Australia September 2023: Record sales, Ford Everest cracks Top 10

First Top 10 finish for the Ford Everest in Australia.

For the third consecutive month and the fourth time in the past 5 months, new vehicle sales in Australia lodge a monthly record, as model availability improves. Never before was the September volume that high, at 110,702 this year. That’s a 18.3% year-on-year improvement, eclipsing the previous September record of 102,696 set in 2016. The year-to-date tally also evolves at record levels at 899,286 after 9 months, a 10.9% year-on-year lift. SUVs surge 29% year-on-year to 64,052 and 57.9% share vs. 53.1% in 2022 and 49% in 2021, Light Commercials edge up 6.9% to 23,793 and 21.5% share vs. 23.8% last year and 24% in 2021 and Passenger Cars are up 6.4% to 18,611 and 16.8% share vs. 18.7% in 2022 and 22.2% in 2021. The rest (4,246 sales) goes to Heavy Commercials.

All States and Territories are up this month. New South Wales is up 20.6% to 35,968, Victoria up 16% to 29,426, Queensland up 13.5% to 23,415, Western Australia up 22.4% to 10,577, South Australia up 11.2% to 6,676, Tasmania up 21% to 1,972, Australian Capital Territory up 20.6% to 1,806 and Northern Territory up 3.6% to 862. Private sales gain 14.2% to 58,129, business fleets soar 24.5% to 38,508, rental sales shoot up 24.2% to 6,706 and government fleets are up 43.8% to 3,113. Petrol sales are up a moderate 10.5% to 52,619, diesel fares better at +14.4% to 33,614, hybrid roars up 119.5% to 10,138, EVs gain 21.7% to 8,821 and PHEVs soar 140.8% to 1,264. Finally, looking at country of origin, Japan is up 41.7% to 33,827, followed by Thailand at 22,852 (+12.2%), China at 17,429 (+17.1%), South Korea at 14.372 (-0.5%) and Germany at 5,531 (+34.4%).

The Nissan Patrol scores its best monthly volume in almost 20 years.

The Top 7 brands return to their YTD order. Toyota (+40.8%) compensates for a particularly low year-ago volume as supply vastly improves to reach 18.9% share vs. 17.2% so far this year, Mazda (+10.6%) is soft in 2nd place while Ford (+20.8%) is solid at #3. Kia (+0.2%) is back above sister brand Hyundai (-4.4%) in difficulty. Mitsubishi (-15.1%) for its part gains one spot on August despite enduring the steepest drop in the Top 14, exchanging positions with MG (+65.6%) still in outstanding shape. Nissan (+153.8%) is boosted by a rejuvenated lineup and Subaru (+35.8%) impresses at #10. BMW (+15.8%) posts a rare win over Mercedes (-23.2%). Below, Land Rover (+286.5%), Lexus (+267.2%), Cupra (+111.1%), Porsche (+101.5%), Mini (+42.2%) and Isuzu Ute (+39.5%) stand out.

Model-wise, the Toyota Hilux (+11.7%) keeps the top spot with 5.2% share, significantly above the 4.3% it holds year-to-date. Its archenemy the Ford Ranger (+11%) also trails the market but at 4.9% share it eclipses its YTD level of 4.2%. Only 1,228 sales separate the two nameplates after 9 months. The Ranger wins the 4×4 ute race with 5,124 sales vs. 4,730 for the Hilux. Despite losing -12.8% year-on-year, the Tesla Model Y is back up four spots on August to #3, a ranking it now also holds year-to-date which means it is now the best-selling SUV in the country and is headed towards the title at year end. The next five models all outpace the market growth: the Isuzu D-Max is up 49.9%, the Toyota RAV4 up 50.8%, the Mitsubishi Outlander up 39%, MG ZS up 154.3% and Toyota Corolla up a rare 42.7%. Below the Kia Sportage (+14.4%), the Ford Everest (+147.7%) breaks into the Top 10 for the first time in the nameplate’s history (previous best #15 last July), narrowly beating its archenemy the Toyota Prado (+16.4%). Finally, notice the Nissan Patrol (+152.2%) lodging its best monthly volume since June 2004.

Previous month: Australia August 2023: Nissan (+154.1%), MG (+76.6%), Isuzu Ute (+68.3%) shine in record market

One year ago: Australia September 2022: Chinese shipments propel Tesla Model Y to #3, GWM Haval #11, sales up 12.3%

Full September 2023 Top 50 All brands and Top 315 All models below.