Industry insights: VFACTS August 2022 summary
5 September 2022
National Scene
For the month of August
- There were 95,256 new vehicles delivered in August 2022, an increase of 14,057 vehicles or 17.3 per cent over August 2021. This represents the best August sales result since 2017
- All market segments were up in August 2022: Passenger vehicles were up 15.3 per cent; SUVs were up 18.5 per cent; light commercial vehicles were up 16.8 per cent; heavy commercial vehicles were up 15.7 per cent.
Year-to-date sales
- A total of 717,575 new vehicles have been delivered year to date, which is 15,253 fewer vehicles or 2.1 per cent below that of the same period last year
- While August was a good month, market conditions are still far from normal, with supplies of new vehicles still being constrained by many global manufacturing plants operating at below full capacity, as well as on-going shipping and logistics issues.
State numbers
- Most jurisdictions recorded increased sales in August 2022, with the largest sales increase recorded by the ACT (up 49.8 per cent), followed by NSW (up 40.0 per cent), VIC (up 18.4 per cent), (QLD up 11.7 per cent) and NT (up 4.2 per cent)
- Sales declines during August 2022 were recorded by SA (-9.7 per cent), WA (-6.5 per cent) and TAS (-3.0 per cent).
Commercial vehicles
- There were 4,216 heavy commercial vehicles sold in August 2022, an increase of 573 vehicles or 15.7 per cent over August last year. Year-to-date sales of heavy commercial vehicles are up by 8.4 per cent
- There were 22,472 light commercial vehicles sold in August 2022, an increase of 3,236 vehicles or 16.8 per cent over August last year. Year-to-date sales of light commercials are down by 1.2 per cent.
Sales by vehicle category and fuel type
Battery Electric vehicles
August sales
- August was a strong month for EVs, with 4,235 battery electric vehicles being delivered in August 2022
- Battery electric vehicles accounted for 4.4 per cent of the total new vehicle market in August, the highest market share for pure battery electric vehicles ever recorded in a single month in Australia
- Tesla dominated the electric vehicle market in August, with 3,397 vehicles sold for the month or 80.2 per cent of the market
- The Tesla Model 3 was the highest-selling electric vehicle model with 2,380 sales, followed by the Tesla Model Y with 1,017 sales.
Year-to-date sales
- 14,524 battery electric vehicles have been sold year to date, with Tesla vehicles accounting for more than half (55.5 per cent) of the EV market
- 7,037 Tesla Model 3s have been sold year-to-date, representing 48.5 per cent of all EVs sold
- Year-to-date EV sales account for two per cent of the total new vehicle market.
Plug-in-hybrids
- There were 540 plug-in-hybrids sold in August 2022, an increase of 246 or 83.7 per cent over August last year
- Year to date, 4,059 plug-in hybrids have been sold, up by 2,000 vehicles or 97.1 per cent over the same time last year.
Hybrids, petrol and diesel
- 6,864 hybrid vehicles were sold in August this year, up by 377 vehicles or 5.8 per cent over August last year. Year-to-date hybrid sales are 54,699 – up 13.3 per cent over same period last year
- 48,594 petrol vehicles were sold in August this year, up by 12.5 per cent over August last year, and year to date petrol vehicle sales are down by 9.7 per cent.
- 30,807 diesel vehicles were sold in August this year, up by 13.1 per cent over August last year, and year-to-date diesel sales are up 0.9 per cent.
Best sales performers in August 2022
The most notable sales performers in August 2022:
- Toyota Landcruiser Wagon – 1,213 sales in August 2022, up 290.0 per cent
- Suzuki Jimny – 672 sales, up 231.0 per cent
- Mitsubishi Triton 4x4 – 1,757 sales, up 181.6 per cent
- MG HS – 902 sales, up 226.8 per cent
- Kia Sportage – 1,237 sales, up 93.3 per cent
- Hyundai Palisade – 492 sales, up 264.4 per cent
- Ford Mustang – 261 sales, up 480.0 per cent
- Mercedes-Benz C Class – 306 sales, up 277.8 per cent.
Best brand performances for August
Most vehicle brands recorded an increase in sales during August 2022 compared to August last year, with the best monthly performances:
- BMW – 51.8 per cent increase
- Ferrari – 53.3 per cent increase
- Lamborghini – 257.1 per cent increase
- Suzuki – 105.2 per cent increase
- RAM – 55.9 per cent increase.
In terms of luxury and sports vehicles, the following were notable sales performers:
- Lamborghini Coupe/Convertible – 20 sold in August 2022 compared to six in August 2021
- Maserati Levante – 35 sold in August 2022, compared to 23 last year
- Ferrari Coupe/Convertible – 23 sold in August 2022, compared to eight last year
- Porsche Macan – 136 sold in August 2022, compared to 72 last year.
Across all brands, Toyota led the market with 20,616 vehicles sold. Mazda was next with 8,824, followed by Kia (6,780), Hyundai (6,643), and Mitsubishi (6,380).
The Toyota Hi-Lux was the highest-selling model with 6,214 sales reported. The Ford Ranger followed with 4,497, Toyota’s RAV4 was next with 2,482, followed by Tesla’s Model 3 (2,380), and Toyota’s Landcruiser (2,379).
Economic trends
While August was a good month, the new vehicle market is still trailing by 2.1 per cent year-to-date compared to last year. Interest rates are also continuing to rise, with the next series of interest rate rises and cost of living increases expected to dampen consumer demand from late September onwards and into 2023. With the upcoming European winter and the looming threat of energy constraints, this may also restrict industrial production, including the supply of new vehicles from Europe.
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