Australia August 2017: Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger top record market

The Toyota Hilux is the best-selling vehicle in Australia for the 6th time in a row. Picture caradvice.com.au

* NOW UPDATED with the Top 50 All-brands and Top 220 All-models *

The Australian new vehicle market is up 1.8% year-on-year in August to 96.662 units, a new record for the month – and the 4th consecutive record month – lifting the year-to-date total up 0.6% to a record 788.968 sales after eight months. Private sales are up 3.7% to 45.439, business sales down 3.3% to 37.460, rental sales up a whopping 16.3% to 7.213 and government sales down 1.5% to 3.281. SUVs, up 4.7%,  keep the lead with a strong 39.4% share vs. 37.% for passenger cars down 8.2% and 20.2% for light commercials including pickups, up a brilliant 16.7%. All states and territories except Tasmania are up in August, with ACT (+9.4%), Western Australia (rallying back up 4.2%) and Queensland (+3.5%) the best performers. As for vehicle provenance, Japan dominates with 27.429 sales followed by Thailand (24.191), South Korea (14.494), Germany (7.240) and Australia (5.049).

Australian Subaru sales are up 36.2% year-on-year in August. 

In the brands ranking, Toyota skids down 0.7% to solidly hold onto the top spot at a strong 19.2% share, well over double any other manufacturer in the market. Mazda is down 8.1% to 8.8% and Hyundai returns to growth with an impressive 19.3% gain to 8.1% share in third place. Holden (-8.9%), Mitsubishi (+8.4%) and Ford (-3%) follow. Below, a trio of double-digit gainers follows: Volkswagen is up 21.5%, Subaru up a whopping 36.2% and Kia also up 21.5%. Nissan on the other hand freefalls 27.1% in 10th place. Honda (+20.5%) and Isuzu Ute (+29.4%) also impress in the Top 20 while among smaller brands, Alfa Romeo (+134.1%), Peugeot (+70.8%), Chinese Haval (+69.2%), Skoda (+59.5%), Maserati (+33.3%), LDV (+26.4%), Porsche (+19.6%) and Mini (+17.7%) shine. At the other end of the stick, Audi (-28.3%), Fiat (-32.7%), Jaguar (-36.4%), Infiniti (-42.2%), Jeep (-42.5%), Volvo (-44.1%) and Citroen (-57.3%) are all in great difficulty.

The Mitsubishi Outlander is up 21% to #16 in August. 

In the space of a year, the Toyota Hilux has established an implacable domination of the Australian sales charts. August marks the 6th consecutive month at #1 for Toyota’s “ute”, with sales up a booming 29% to 4.4% share, distancing the Ford Ranger up 21% to 3.7%. The Hilux is also #1 in the lucrative 4×4 segment with 3.190 sales vs. 3.067 for the Ranger. The Toyota Corolla (-17%) is the best-selling passenger car at #3 overall above the Mazda3 (-23%) while just below, the Hyundai i30 is back into positive territory at +15%. For the second time in the past three months, the Hyundai Tucson (+33%) is the best-selling SUV in the country, outselling the Mazda CX-5 (+8%). Notice also the Holden Commodore back up 6% to #8, the Mitsubishi Triton up 49% to #10, the Hyundai Accent up 65% to $11, Mitsubishi Outlander up 21% to #16, Nissan Qashqai up 36% to #17 and Isuzu D-Max up 27% to #19.

Previous post: Photo Report: Driving a Toyota Hilux in K’Gari Fraser Island, Australia

Previous month: Australia July 2017: Hilux leads for 5th straight month in record market

One year ago: Australia August 2016: Toyota surges 29%, fleet and rental sales strong

Full August 2017 Top 50 All-brands and Top 220 All-models below.