Australia June 2016: Hyundai i30 tops biggest month ever

The Hyundai i30 posts the strongest sales month of any nameplate in Australia in 11 years. 

* Now updated with the Top 50 All-brands and Top 286 All-models by clicking on the title *

The political campaign leading to the federal election at the end of the month was feared to have disrupted new car sales in Australia in June, but the contrary ended up being true. The Australian market is up 2% year-on-year to break a new all-time monthly record at 128.569 units. Passenger cars hold 41.9% of the market, SUVs 35.8% and light commercials 19.6%. As is traditionally the case in June – the end of the financial year in Australia – business fleets are particularly strong: they gain 11% to 46.162 when private sales actually decline by 2% to 70.015 as do rental sales down 2% to 5.170 and government sales down 3% to 3.653.

Looking at market evolution by state, the biggest gains are recorded in the ACT (+13% to 2.133), Victoria (+5% to 34.262), South Australia (+5% to 7.613), Northern Territory (+4% to 1.240) and New South Wales (+3% to 43.449). Queensland sales are stable at 27.270 but Tasmania (1.853) and Western Australia (10.749) are both down 7%. The most frequent country provenance of cars sold in Australia in June is Japan (-1% to 34.017), Thailand (+7% to 31.848), South Korea (+23% to 20.765), Australia (+2% to 9.857), Germany (-6% to 8.695) and the U.S. (-24% to 5.257).

Thanks to the new Picanto and Cerato, Kia gains 41% and ranks 10th brand.

One year ago the Hyundai i30 surprised the entire industry by finishing on top, at the time posting the biggest monthly total in 8 years at 5.521 sales. Since, the i30 has transformed this fluke into a routine and in June it is the best-selling vehicle in Australia for the 4th consecutive month and the 6th time in the past 13 months. Its score, at 6.432 sales, up 16.5% on a year ago, is the biggest monthly volume for any nameplate in Australia since June 2005 when the Holden Commodore found 6.837 new homes. In fact, this result makes the Hyundai i30 only the third nameplate in the past 15 years to have scored at least one 6.000+ sales month, along with the legendary Ford Falcon (record at 6.923 in June 2003) and, again, the Holden Commodore (9.667 in October 2002). This score propels the i30 into the year-to-date pole position for the first time, a feat we detail in a separate H1 2016 update.

Toyota remains the most popular manufacturer in the country by far, following the market at +3% to 22.083 units and 17.2% share. The Japanese carmaker distances Mazda up 8% to 12.455 and 9.7% share and Hyundai up a splendid 12% to 12.300 and 9.6%. Holden (-5%) and Mitsubishi (-3%) follow but skid while Ford (+15%) continues to surge thanks to the Ranger, outselling the Hilux in its 4×4 variant this month. Kia (+41%), Subaru (+14%), BMW (+16%), Land Rover (+30%), Chinese LDV (+174%) and Jaguar (+209%) all post solid gains, whereas Isuzu Ute (-12%), Volkswagen (-16%), Peugeot (-30%), Volvo (-35%), Jeep (-55%) and Renault (-58%) crumble.

Previous month: Australia May 2016: Hyundai i30 leads, 133 units off YTD top spot

One year ago: Australia June 2015: Hyundai i30 surprise leader in record market

Full June 2016 Top 50 All-brands and Top 286 All-models below.