Australia December 2012: Mazda3 and Toyota Camry amaze again

Toyota Camry

* See the Top 25 best-selling models and Top 50 brands by clicking on the title! *

* See the Full Year 2012 post here *

Australian new car sales finish the year on a high: up a massive 16% year-on-year to 95,427 registrations, bringing the Full Year total to a record 1,112,032 sales, up a full 10% on 2011. Topping off an already amazing year, the Mazda3 delivers its highest ever monthly volume in the country in December at 4,649 sales, beating the 4,276 units it sold last September, and 4.9% market share, its second best after the 5.3% it hit last January. The Mazda3 is therefore Australia’s favourite car for the second year running, with sales up 7% to 44,128 units and 4% share.

Nissan Navara

The other great performer this month is without a doubt the Toyota Camry, still boosted by Toyota’s 0% financing offer and up one spot on November to #2 with 3,586 sales and 3.8%. 1,143 or 32% of these are the Hybrid version, more than the Ford Falcon this month… This is the Camry’s best Australian ranking and monthly volume since December 2005 when it was #2 with 3,822 units, and its highest market share since October 2006 (4%). Most remarkably, the Camry is a huge 1,388 units above the Holden Commodore this month and remains the country’s best-selling locally produced model for the third time in a row and only the 4th time ever after January 1995!

For the third month in a row and ever (!), Toyota places 3 models in the Top 4 with the Corolla at #3 with 3.7% share and the Hilux at #4 with 3.3%. The Nissan Navara is up 3 spots on November to reach a best-ever 5th place with 2,691 sales and a record 2.8% share, ahead of the Hyundai i30 back up 5 ranks to #6. The Holden Commodore falls to new lows: down to #7 with 2.3%, its lowest ever monthly share in Australia… Brand-wise, Mazda passes Holden for the third time this year (and ever) with an impressive 10% market share in December.

Full Year post: Australia Full Year 2012: Mazda3 leads again, no local model on the podium for the first time since 1930s

Previous post: Australia: My forecast for 2013

Previous month: Australia November 2012: New gen pushes Toyota Corolla up to #1

One year ago: Australia Full Year 2011: Mazda3 breaks 15 years of Holden Commodore domination

Full December 2012 Top 25 models and Top 50 All-brands Ranking Tables below.