Australia August 2015: Hyundai overtakes Holden year-to-date

The Hyundai Tucson has just landed on Australian shores.

* EXCLUSIVE! Now updated with the Top 292 All-models and Top 50 All-brands *

Despite its local currency freefalling, the Australian new car market is still on track for a record year in 2015, with both August and year-to-date sales up 3% year-on-year to 90.705 and 761.440 units respectively. Below Toyota down a worrying 7% to 16% market share vs. 17.4% year-to-date, Hyundai is the hero of the month at #2 with sales up 11% to 9.505 units and 10.5% share, distancing Mazda at 10.1% (+22%) and Holden at 8.7% (-9%). This score enables the Korean manufacturer to overtake local behemoth Holden and snap the third spot year-to-date at 68.115 sales (+2%) vs. 67.502 (-9%). It is the first time since the launch of the Holden brand in 1948 that it does not appear on the Australian YTD podium, and the first time in Australian history that a year-to-date is 100% Asian (Toyota-Mazda-Hyundai). Momentous times indeed.

Australian Porsche sales are up 63% in August.

Mitsubishi (+7%) passes Ford (-22%) for 5th place, while Volkswagen (+18%), Subaru and Honda (both at +16%) clearly outperform the market in the Top 10. German luxury brands are still gearing up significantly, with Mercedes up 25% year-on-year to #11, BMW up 10% to #13 and Audi up 21% to #14. Kia (+50%), Lexus (+59%) and Porsche (+63%) take off, with Land Rover (+24%), Isuzu (+35%) also lodging spectacular gains. At the other end of the scale, the honeymoon period linked to the “I bought a Jeep” advertising campaign is over for the American manufacturer, down a harsh 35% year-on-year to #15, Fiat is down 36%, Alfa Romeo down 49% and Great Wall down 95% just as the local launch of the Chinese carmaker’s SUV brand Haval got delayed, leaving LDV (95 sales) and Foton (84) to lead a meagre Chinese contingent.

The new Ford Ranger is now available in Australia.

The Toyota Corolla is the best-selling model in Australia for the 5th time so far this year at 3.050 sales (-6%), cementing its year-to-date leadership over the Mazda3 at 2.673 units (-14%) in August. Thanks to aggressive deals, the Holden Commodore is back up 5 spots on July to round up the podium, yet its sales are still down 9% on a year ago. Going against the grain of the brand’s stellar achievement this month, the Hyundai i30 drops 21% to #4, while the Ford Ranger is up 4 ranks to #5 with the help of its new generation but closes a Top 5 all in decline year-on-year. The Toyota Camry is boosted 24% by the new model above the Mitsubishi Triton (+11%), Mazda CX-5 (+20%) and Hyundai ix35 in runout model (+36%). Awaiting the new generation due in dealerships in October, the Toyota Hilux falls to a paltry – but temporary – 10th place and only 3rd best-selling ute.

The Mazda CX-3 ranks at a world-best #12 this month in Australia.

Outside the Top 10, the Mazda CX-3 confirms its blockbuster status by gaining 5 spots on July to reach #12 thanks to 1.595 sales and 1.9% share, the Hyundai Accent shoots up 21 spots to #18, the Honda HR-V is up one to #21, the Hyundai Veloster is up 68 to a brilliant 42nd position, the Hyundai Tucson is up 89 to #64, the Audi A1 up 76 to #74, Ford Mondeo up 33 to #85 and the Jaguar XE lands at #176 with 60 units sold for its first month in the Australian market.

Previous month: Australia July 2015: Mazda boosted above 10% share by CX-3 and CX-5

One year ago: Australia August 2014: Toyota Corolla takes tiny steps towards 2014 top spot

Full August 2015 Top 292 All-models and Top 50 All-brands below.