Australia 1st Half 2015: Mazda graduates to #2 in record market

The new Triton helps lift Mitsubishi up to 5th place overall in the brands charts.

* See the Top 50 All-brands and Top 303 All-models by clicking on the title *

Australia is the first of a special series on BSCB covering the Top 20 worldwide market in detail for the 1st Half of 2015. New car sales in Australia are up 3% year-on-year so far in 2015 to an all-time high of 578.427 deliveries, beating the previous best of 573.711 sales hit in 2013. 2015 is therefore on track to be the best year in history in Australia, with the 2013 record of 1.136.227 registrations in the balance. We are witnessing momentous shifts in the Australian brands ranking that are the result of the announcement over a year ago that all local manufacturers (Toyota, Holden and Ford) will cease operations by end-2016. If Toyota keeps the pole position by far it sees its market share thaw from 18% a year ago to 17.5% so far in 2015 with sales up just 1% to 101.084.

Mazda is up 9% to just under 10% market share in Australia.

Reversely, full importer Mazda jumps 9% to finish the period just below 10% market share at 56.591 deliveries, historically and frankly outpacing Holden down 9% to 51,737 units and 8.9% share. Mazda is running from success to success in Australia – one of its strongest markets in the world – choosing it as the first overseas country for the CX-3 (it is already #43 over H1) and continuing strong sales of the Mazda3 (#2) and Mazda2 (#17 and leader in its segment). Hyundai lurks just behind Holden at 8.7% (+1%) and, if long-term trends are to be followed, should overtake Holden by the time 2015 comes to an end. The Korean manufacturer is going through an image change with the Genesis gathering pace (#182) and a historical win for the i30 in June when it was the outright best-seller in the country.

Foton stops 9 units short off a Top 30 ranking in H1 2015.

Helped by the new generation Triton (#7) and a revived ASX (#26), Mitsubishi leaps 10% year-on-year to 5th overall in the brands charts, overtaking Ford (-17%), while Volkswagen (+14%) is now threatening Nissan (-1%) for #7 overall. Honda delivers the largest year-on-year improvement in the Top 10 at +33% mainly thanks to the HR-V, already the brand’s best-seller over the period at #32. Further down, Mercedes (+25%), BMW (+16%), Audi (+17%), Isuzu (+30%), Suzuki (+14%), Renault (+34%) and Lexus (+25%) shine in the Top 20. Skoda (+30%), Porsche (+59%) and Mini (+61%) impress below. Just as Great Wall (-93%) and Chery (-55%) disintegrate and before Haval launches, we welcome two new Chinese manufacturers: Foton at #31 and LDV at #36.

The Nissan X-Trail is up to #13 so far in Australia.

In the models ranking, the Toyota Corolla keeps the lead above the Mazda3, Toyota Hilux and Hyundai i30 like in 2014, the Ford Ranger outpaces the Holden Commodore for the first time, the Mitsubishi Triton makes it 3 utes (Australian for pickup truck) in the Top 7 – along with the Holden Colorado (#11), Mazda BT-50 (#19) and Isuzu D-Max (#20) there are 6 in the Top 20 vs. just 4 one year ago. The Mazda CX-5 once again leads the booming SUV segment, improving its ranking to #8 and followed by the Hyundai ix35 (#12), Nissan X-Trail (#13), Toyota RAV4 (#14), Prado (#16) and Kluger (#21). The Subaru Outback at #30 vs. #103 in FY2014 and Liberty at #72 vs. #151 sign two of the most impressive improvements in the Top 100 thanks to much sharper pricing.

Previous post: Australia 2nd Quarter 2015: Toyota Hilux #1, Mazda CX-3 shoots up

June post: Australia June 2015: Hyundai i30 surprise leader in record market

Q1 2015 post: Australia 1st Quarter 2015: Mazda2 soars to segment lead

FY 2014 post: Australia Full Year 2014: Toyota Corolla holds onto top spot

One year ago: Australia June 2014: Toyota Corolla #1, Mitsubishi Triton breaks records

Full H1 2015 Top 50 All-brands and Top 303 All-models below.