Australia First Half 2016: Hyundai i30 takes charge in record market

The Hyundai i30 is the best-selling vehicle in Australia so far in 2016.

* See the Top 50 All-brands and Top 330 All-models by clicking on the title *

Australia is headed towards a second consecutive record year, with June’s all-time high score pushing the market up 3% to 598.140 units halfway through 2016. Yet this year the gains are credited to business fleets with sales up a flamboyant 16% to 234.175 whereas private sales are down 4.5% to 302.011. Rental sales are up 6.5% to 25,278 and government sales are down 0.7% to 20.911. Passenger cars continue to lose ground at -5% to 247.149 sales, with consumers transfering their purchase towards SUVs up 11% to 222.393 and light commercials such as utes – Australian slang for pickup trucks – up 10% to 112.833. The largest states are New South Wales-Sydney (202.695), Victoria-Melbourne (161.288), Queensland-Brisbane (121.962), Western Australia-Perth (51.925), South Australia-Adelaide (36.019), ACT-Canberra (9.575), Tasmania-Hobart (8.787) and Northern Territory-Darwin (5.889). All states are up except Western Austraia (-4%) where the mining boom has died down and Tasmania (-3%). Cars sold in Australia come from Japan (166.946), Thailand (142.010), South Korea (83.387), Germany (44.728), Australia (40.663, down 12%), the U.S. (27.298) and England (18.503).

The Toyota Hilux is up 13% to 2nd place overall so far this year. 

Brand-wise, Toyota is once again at the helm but sees its market share erode slightly from 17.5% a year ago to 17.1% so far in 2016. Mazda (+8%) stays 2nd and crosses the symbolic 10% market share barrier at 10.2% thanks to 60.973 sales while Hyundai (+8%) overtakes Holden (-7%) to snap the third step of the podium with 54.350 units and 9.1% share. Ford impresses with volumes up 15% to 40.383, even outpacing its archenemy Holden in April. Volkswagen (-7%) underperforms but Subaru (+11%) is robust again while Kia breaks into the Top 10 thanks to deliveries up a splendid 28%. Below, Mercedes (+16%), BMW (+25%), Isuzu Ute (+12%), Land Rover (+37%), Volvo (+24%) and Porsche (+27%) all post double-digit gains while among smaller brands Jaguar (+183%) and LDV (+242%) take off. Peugeot (-18%), Renault (-19%), Fiat (-49%) and most strikingly Jeep (-51%) sink.

The Ford Ranger is up 29% to #5. 

The biggest surprise of the year in Australia is the roaring arrival of the Hyundai i30 atop the models ranking with sales up a fantastic 45% year-on-year to 22.857, swooshing past traditional market leaders the Toyota Corolla at 20.544 (-6%) and Mazda3 at 20.088 (-2%). Thesehese two nameplates both have a sedan in their lineup, so to compare apples with apples, 2.517 Elantra sales should also be added, lifting the Hyundai’s total to 25.374. Boosted by a $19.990 with free auto discount, the i30 has transformed what was an anomaly a year ago – being the most popular vehicle in Australia – into a routine: it has led the charts for four consecutive months between March and June.

The Hyundai Tucson lands directly at #12 in Australia. 

However, Hyundai Australia doesn’t believe the i30 will keep the pole position until the end of 2016. Interviewed by local media outlet Car Advice, COO Scott Grant admitted that the supply will start to tighten over the last quarter of the year as the Korean factory kick-starts production of the all-new i30 in October, but the model will not reach Australian shores before April 2017. When asked if it was a distinct goal for Hyundai to top the sales charts with the i30, Grant said: “Not really. We haven’t set that target, we don’t discuss it internally. It has created that opportunity, and we’re happy to say it’s the best-selling car.” This is a typically Australian way of saying Of course. Faced with the same questions, Mazda – when the 3 hit #1 – and Toyota – when the Corolla did so answered similarly.

The Ford Mustang immediately shot to the top of the sports car segment in Australia. 

The second place in the models charts is another surprise: the Toyota Hilux is helped up 13% by its new generation to 21.171 units, but this performance hides a very intense battle with the Ford Ranger, up 29% to rank within Australia’s Top 5 for the first time at 18.199 deliveries. The Ranger even outsold the Hilux outright in January, and its 4×4 variant outsold the Hilux 4×4 in April and June. The Mazda CX-5 holds onto its toitle of best-selling SUV in Australia with sales up 1% to 12.593 units and one spot better in 7th place. It distances the Toyota RAV4 up 6% to 9.728 and the Hyundai Tucson, an instant blockbuster here at #12 overall and 9.609 deliveries – the exact same ranking its predecessor the ix35 was holding exactly a year ago.

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

The Mazda CX-3 is up 120% to #15, the Hyundai Accent up 102% to lead its segment (like the i30!), the Subaru Forester up 26$% and the Honda HR-V up 30%. Other successful new launches include the Suzuki Vitara (#54), Mercedes GLC (#57), Mitsubishi Pajero Sport (#61), Ford Mustang (#63) – now the most popular sports car in Australia – Toyota Fortuner (#73), Ford Everest (#81), Mercedes GLE (#96) and Jaguar XE (#126).

Previous month: Australia June 2016: Hyundai i30 tops biggest month ever

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

Full H1 2016 Top 50 All-brands and Top 330 All-models vs. Full H1 2015 figures below.