Australia’s automotive industry delivered 82,137 vehicles during April 2023, which represents a 1.3% increase (1072) on the same period in 2022 (81,065).
There were 22 selling days in April 2023 compared to 23 in April 2022 and this resulted in an increase of 208.9 vehicle sales per day.
The passenger vehicle market is down by 253 vehicle sales (-1.6%) over the same month last year; the sports utility market is up by 3661 vehicle sales
(8.6%); the light commercial market is down by 2576 vehicle sales (-13.1%) and the heavy commercial vehicle market is up by 240 vehicle sales (6.6%) versus April 2022.
Toyota was market leader in April, followed by Mazda and Kia. Toyota led Mazda with a margin of 5103vehicle sales and 6.2 market share points.
“Electric vehicles accounted for 8% of sales in April. This is well up from 1.1% recorded in April 2022. If you take all forms of electrification, that number has increased from 9.5% to 15.4%, and we know that this number would have been larger had the industry not faced global supply challenges,” FCAI chief executive Tony Weber says.
“It is worth noting that five out of the top ten models sold in April offer some form of electrification.”
SUVs and light commercial vehicles accounted for 76.8% of sales in April. Passenger vehicles accounted for 18.5%, and heavy commercial 4.7%.
Government and Business fleet sales increased by 8.1% and 2.9%, respectively. Rental sales recorded a decline of 11.4%.
Year to date, sales of vehicles sourced from China have increased 68.5% with 13,426 vehicles sold in April. Japan remains Australia’s largest source of vehicles (22,304). Thailand is our second largest (15,886) and Korea fourth (12,952).
Sales in the ACT increased by 5% compared to the same month last year, with 1261 vehicles sold; Queensland, 4.4% (18,188); Victoria, 4.2% (22,226); and Western Australia, 5.2% (8303).
Sales in New South Wales decreased by 1.5% (25,040); Northern Territory, 10.3% (761); and Tasmania, 13.3% (1271).
Toyota led the market with 12,029 vehicles, then Mazda (6926), Kia (6200), Hyundai (5732) and Ford (5047).
The Ford Ranger was the highest selling model with 3567 sales, followed by the Toyota Hilux (3526), Toyota RAV4 (2198), Tesla Model Y (2095) and Hyundai i30 (2029).
