Isuzu D-Max and MU-X set sales records as stock improves

Better supply is driving Isuzu Ute sales in Australia to new highs, with the company posting some record results in August. 

The two-model carmaker sold 4712 vehicles last month, eclipsing its March 2023 peak of 4534 units in a single month. 

Its 3281 D-Max ute sales reset the model’s monthly high-water mark, while the MU-X SUV’s 1431 sales was its second-highest return on record. 

The August result saw the company, which has just the two models, finish eighth on the brand sales charts and grab 4.3 per cent total market share. 

Year-to-date to the end of August, Isuzu Ute has sold 28,409 units and grabbed a record 3.6 per cent market share. At that run-rate it will demolish its previous full-year sales record of 35,735 sales set in 2021.

“Over the last few months, supply of D-Max ute and MU-X SUV has increased which has led to a record sales result in August,” the company confirmed, without giving any more information on the latest wait times. 

While supply varies by dealer, we’ve spoken to one metro Melbourne dealer that has plenty of stock available.

Isuzu Ute Australia sales over time:

As the list below shows, the D-Max is the sixth overall top-selling vehicle in Australia and the clear number three ute behind the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.

It owns 11.7 per cent share of the lucrative 4×4 ute segment, compared to 26.3 per cent for the Ford and 23.5 per cent for the Toyota.

Meanwhile the ute-based MU-X is a real overachiever, with 9815 sales YTD making the second top-selling large SUV in Australia behind only the Toyota Prado (10,849).

The MU-X has outsold the Ford Everest (8399, supply-constrained), as well as less obvious competitors including the Subaru Outback, Toyota Kluger and Kia Sorento.

Isuzu Ute isn’t the only record-breaker in the market right now. As reported here, three of the last four months have been all-time market-wide record results for their respective months.

August new car sales totalled 109,966 units, up 15.4 per cent on the same month in 2022. This is the best August on record. Year-to-date (YTD) sales sit at 788,584 sales, up 9.9 per cent for the highest tally since 2017.

It remains to be seen how hot demand really is though, given interest rates and inflation. Much of this sales growth comes from delivering on backorders, rather than new orders.

Top 10 brands in 2023:

1. Toyota: 133,747
2. Mazda: 67,189
3. Ford: 53,189
4. Kia: 51,820
5. Hyundai: 50,741
6. Mitsubishi: 39,953
7. MG: 37,407
8. Tesla: 32,820
9. Subaru: 30,761
10. Isuzu Ute: 28,409

Top 10 nameplates in 2023:

1. Toyota HiLux: 38,525
2. Ford Ranger: 37,644
3. MG ZS: 20,624
4. Tesla Model Y: 19,646
5. Toyota RAV4: 19,590
6. Isuzu D-Max: 18,594
7. Mitsubishi Outlander: 15,150
8. Mazda CX-5: 15,007
9. Hyundai i30: 14,844
10. Hyundai Tucson: 14,495

Isuzu Ute Australia full-year sales and share over the past decade:

MORE: Everything Isuzu D-Max MORE: Everything Isuzu MU-X