isuzu Ute D-Max
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