Australia September 2021: Market up 20.8%, Ford Ranger leads, Mazda BT-50 in Top 10

The Mazda BT-50 is among Australia’s Top 10 best-sellers for the first time.

28/10 update: Now with Top 270 All-models ranking.

Despite stock shortages triggered by the semi-conductor crisis and both Sydney and Melbourne being in lockdown, new car sales in Australia surge 20.8% year-on-year in September to 83.312 units, very close to the 82.800 units we predicted and marking an 11th straight month of year-on-year gains. This result is however down -5.5% on the pre-pandemic levels of September 2019. The year-to-date tally is now up 26.6% to 816.140, the highest score after 9 months since 2018. Our Full Year 2021 Forecast for Australia remains at 1.09 million units (+19%). Passenger Cars edge up 4.6% year-on-year to 18.531 units and 22.2% share vs. 25.7% a year ago and 28.2% in September 2019, Light Commercials are up 27% to 20.035 and 24% share vs. 22.9% and 20.7% over the past two years while SUVs advance 25.1% to 40.832 and 49% share vs. 47.3% a year ago and 47.5% in 2019. 

New car sales in New South Wales are down just -7.9% to 23.965 despite the lockdown, Victoria is up 96.2% to 20.495 on a low year-ago comparison base, Queensland is up 24.2% to 20.062, Western Australia up 16.6% to 9.191, South Australia up 18.6% to 6.139, Tasmania up 29.7% to 1.645, the Australian Capital Territory down -35.4% to 893 and Northern Territory up 38.4% to 922. In terms of buyer type, private sales grow 20.2% to 41.140 and 49.4% share vs. 49.6% a year ago, business fleets edge up just 7.9% to 29.753 and 35.7% share vs. 40% in 2020, rental sales surge 159.6% to 5.862 on devastated year-ago volumes and government fleets are up 27.9% to 2.643. Cars sold in Australia in September come from Japan at 28.874 units (+40.7%), Thailand at 16.926 (+6.7%), South Korea at 10.837 (+3.4%), China at 6.560 (+103.7%) and Germany at 3.459 (-31.9%).

The Ford Ranger is the best-selling vehicle in Australia for the third time this year.

In the brands ranking, Toyota surges 56.3% year-on-year to hit a new September volume record and 24.3% share vs. 21.7% so far this year. The Japanese manufacturer sells more than its next three followers combined, and its year-to-date volume is the largest at this stage of the year since 2008. Mazda (-6.4%) endures the only year-on-year drop in the Top 10 but manages to remain in 2nd place overall, distancing Ford (+19.6%) now also #3 year-to-date. Hyundai (+3.5%), Kia (+1.2%), Mitsubishi (+10.2%) and Volkswagen (+8.5%) follow and all trail the market significantly. In contrast, Isuzu Ute (+102.5%), Subaru (+44.4%) and MG (+93.7%) all post fantastic scores, the latter securing a Top 10 finish for the 7th time in the past 8 months. Further down the charts, GWM/Haval (+196.7%) triples its sales year-on-year, with Peugeot (+198.2%), Ssangyong (+138.8%), Lexus (+90.3%), Genesis (+71.4%), Jeep (+65.3%) and LDV (+50.8%) also in outstanding shape.

Model-wise, the Ford Ranger (+12.5%) signs its third win of the year after last April and June, and 5th win overall after September 2017 and September 2020. It distances its archenemy the Toyota Hilux (+0.7%) by 557 sales this month but remains 2nd year-to-date with a 3.240-unit gap between the two models. The Ranger also easily wins the lucrative 4×4 ute battle for the 5th time in the past 9 months at 3.851 sales vs. 2.382 for the Hilux. Potentially padded up by resurgent rental sales, the Toyota Corolla shoots up 138.5% year-on-year to remain in third place and easily top the Passenger Cars charts. In fact, like in August, Toyota places four models in the Top 5, with the RAV4 (+39.3%) and Prado (+165%) in tow. Below the Hyundai i30 shy at +13.9%, the next four models vastly outpace the market: the Isuzu D-Max (+64%) is up one spot on August to #7, the Toyota Camry (+35.1%) up three to #8, the Mitsubishi ASX (+58.4%) up 14 to #9 and the Mazda BT-50 (+176.6%) breaks into the Top 10 for the very first time at #10, previous best being #11 in June 2020. Notice also the Toyota Land Cruiser Pick-up (+115.8%) at #14, its highest ranking since May 2020, the Isuzu MU-X (+203%) hitting a record volume at #15, the Subaru Outback up 286%, MG ZS up 147.5% and the VW Amarok (+105.6%) breaking into the Top 20 for the first time at #20, also becoming the brand’s best-seller in Australia for the first time.

Previous month: Australia August 2021: Toyota places 4 models in Top 5, MG ZS repeats in Top 10, market up 33.1%

One year ago: Australia September 2020: Ford Ranger signs 2nd ever win, Melbourne lockdown cuts market down -21.8%

Full September 2021 Top 45 All-brands and Top 270 All-models below.