Australia November 2022: Market up 17.9%, MG ZS #4 overall and best-selling SUV

The MG ZS is the #1 SUV in Australia for the first time.

9/12 update: Now with Top 275 all models.

The Australian new vehicle market marks a 5th consecutive month in positive in November at +17.9% year-on-year to 95,080 units. This brings the year-to-date tally up 2.3% to 993,509. Private sales are up 18.3% to 49,870, business fleets up 15.3% to 31,697, rental sales up 36.3% to 6,559 and government fleets up 2.3% to 2,370. Petrol sales amount to 46,717, diesel is at 30,404, hybrid at 8,529, electric at 4,457 and PHEV at a meagre 429. All States and territories are up this month, with Western Australia faring best at +36.5% to 9,668, followed by Queensland up 28.9% to 20,621, Tasmania up 23% to 1,783, Victoria up 19.1% to 25,534, Northern Territory up 14.1% to 815, South Australia up 12.3% to 5,673, New South Wales up 7.5% to 29,545 and Australian Capital Territory up 2.5% to 1,441.

In terms of segments, SUVs soar 31.9% to 52,395 and 55.1% share vs. 49.3% in November 2021 and 52.2% in 2020, Light commercials climb up 6.1% to to 21,449 units and 22.6% share vs. 25.1% a year ago and 22.3% two years prior, Passenger cars edge down -0.8% to 16,692 and 17.6% share vs. 20.9% last year and 21.7% in November 2020. Looking at the origin of cars sold in the country, Japan is up 21.3% to 27,801, Thailand up 19% to 21,388, China up 84.2% to 14,438 even without Tesla in full speed, South Korea down -1.3% to 12,335 and the USA down a harsh -15.5% to 3,207.GWM Haval lodges a second consecutive month inside the Top 10 brands.

In the brands ranking, Toyota (+31.9%) beats the market to 21.1% share, while Mazda (+42.6%) does even better, compensating for a drab October result when it fell to #5 overall. Ford (+15.3%) can’t quite match the market’s average growth and drops to #3. This is still a high ranking for the American brand, as the last time it repeatedly ranked inside the Top 3 was from 1997 to 2011. Kia (+24.5%) continues to impress even though it drops one spot to #4 while Mitsubishi (-2.8%) goes against the positive market in 5th place, distancing Hyundai (-19.5%) in even worse shape. MG (+46.9%) delivers another great month at #7 but would have ranked #5 with 62 more sales. The Chinese carmaker breaks its volume record this month at 5,497 and will no doubt the brand will climb further up in the coming months as this result was obtained with just 3 models. Fellow Chinese fare GWM Haval (+47.8%) delivers the best performance in a Top 10 where it ranks for the 2nd time in a row and in history at #10. Subaru (+36.5%) also excels and is up three ranks on last month to #8. Below, Ram (+79.7%) breaks its volume record at over 700 sales and we welcome BYD in the charts, albeit with a 3-month sales result.

Model-wise, the Toyota Hilux (+28.7%) posts a very strong month to reclaim the top spot off the Ford Ranger (+14.5%), but the Ranger wins the lucrative 4×4 pickup battle at 4,479 sales vs. 4,159. With supply improving, the Toyota Corolla (+77.4%) shoots up 20 spots on October to land in third place, its highest ranking since October 2021 when it also ranked #3. The MG ZS (+93.6%) is up one rank on last month to hit an all-time high 4th place overall, a stunning achievement for the Chinese model. On top of this, the ZS is the best-selling SUV in Australia for the first time, relegating the Toyota RAV4 (+25.4%) to third place. The Mazda CX-5 (+146.7%) follows but drops two spots to #6 despite a tremendous year-on-year evolution. The Mitsubishi Outlander is up to #7 for the second time in the past three month ahead of the Kia Sportage (+168.8%) propelled up by the new generation. Now that the end of quarter is approaching, the Tesla Model Y returns inside the Australian Top 10 at #9. 

Previous month: Australia October 2022: First with for new gen Ford Ranger, GWM Haval in Top 10

One year ago: Australia November 2021: Lowest November in 13 years (-15.3%), MG up to #7, Ford Ranger 3peats at #1

Full November 2022 Top 50 all brands and Top 275 all models below.