Australia April 2022: MG breaks records again, places all three models inside Top 20 for 1st time, sales down -12.2%

The MG HS breaks into the Australian Top 20 for the first time in April at #16.

05/05 update: Now with Top 275 All-models ranking

81,065 new vehicles hit Australian roads in April, that a -12.2% year-on-year fall and, when removing pandemic-hit 2020 (38,322), the worst April result in 8 years: since 2014 (80,710). This follows two months in positive as global supply chain issues and delivery delays going from 3 to 14 months continue to plague the industry. This situation is expected to continue well into 2023. The year-to-date volume now stands at 343,501 units, off 3.5% over the same period in 2021. Private sales resist relatively well at -8.9% to 43,237 while business fleets are down -17.6% to 27,157 and sales to rental company fall -20.4% to 4,976. Government fleets also outpace the market slighted at -9.8% to 2,080.

All States and Territories are down year-on-year this month. New South Wales is at -12.7% to 25,432, Victoria at -11% to 21,339, Queensland at -11.2% at 17,424, Western Australia at -20.4% to 7.896, South Australia at -6.2% to 5,459, Tasmania at -7.9% to 1,466, ACT at -14.1% to 1,201 and Northern Territory at -4.8% to 848. SUVs skid -13.8% to 42,370 and 52.3% share vs. 53.3% a year ago and 46.3% two years ago, light commercials are off -9.6% to 19,636 and 24.2% share vs. 23.5% in 2021 and 24.2% in 2020. Passenger cars keep on freefalling at -14.5% to 15,444 and 19.1% share vs. 19.6% a year ago and 23.5% two years ago. Looking at sales by country of production, Japan is down a steep -30.1% to 24,353 sales, Thailand down -8.6% to 19,271, South Korea dips -2.2% to 12,137, China continue to grow spectacularly at +47% to 8,284 units similarity to the USA up 32,3% to 2,959.

The Toyota Hilux remains the best-selling vehicle in Australia.

Over in the brands ranking, Toyota (-11.1%) almost matches the market on its way to a 22.2% share, in line with the 22.1% it commands year-to-date. Mazda (-26.6%) is in difficulty at 9.1% share vs. 10.8% YTD while Mitsubishi is off -14% in third place to 8% share vs. 8.7% YTD. In 4th place, Kia (+8.3%) posts the only year-on-year gain in the Top 6 and overtakes sister brand Hyundai (-3.8%) as it also does YTD. Ford (-30.4%) is stuck in 6th place while the hero of the month, again, is MG (+58.7%) equalling its best-ever ranking at #7, a position it has held continuously since last November. MG also smashes its volume record at 4,773 (previous best 4,303 in June 2021) and its share record at 5.9% (previous best 4.6% in November 2021). The brand seems unstoppable at the moment in Australia. Isuzu Ute (+6.4%) and Mercedes (+3.8%) also sign market-defying gains in the remainder of the Top 10 whereas Nissan (-41.4%) is in freefall at #10. Notice also Suzuki (+36.5%), GWM Haval (+1.2%), LDV (+16.5%), Volvo (+7.6%), Renault (+103.4%), Porsche (+35.9%), Ram (+86.4%) and Chevrolet (+62.2%) also posting upticks in the remainder of the Top 25.

The Toyota Hilux (+6.4%) defies the market slump to cement its pole position with 5.5% share vs. 5.6% so far this year. The Ford Ranger (-28.7%) rallies back up four spots on March to #2 but freefalls year-to-date as the new generation’s launch is imminent. At #4, the Toyota RAV4 (-25.1%) remains the best-selling SUV in the country above the Mazda CX-5 (+14.8%) very strong at #4. The Isuzu D-Max (+18.8%) and Mitsubishi Triton (-4.1%) both outpace the market and make it four pickups in the April Top 6. The Toyota Corolla (+6.2%) reclaims the passenger car top spot off the Hyundai i30 (+3.3%) while the MG ZS (+42.4%) is back inside the Top 10 at #9. The Toyota Prado (+19.1%) rounds out the Top 10 with a splendid year-on-year score. The MG3 (+40.3%) is up six ranks on last month to end April just 16 sales off a new Top 10 finish. In fact MG places all its three models indie the Top 20 for the very first time, with the MG HS (+143.6%) up 23 spots on March to #16. Notice also the Toyota Kluger up 1323.7% on a very low base and due to the arrival of the new generation, the Kia Sportage (+116.1%) also helped by a new generation, the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport (+110.5%), Suzuki Baleno (+275.4%) up to 21 and the Hyundai Tucson (+59.5%) back up to #24.

Previous month: Australia March 2022: Tesla Model 3 lands at #5 in market up 1.2%

One year ago: Australia April 2021: Ford Ranger tops charts, Toyota Land Cruiser #4 in all-time record April volume

Full April 2022 Top 47 All-brands and Top 275 All-models below.