National Scene
For the month of July
Nationally, there were 96,859 new vehicles delivered in July 2023, an increase of 12,398 vehicles or 14.7 per cent over July 2022. This represents the highest July result on record, however, many of these vehicles were ordered several months ago.
Year to date, 678,618 new vehicles have been delivered, which is 56,299 more vehicles or 9.0 per cent ahead of last year.
The July result was driven by strong growth in SUV and passenger vehicle sales, however, light commercial and heavy commercial sales were down. The following sales breakdowns were recorded:
- Passenger vehicles up 6.9 per cent
- SUVs up 27.5 per cent
- Light commercial vehicles down 4.0 per cent
- Heavy commercial vehicles down 5.8 per cent
State numbers
All states and territories recorded increased sales in July 2023. The respective sales results are as follows:
- ACT up 22.4 per cent
- NSW up 11.3 per cent
- NT up 19.4 per cent
- QLD up 4.3 per cent
- SA up 17.0 per cent
- TAS up 33.9 per cent
- VIC up 22.7 per cent
- WA up 21.6 per cent
Commercial vehicles
Heavy commercial vehicles ended their long running growth trend in July 2023. A total of 3,456 heavy commercial vehicles were sold in July 2023, a decrease of 214 vehicles or -5.8 per cent over July 2022. Year to date sales are up 15.5 per cent.
A total of 19,244 light commercial vehicles were sold in July 2023, a decrease of 795 vehicles or 4.0 per cent over July 2022. Year to date sales are down 0.6 per cent.
Sales by Vehicle Category and Fuel Type
Battery Electric vehicles
July 2023 sales
6,846 battery electric vehicles were sold in July 2023. Year to date there have been 49,938 battery electric vehicles sold, accounting for 7.4 per cent of the new vehicle market.
Tesla recorded 3,934 sales, accounting for 57.5 per cent of all battery electric vehicles sold for the month.
The highest selling battery electric vehicle was the Tesla Model Y (3,330 sales), followed by the BYD Atto 3 (1,005 sales) and the Tesla Model 3 (604 sales).
Plug-in-hybrids
834 plug-in-hybrids were sold in July 2023, an increase of 256 vehicles or 44.3 per cent over July 2022. Year to date sales are up 24.1 per cent over last year.
Hybrids, petrol & diesel
9,696 conventional hybrid vehicles were sold in July 2023, an increase of 42.9 per cent or 2,913 vehicles over July 2022. Year to date hybrid sales are up 0.3 per cent.
48,236 petrol vehicles were sold in July 2023, representing an increase of 4,201 vehicles or 9.5per cent over July 2022. Year to date petrol vehicle sales are up 7.0 per cent.
27,791 diesel vehicles were sold in July 2023, a decrease of 994 vehicles or 3.5 per cent over July last year. Year to date diesel vehicle sales are down -5.0 per cent.
Sales results by segment and vehicle brand
Medium size vehicles over $60,000 were the best performing market segment for the month (up 98.3 per cent), followed by sports vehicles over $80,000 (up 78.8 per cent) and micro vehicles (up 74.9 per cent).
Some of the best performing vehicle models for the month included:
- Ford Ranger 4x4 (2,135 sales, up 79.3 per cent)
- MG ZS (3,852 sales, up 213.4 per cent)
- Toyota Prado (1,836 sales, up 75.4 per cent)
- Volkswagen Tiguan (744 sales, up 420.3 per cent)
- Mazda CX-3 (1,563 sales, up 62.5 per cent)
- Kia Picanto (823 sales, up 98.3 per cent)
- Lexus NX (658 sales, up 129.3 per cent)
Sales of luxury/sports vehicles were mostly positive in July 2023. The luxury brands that recorded increased sales for the month included:
- Bentley (20 sales, up from 9 sales in July 2022)
- Ferrari (24 sales, up from 15 last July)
- Lamborghini (37 sales, up from 27)
- Lotus (24 sales, up from 0 last July)
- Maserati (57 sales, up from 38)
- McLaren (11 sales, up from 0 last July)
- Porsche (552 sales, up from 306)
- Rolls Royce (5 sales, up from 3)
The only luxury brands that recorded sales declines in July 2023 were:
- Jaguar (41 sales, down from 58 last July)
- Aston martin (5 sales, down from 8).
Overall, Toyota was the highest selling marque with 19,191 sales. Mazda followed with 8,307, then Ford (7,109), Hyundai (6,521) and Kia (6,150). The Ford Ranger was the top selling vehicle, recording 5,143 sales. It was followed by Toyota Hi-Lux (4,670), MG ZS (3,852), Tesla Model Y (3,330) and Toyota RAV4 (2,750).
Source: Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries
Words: VACC Senior Analyst, Research and Policy Steve Bletsos.