Australia November 2020: Market ends 31 months of decline with 12.4% surge, Toyota places 4 models in Top 5 again

The Toyota Land Cruiser is up 116.3% year-on-year in Australia in November.

In November the Australian new vehicle market spectacularly puts an end to 31 consecutive months of year-on-year drops – going back well before the Covid-19 outbreak – with a 12.6% surge to 95.205 units leading to a year-to-date tally down -16.1% to 821.316. The easing of lockdown in Victoria, pent-up demand accumulated throughout the year and preparations for holidaying within the country as the only option available this summer in the absence of international travel have all contributed to this solid result. All States and Territories are up bar Tasmania: New South Wales is up 13% to 30.343, Victoria up 9.1% to 26.616, Queensland up 19.5% to 19.874, Western Australia up 12.6% to 8.829, South Australia up 7.5% to 5.650, Tasmania down -10.9% to 1.662, ACT up 15.4% to 1.451 and Northern Territory up 32.9% to 780.

Looking at sales channels, encouragingly, the engine of growth is private sales this month with registrations up a superb 32% to 46.020, business fleet sales are a lot more timid at +3.6% and 38.624 while rental sales remain decimated at -27.8% to 4.505 and government sales are off -12.4% to 2.830. SUV sales soar 26.4% year-on-year to 50.016 and 52.5% share vs. 46.7% a year ago, light commercials gain 11.5% to 21.252 and 22.3% share vs. 22.5% in November 2019 but passenger cars continue to wobble at -10.1% to 20.711 and 21.7% share vs. 27.2% a year ago. Petrol sales are up 5.6% to 53.380, diesel is up 17.3% to 31.399, HEV is up 73.6% to 6.887, EV is down -8.7% to 178 (excluding Tesla who doesn’t disclose Australian sales data) and PHEV edges up 1.5% to 135. As far as the country of origin of cares sold in Australia this month, Japan comes first at 35.343, followed by Thailand (20.311), South Korea (12.939), Germany (4.790), China (up 135% to 4.159 and up 61% YTD) and the U.S. (2.696).

Brand-wise, Toyota (+36.9%) vastly outperforms the market to remain at historically high share levels at 24.4%, outselling the next three brands combined and positing its largest volume since June 2017. Mazda (+46.8%) and Ford (+33.2%) also secure stunning gains in the Top 5 but Mitsubishi (-20%) and Hyundai (+1.2%) can’t quite catch benefit from the market rebound. Just outside the Top 10, Isuzu Ute (+36.2%) and BMW (+52.9%) also impress while further down MG (+133.4%) smashes its volume record to 2.021 as does LDV (+91.3%) at 1.358, also remaining a record 17th spot, and Haval (+126.4%) at 394 meaning there are 3 Chinese carmakers in the Top 25 this month. Planned for discontinuation at the end of the month, Holden (-92.4%) slips out of the Top 30.

In the models ranking, the entire Top 7 strikingly and vastly outplays the market with 20%+ surges: the Toyota Hilux (+36.6%) remains in the lead above the Ford Ranger (+22%) and also edges past the Ranger when only 4×4 variants are considered at 3.854 (+34.1%) vs. 3.829 (+19%). Toyota fills up all remaining spots in the Top 5 with the RAV4 (+64.1%), Corolla (+24.5%) and Prado (+116.1%). Along with the Land Cruiser (+116.3%), the Prado doubles its sales year-on-year in a clear indication well-off Australians are planning a driving holiday at home, preferably towing a caravan. Other in-shape models in the Top 10 are the Isuzu D-Max (+45.7%), Mazda CX-5 (+39%) and Hyundai Tucson (+38.2%). Two Chinese nameplates break all their records: the MG ZS (+158.7%) is up 17 spots on last month to #21 with 1.133 sales and 1.2% share and the LDV T60 (+141.9%) is up to #29 with 871 sales and 0.9% share.

Previous month: Australia October 2020: Toyota Prado up to record #4, Isuzu D-Max up to #6 in fast recovering market (-1.5%)

One year ago: Australia November 2019: Market down for 20th straight month to lowest November in 11 years

Full November 2020 Top 30 brands and Top 200 models below.