VFACTS: April 2022 car sales numbers

Australia’s new car sales fell a sharp 12.2 per cent in April compared to the same month in 2021, as supply constraints continue to take their toll.

VFACTS sales data recorded 81,065 new vehicle sales in April, with monthly sales declining across all states and territories. The year-to-date (YTD) tally at the one-third mark of the calendar year sits at 343,501 sales, down a more modest 3.5 per cent YTD.

Toyota led the market with a total of 17,956 vehicles sold and a solid 22.2 per cent market share. Mazda came in second (7378), ahead of Mitsubishi (6463), Kia (6180), and Hyundai (5552).

The Toyota HiLux was as per usual the top-selling model (4493), while the Ford Ranger came second despite the changeover to a brand-new version being imminent (3581). The Toyota RAV4 was third (3373), the Mazda CX-5 fourth (2701), and the Isuzu D-Max fifth (2374).

“We know this [result] is not a reflection on the demand for new vehicles in the marketplace,” said Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive Tony Weber.

“This is a reflection on the global automotive industry’s ability to supply vehicles to not
only the Australian market, but all markets throughout the world.

“Automotive manufacturers continue to suffer from a shortage of microprocessor units
which is impacting their ability to ramp up production to pre-pandemic levels.

“COVID-19 continues to impact manufacturing and supply, particularly where factories have been forced to close and shipping operations are yet to fully recover. This is being reflected in the extended delivery times for new vehicles.”

The supply constraints being cited by the FCAI as responsible for the disappointing sales month are top-of-mind for most OEMs. Just yesterday we spoke to Nissan Australia managing director Adam Paterson, who said:

“I’d love to tell our dealer partners that there wasn’t any volatility from a production and supply standpoint. [But] there is definitely volatility, and we’re far from through any supply challenges.

“We were expecting in the middle of this calendar year to have normalisation of supply, [but] that is not a reality.”

Brands

Toyota, Mazda and Mitsubishi led the way despite all recording double-digit drops in sales, while Kia bucked the trend and finished fourth – placing it ahead of sister brand Hyundai for both the month and YTD.

Ford was sixth, MG seventh, Isuzu Ute eighth despite only selling two models, while Mercedes-Benz and Nissan rounded out the top 10.

Brands that showed growth, belying the market, included Citroen (eight-fold growth off a tiny base), Renault (up an impressive 103.4 per cent under new Ateco distribution), Ram Trucks (converted to right-hand drive locally, up 86.4 per cent), and fellow local RHD converter Chevrolet, sold by GMSV, up 62.2 per cent.

The brands that took the biggest sales hits on percentage terms included Subaru (down 52.4 per cent), Volkswagen (down 44.9 per cent), Peugeot (down 44.4 per cent), Jeep (down 42.4 per cent), Nissan (down 41.4 per cent), Lexus (down 39.2 per cent), and Honda (37.2 per cent).

Models

Utes again dominated the sales charts, occupying three of the top five spots, with two medium SUVs bisecting.

The top 20 list comprises mostly familiar nameplates, though the MG HS made its first appearance after a massive monthly haul by its standards.

The overall composition of the top 20 was five utes, five medium SUVs, three large SUVs, three small SUVs, three small cars, and one light car.

Within the top 20, Toyota-badged products occupied five spots, ahead of Mitsubishi with four. MG and Mazda each had three of the top 20 – in MG’s case, that means all of its models.

Segments

• Micro Cars: Kia Picanto (555), Mitsubishi Mirage (52), Fiat 500 (42)
• Light Cars under $25,000: MG 3 (1615), Suzuki Baleno (991), Kia Rio (472)
• Light Cars over $25,000: Mini Hatch (108), Audi A1 (31), Citroen C3 (9)
• Small Cars under $40,000: Toyota Corolla (2202), Hyundai i30 (2071), Kia Cerato (1007)
• Small Cars over $40,000: Mercedes-Benz A-Class (267), BMW 1 Series (105), Audi A3 (86)
• Medium Cars under $60,000: Toyota Camry (519), Skoda Octavia (182), Mazda 6 (135)
• Medium Cars over $60,000: Mercedes-Benz C-Class (477), BMW 3 Series (212), Mercedes-Benz CLA (129)
• Large Cars under $70,000: Kia Stinger (316), Skoda Superb (79)
• Large Cars over $70,000: Porsche Taycan (58), Audi A6 (26), BMW 5 Series (25)
• Upper Large Cars: Mercedes-Benz S-Class (14), Chrysler 300 (13), BMW 7 Series (8)
• People Movers: Kia Carnival (483), Hyundai Staria (92), Honda Odyssey (31)
• Sports Cars under $80,000: Ford Mustang (97), Subaru BRZ (83), Mazda MX-5 (28)
• Sports Cars over $80,000: BMW 4 Series (58), Mercedes-Benz C-Class (28), Audi A5 (20)
• Sports Cars over $200,000: Porsche 911 (40), Ferrari range (15), Bentley two-door range (10)

• Light SUVs: Kia Stonic (949), Hyundai Venue (576), Volkswagen T-Cross (491)
• Small SUVs under $40,000: MG ZS (1923), Mitsubishi ASX (1300), Mazda CX-30 (1175)
• Small SUVs over $40,000: Volvo XC40 (388), Audi Q3 (262), Mercedes-Benz GLA (250)
• Medium SUVs under $60,000: Toyota RAV4 (3373), Mazda CX-5 (2701), Kia Sportage (1327)
• Medium SUVs over $60,000: BMW X3 (483), Mercedes-Benz GLC (397), Volvo XC60 (376)
• Large SUVs under $70,000: Toyota Prado (1631), Toyota Kluger (1381), Mitsubishi Pajero Sport (1124)
• Large SUVs over $70,000: BMW X5 (184), Mercedes-Benz GLE (178), Land Rover Defender (152)
• Upper Large SUVs under $100,000: Toyota LandCruiser Wagon (829), Nissan Patrol (275)
• Upper Large SUVs over $100,000: Lexus LX (80), BMW X7 (64), Mercedes-Benz GLS (51)

• Light Vans: Renault Kangoo (73), Volkswagen Caddy (57), Peugeot Partner (29)
• Medium Vans: Toyota HiAce (657), Hyundai Staria Load (321), LDV G10 (224)
• Large Vans: LDV Deliver 9 (319), Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (280), Renault Master (95)
• Light Buses: Toyota HiAce (192), LDV Deliver 9 (19), Toyota Coaster (13)
• 4×2 Utes: Toyota HiLux (1052), Isuzu D-Max (643), Mitsubishi Triton (251)
• 4×4 Utes: Toyota HiLux (3441), Ford Ranger (3361), Mitsubishi Triton (2106)

Miscellaneous

Sales by region

• New South Wales: 25,432, down 12.7 per cent
• Victoria: 21,339, down 11.0 per cent
• Queensland: 17,424, down 11.2 per cent
• Western Australia: 7896, down 20.4 per cent
• South Australia: 5459, down 6.2 per cent
• Tasmania: 1466, down 7.9 per cent
• Australian Capital Territory: 1201, down 14.1 per cent
• Northern Territory: 848, down 4.8 per cent

Category breakdown

• SUV: 42,370 sales, 52.3 per cent market share
• Light commercials: 19,636 sales, 24.2 per cent market share
• Passenger cars: 15,444 sales, 19.1 per cent market share
• Heavy commercials: 3615 sales, 4.5 per cent market share

Top segments by market share

• Medium SUV: 20.1 per cent
• 4×4 Utes: 18.6 per cent
• Large SUV: 13.4 per cent
• Small SUV: 12.6 per cent
• Small Car: 8.1 per cent

Sales by buyer type

• Private buyers: 43,237, down 8.9 per cent
• Business fleets: 27,157, down 17.6 per cent
• Rental fleets: 4976, down 20.4 per cent
• Government fleets: 2080, down 9.8 per cent

Sales by propulsion or fuel type

• Petrol: 41,796, down 16.1 per cent
• Diesel: 27,882, down 10.1 per cent
• Hybrid: 6277, down 17.2 per cent
• Electric: 866
• PHEV: 628, up 153.2 per cent
• Hydrogen FCEV: 1

Sales by country of origin

• Japan: 24,353 units, down 30.1 per cent
• Thailand: 19,271 units, down 8.6 per cent
• Korea: 12,137 units, up 2.2 per cent
• China: 8284 units, up 47.0 per cent
• USA: 2959, up 32.3 per cent

Previous monthly reports

• March 2022 Australian new vehicle sales (VFACTS)
• February 2022 Australian new vehicle sales (VFACTS)
• January 2022 Australian new vehicle sales (VFACTS)
• December 2021 Australian new vehicle sales (VFACTS)
• November 2021 Australian new vehicle sales (VFACTS)
• October 2021 Australian new vehicle sales (VFACTS)
• September 2021 Australian new vehicle sales (VFACTS)
• August 2021 Australian new vehicle sales (VFACTS)
• July 2021 Australian new vehicle sales (VFACTS)
• June 2021 Australian new vehicle sales (VFACTS)
• May 2021 Australian new vehicle sales (VFACTS)
• April 2021 Australian new vehicle sales (VFACTS)
• March 2021 Australian new vehicle sales (VFACTS)
• February 2021 Australian new vehicle sales (VFACTS)
• January 2021 Australian new vehicle sales (VFACTS)
• December 2020 Australian new vehicle sales (VFACTS)
• November 2020 Australian new vehicle sales (VFACTS)
• October 2020 Australian new vehicle sales (VFACTS)
• September 2020 Australian new vehicle sales (VFACTS)
• August 2020 Australian new vehicle sales (VFACTS)
• July 2020 Australian new vehicle sales (VFACTS)
• June 2020 Australian new vehicle sales (VFACTS)
• May 2020 Australian new vehicle sales (VFACTS)
• April 2020 Australian new vehicle sales (VFACTS)
• March 2020 Australian new vehicle sales (VFACTS)

Got any questions about car sales? Ask away in the comments and I’ll jump in!