Australia September 2012: Mazda3 & Hyundai i30 at record heights

Mazda3

* NOW UPDATED with the Top 30 best-selling models! Click on title to see *

* There is also a 9 months 2012 Top 293 models ranking available here *

New car sales in Australia continue to fare very well thanks, up 9% year-on-year both in September at 94,627 units and year-to-date at 822,674, and still on track to beat the all-time Full Year sales record set in 2007. Well my long article about the rise and rise of the Toyota Hilux must have jinxed it: in September and after 5 consecutive months of Hilux reign, the Mazda3 flamboyantly reclaims the pole position in the Australian models ranking with a best-ever 4,276 sales and 4.5% share, beating its monthly volume record of 4,234 set in August 2011.

Mazda lodges its best-ever month in Australia and first time above 10,000 monthly sales

It is the 4th time the Mazda3 tops the Australian ranking in 2012 after January, February and March and the 7th time ever after January 2009, June 2011 and August 2011. The Mazda3’s advantage over the Hilux year-to-date is now a sightly more comfortable (but not definitive) 1,370 units at 32,424 vs. 31,064. In fact, Mazda delivers its best-ever month in 50+ years of presence in Australia, ranking #2 brand behind Toyota but ahead of Holden for the 2nd time in history (after last April) with 10,093 sales and 10.7% share, the brand’s first time above 10,000 monthly units. It is also the first time a full-line importer sells over 10,000 units in Australia. The Mazda CX-5 holding its spot in the Top 10 for the 2nd consecutive time at #10 with a record 1.9% share and the Mazda2 at a strong #11 have helped.

Hyundai i30

Boosted by the new generation of the model now widely available in the country, the Hyundai i30 is up 4 spots on August to land at a best-ever third place with 3,144 sales and 3.3%. It is only the 2nd time the i30 ever ranks #3 in Australia after March 2009 when it sold a record 3,678 units for a 3.9% share. This is also the i30’s third highest monthly volume after March 2009 and June 2011 (3,197).

Mitsubishi Triton

The Toyota Corolla is in runout mode at #4 and 3.3%, while the Holden Commodore stays #5 but is down 32% year-on-year and the Holden Cruze disappoints at #8, down 37%. Overall Holden is down 18% on September 2011. Helped by heavy promotions, the Mitsubishi Triton clocks in its best monthly result in almost 3 years (since December 2009), up 9 ranks on last month to #6 with 2,326 sales and 2.5%.

The Opel Astra is already Opel’s best-seller in Australia

September 2012 is also the very first month of sales for German brand Opel in Australia. And the results are here: 174 registrations for the brand across the country, 100 Astras, 44 Insignias and 30 Corsas, making Opel the #28 brand below Dodge and above Fiat, Citroen and Porsche (see the entire brand ranking here). Still way to early to give it a thumbs up or down, but as a reminder the ‘unofficial’ annual sales target for Opel Australia is 15,000 by 2015/2016. In the meantime you can check out my article about Opel’s launch in Australia here.

Previous post: Australia: The rise and rise of the Toyota Hilux

Previous month: Australia August 2012: Toyota Hilux leads for 5th time, Mazda CX-5 in Top 10

One year ago: Australia September 2011: Toyota Corolla on top

Full September 2012 Top 30 Ranking Table below.