Australia 1991: Toyota becomes #1 carmaker for the first time

Toyota is #1 in Australia for the first time in 1991

* See the Top 15 brands and Top 50 models by clicking on the title *

Very tough year for new car sales in Australia, down 17% year-on-year to 514.566 registrations, the worst annual result since the disastrous 1987 and the 2nd weakest total in exactly 20 years, since 1972. It’s a historical year however, the first one a Japanese manufacturer manages to top the Australian annual brands sales charts: Toyota is down 14% but snaps the top spot for the first time with 110.578 sales and 21.5% vs. 106.109 and 20.6% for Ford (-24%) which had been #1 in Australia since 1982 without interruption. It was a no surprise victory, with Toyota astonishingly ranking #1 every single month of the year whereas before 1991 it had only achieved one single monthly pole position: in October 1990.

1991 Holden Commodore

Mitsubishi (-11%) reclaims the 4th spot overall from Nissan (-29%), Mazda (-2%) and Daihatsu (+11%) camp on their positions, Subaru overtakes Honda for #8 and Hyundai returns inside the Top 10 thanks to sales up a fantastic 44% to a record 10.188 – the first time a Korean manufacturer sells 5-digit annual figures in Australia. In the luxury race, BMW (4.219) annihilates Volvo (2.624) and Mercedes (2.007).

Ford EA Falcon

For the first time I can share with you a full annual Top 50 models ranking including commercial vehicles and 4WDs thanks to David, showing the Holden Commodore in pole position for the third year in a row at 10.1% share vs. 9.5% for the Ford Falcon. The entire Top 9 best-sellers display double-digit decline rates, and below the Ford Laser at #3, the Toyota Camry manages to pass the Mitsubishi Magna for #4 overall. The Daihastu Charade bucks the trend with sales up 14% to break into the annual Australian Top 10 for the first time and the Hyundai Excel up a fantastic 44% hits a best-ever #13 in 1991.

Previous year: Australia 1990: Holden Commodore takes the advantage

Next year: Australia 1992: Ford Falcon passes Commodore for 191 units!

Full Year 1991 Top 15 brands and Top 50 models Ranking Tables below.