Australia October 2012: Toyota Camry #1 locally-built model for 2nd time in history after January 1995 UPDATED

Toyota Camry 

* NOW UPDATED with the Top 25 best-selling models and Top 50 All-brands ranking *

The Australian new car market is on fire again in October: up 12% year-on-year to 95,584 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 918,258 units, up 10% on 2011 and now almost certain to beat the all-time Full Year record of 1,049,982 sales set in 2007. Toyota has a stellar month, placing 3 models in the Australian monthly Top 4 for potentially the first time ever and monopolising the Top 2 for the first time since October 2011. Passed by the Mazda3 last month, the Toyota Hilux is back in pole position in October and for the 6th time in the last 7 months with 3,403 sales and 3.6%. However its advantage over the 3 (61 units) is not large enough to get the Hilux much closer to the #1 spot year-to-date at 34,467 sales and 3.8% vs. 35,776 and 3.9% for the Mazda 3, down to #3 in October.

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The big event this month is the second place of the Toyota Camry with 3,379 sales and 3.5%, making it the best-selling locally produced model for only the second time in history after January 1995. The Camry has benefitted from the “Local Pride” campaign where Toyota encouraged people to buy Australian-built cars by offering 0% finance. It beats the Holden Commodore (#6 at 2,449 units) and the Holden Cruze (#8 with 2,251 sales). This is also the Camry’s best Australian ranking overall and monthly volume since December 2005 when it ranked #2 with 3,822 units and 5% share, and its highest market share since December 2010 (3.7%).

Holden Colorado. Picture by The Motor Report

The Toyota Corolla experiences a transition month, with the new generation of the model launched on October 22, and ranks #4 with 3.1% share, followed by the Hyundai i30 down 2 spots on last month to #5 at a still respectable 3% of the market. The VW Golf is up 5 ranks to a fantastic 7th place with 2,436 sales and 2.5%. It’s the Golf’s second incursion in the Aussie Top 10 this year after June (#7) and its 6th ever after May 2011 (#7), June 2011 (#4), September 2011 (#10) and October 2011 (#3).

VW Up!

The Ford Ranger (#9) is the brand’s best-seller again ahead of the Focus, while the Holden Colorado is up 3 spots to #11 with 2,082 sales and 2.2%, simply its best score ever! Further down, the Mitsubishi Outlander enjoys a very successful runout month, up to #13 with 1,523 sales and 1.6% vs. #43 and 0.7% year-to-date, and leading the SUV segment. The Toyota GT86 is up 182% on September to 335 sales while the VW Up! sells 306 units for its second month of presence in the Australian market, already outselling the VW Polo…

Lamborghini Aventador 

Brand-wise, Toyota is still head and shoulders above the competition with 19.4% share, Holden is back to #2 at 10.7% while Ford is back on the podium at 8.8% share with sales up 21% year-on-year. Mazda is down to #4 at 8.1% followed by Hyundai at 7.9% while Nissan excels at +22% in 6th place. Volkswagen passes Mitsubishi again at #7, Kia is up 65%, Jeep up 144% and BMW up 43%. Opel ranks #30 for its 2nd month of presence in the country with 105 sales (69 Astras, 25 Insignias and 11 Corsas) while Infiniti is #38 at 13 units. Prestige brands impress: Lamborghini is up 700%, Bentley up 300% and Ferrari up 33%!

Previous post: Australia 9 months 2012: Now with Top 293 All-models ranking!

Previous month: Australia September 2012: Mazda3 and Hyundai i30 at record heights

One year ago: Australia October 2011: VW Golf on podium!

Full October 2012 Top 25 models and Top 50 brands Ranking Tables below.