Australia May 2022: Kia breaks ranking and share records at #2 and 7.7%, market off -6.4%

Kia Sportage volumes are up 159.1% year-on-year in May.

8/06 update: Now with Top 290 All-models.

94,383 new light vehicles found a buyer in May, that’s a -6.4% year-on-year drop and the 2nd consecutive month in negative. Year-to-date, the market is down -4.1% to 437,884 but is still on track to pass the million sales by the time the year comes to an end. Private sales edge down -2.9% to 50,910, business fleets drop -14.2% to 31,353, rentals are down just -0.8% to 5,458 and government fleets are almost stable as well at -0.4% to 2,518. SUVs continue to dominate, down -4% to 51,459 sales and 54.5% share vs. 53.2% in 2021 and 47.8% in 2020, Light Commercials drop -7.1% to 21,528 units and 22.8% share vs. 23% a year ago and 24.7% in 2020 and Passenger Cars crash -14.7% to 17,252 sales and 18.3% share vs. 20.1% a year ago and 23.1% in 2020.

All states and territories are down this month bar Northern Territory up 2.4% to 996 units. New South Wales is at -6.3% to 30,757 sales, Victoria fares best at -0.8% to 25,164, Queensland at -11.3% to 18,997, Western Australia at -9.1% to 9,353, South Australia at -8.2% to 6,098, Tasmania at -6.8% to 1,651 and Australian Capital Territory at -11% to 1,367. Looking at sales by country of origin, Japan is down -13% to 30,859 sales, Thailand down -3.4% to 20,736, South Korea up 7.8% to 15,109, China up 25.9% to 8,209 and the U.S. up 40.2% to 3,745. Petrol is down -14.1% to 47,294, Diesel down just -2.1% to 33,437, HEV up 11% to 7,887, BEV up 112.2% to 925 and PHEV pup 183.7% to 695.

Toyota Corolla sales are up 51.1% year-on-year in May.

In the brands ranking, Toyota (+7.8%) braves the negative environment to climb to 24.2% share vs. 22.6% so far this year. The event of the month is the 2nd place of Kia (+2.6%) also up year-on-year, breaking its all-time records for ranking (previous best #3 in May 2021 and August 2021) and market share at 7.7% (previous best 7.4% in August and September 2020). The Korean brand outsells sister marque Hyundai (+9.5%) also in great shape at #3, hitting its best result since last November. Mazda (–38.7%) freefalls to #4 as stock shortage is starting to seriously bite. At #5, Mitsubishi (-6.1%) falls two spots while Ford (-19.4%) remains at #6. MG (+15.9%) scores the largest year-on-year gain in the Top 12 and marks a 7th consecutive month at a record #7, distancing Subaru (+2.2%) also in positive, Isuzu Ute (-11.5%) and Nissan (-31%) both underperforming. Below, Citroen (+225%), Ram (+94.7%), Genesis (+88.9%), Suzuki (+38.9%), Chevrolet (+33.1%), GWM Haval (+25.7%), Volvo (+18.6%) and Renault (+17.9%) shine among the double-digit gainers.

Model-wise, the Toyota Hilux (+17.6%) brilliantly cements its leadership as the Ford Ranger (-11.8%) down to #3 in May, awaits the new generation arriving next month. The HIlux also outsells the Ranger in the lucrative 4×4 pickup category at 3,999 sales vs. 3,452. The Toyota RAV4 (-2.2%) limits its fall to climb back to 2nd place, a ranking it also holds year-to-date. The Toyota Corolla (+51.1%) surges to #4 and reclaims the title of best-selling passenger car year-to-date off the Hyundai i30 (-4.7%) down to #8 in May. The Isuzu D-Max (-20.4%) hits a snag but remains 5th above the Toyota Prado (-0.9%) still surprisingly successful despite its age and up four spots on April to reclaim the 6th spot it holds year-to-date. The Mitsubishi Triton (-11.4%) falls to #7 just as the Mazda CX-5 (-29.7%) and Mitsubishi Outlander (+134.9%) round out the Top 10, the latter securing and 2nd Top 10 finish in the past 4 months. Below, the Hyundai Tucson (+48.5%) slices its April ranking in two to #12, the Toyota Kluger (+3226.7%) soars thanks to a new generation which is also the case for the Kia Sportage (+159.1%). Notice also an impressive score by the Toyota Land Cruiser PU/CC (+115.9%) at #18.

Previous month: Australia April 2022: MG breaks records again, places all three models in Top 20, sales down -12.2%

One year ago: Australia May 2021: Kia up to #3, Isuzu D-Max breaks records in market up 68.3%

Full May 2022 Top 45 All-brands and Top 290 All-models below.