Australia 1996: Commodore @ record 12.8%, Hyundai Excel #3

Holden Commodore

* See the Top 50 best-selling models by clicking on the title! Many thanks to David *

New car sales in Australia improve again in 1996 at 650,049 registrations, albeit only up 1% year-on-year. This year the Holden Commodore takes a firm grip on the Australian pole position, a grip it will only release in 15 years time when the Mazda3 takes the lead of the Australian car market in 2011… In 1996 the Commodore sells 83,001 units and reaches what will remain its highest ever annual market share at a stratospheric 12.8%. The Ford Falcon is down 4% and one spot to #2 to a still very respectable 12% share thanks to 77,835 units sold.

Hyundai Excel (US version)

The event of the year is the astonishing arrival of the seemingly unstoppable Hyundai Excel on the Australian podium, up a further 36% on 1995 to reach 35,308 sales and 5.4% share… In fact 1996 is the year of the Koreans, with the Daewoo 1.5i/Cielo up 5 spots to break into the annual Top 10 at #10 with 10,405 units and 1.6% while the Hyundai Lantra is up 62% to #22 and the Hyundai Sonata is up 53% to #26… Other great performers this year include the Holden Ute up 18% to #14, the Honda Civic up 33% to #15, the Ford Ute up 17% to #17 and the Toyota RAV4 up 43% to #32.

Previous year: Australia 1995: Last year of reign for Ford Falcon – hits 12.7%

Next year: Australia 1997: Commodore and Falcon down, Kia lands

Full Year 1996 Top 50 Ranking Table below.