VFACTS: Australia's car sales for September 2021 detailed

Stock shortages, price increases, and continual COVID chaos weren’t enough to halt the growth in new car sales across Australia for the month of September.

VFACTS industry data compiled by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) shows 83,312 new cars were recorded as sold last month – up 20.8 per cent on September 2020.

However to put this into context, the September 2021 tally is lower than the September 2019 tally of 88,181, let alone the September 2018 total of 94,711.

Year-to-date sales for 2021 to the end of September sit at 816,140 units, up 26.6 per cent on 2020’s record low total. It’s the best live YTD result since 2018 (881,005).

September 2021 sales – 83,312, up 20.8 per cent
YTD 2021 sales – 816,140, up 26.6 per cent

VFACTS: Australia's car sales for September 2021 detailed — Toyota HiLux

Brands

The good news for Toyota is it posted an all-time September record of 20,216 sales, up 56.3 per cent. The YTD tally is its best since 2008.

The bad news is the market leader’s stock is now limited and wait lists apply to most of its cars, meaning we’d expect to see sales taper over the final quarter.

Mazda held onto second despite being the sole top-10 brand to go backwards, edging out Ford and Hyundai in close succession. Kia completed the top five.

Rounding out the 10 were Mitsubishi, Volkswagen, Isuzu Ute (up a huge 102.5 per cent), Subaru (up 44.4 per cent), and MG (up 93.7 per cent). Nissan and Mercedes-Benz sat 11th and 12th.

Brands that grew sales above the market average included: Great Wall Motor (branded GWM and Haval) up 196.7 per cent and 13th overall, LDV up 50.8 per cent, Jeep up 65.3 per cent, Lexus up 90.3 per cent, Peugeot up 198.2 per cent, and SsangYong up 138.8 per cent.

Those that went backwards included: Honda down 44.8 per cent in the third month of its new business model), Porsche down 34.2 per cent, BMW down 27.0 per cent, Renault down 17.9 per cent, Mercedes-Benz down 17.1 per cent, and Audi down 12.2 per cent.

Car brands by sales for September 2021

Brand	Sales	Change*
Toyota	20,216	Up 56.3%
Mazda	6555	Down 6.4%
Ford	5759	Up 19.6%
Hyundai	5457	Up 3.5%
Kia	5155	Up 1.2%
Mitsubishi	4605	Up 10.2%
Volkswagen	3791	Up 8.5%
Isuzu Ute	3130	Up 102.5%
Subaru	3062	Up 44.4%
MG	3010	Up 93.7%
Nissan	2817	Up 8.8%
Mercedes-Benz	2460	Down 17.1%
GWM/Haval	1801	Up 196.7%
BMW	1465	Down 27.0%
Suzuki	1457	Up 14.8%
LDV	1372	Up 50.8%
Audi	1124	Down 12.2%
Honda	926	Down 44.8%
Jeep	795	Up 65.3%
Lexus	689	Up 90.3%
Volvo Car	615	Down 7.0%
Skoda	612	Down 2.4%
Renault	524	Down 17.9%
Peugeot	486	Up 198.2%
Land Rover	433	Up 27.7%
Mini	300	Up 1.7%
Porsche	300	Down 34.2%
Ram	299	Up 4.5%
SsangYong	234	Up 138.8%
Chevrolet	227	–
Fiat	191	Up 51.6%
Jaguar	104	Up 70.5%
Alfa Romeo	79	Down 16.8%
Genesis	48	Up 71.4%
Maserati	39	Down 26.4%
Bentley	21	Up 40.0%
Ferrari	19	Down 24.0%
Chrysler	16	Up 14.3%
Aston Martin	13	Up 44.4%
Lotus	12	Up 100.0%
Lamborghini	11	Up 83.3%
Citroen	7	Down 72.0%
McLaren	6	Up 100.0%
Rolls-Royce	2	–

* Change over September 2020 tally

Models

As we’ve come to expect, the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux topped the charts for the month to extend their leads YTD.

Further reinforcing Toyota’s utter dominance, four of the top five sellers were one of its cars: HiLux, Corolla, RAV4 and Prado.

The bottom half of the top 10 were the Hyundai i30, Isuzu D-Max, Toyota Camry, Mitsubishi ASX, and Mazda BT-50 (twin-under-the-skin to the D-Max, and posting even greater growth).

Therefore the make-up of the top 10 comprised four utes, two small cars, one large SUV, one medium SUV, one small SUV, and one medium sedan.

Car models by sales for September 2021

Model	Sales	Change*
Ford Ranger	4192	Up 12.5%
Toyota HiLux	3635	Up 0.7%
Toyota Corolla	3487	Up 138.5%
Toyota RAV4	3390	Up 39.3%
Toyota Prado	2173	Up 165.0%
Hyundai i30	2034	Up 13.9%
Isuzu D-Max	1833	Up 64.0%
Toyota Camry	1610	Up 35.1%
Mitsubishi ASX	1489	Up 58.4%
Mazda BT-50	1444	Up 176.2%
Hyundai Tucson	1416	Up 18.1%
Mazda CX-5	1415	Down 19.8%
Kia Cerato	1317	Down 17.6%
Toyota L’Cruiser CC	1314	Up 115.8%
Toyota HiAce	1307	Up 140.7%
Isuzu MU-X	1297	Up 203.0%
Toyota Kluger	1266	Up 126.9%
Subaru Outback	1162	Up 286.0%
MG ZS	1161	Up 147.5%
MG 3	1147	Up 41.8%

* Change over September 2020 tally

Pushing the top 10 were the Hyundai Tucson, Mazda CX-5, Kia Cerato, Toyota LandCruiser 70 ute and troop-carrier, Toyota HiAce van and bus, Isuzu MU-X (an all-time record), Toyota Kluger, Subaru Outback, MG ZS, and MG 3.

Segments

We can also identify the most popular models in each vehicle segment.

Micro Cars: Kia Picanto (547), Mitsubishi Mirage (78), Fiat 500 (72)
Light Cars under $25,000: MG 3 (1147), Kia Rio (567), Suzuki Baleno (561)
Light Cars over $25,000: Mini Hatch (182), Audi A1 (44), Citroen C3 (5)
Small Cars under $40,000: Toyota Corolla (3487), Hyundai i30 (2034), Kia Cerato (1317)
Small Cars over $40,000: Mercedes-Benz A-Class (356), BMW 1 Series (198), BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe (176)
Medium Cars under $60,000: Toyota Camry (1610), Skoda Octavia (110), Mazda 6 (106)
Medium Cars over $60,000: Mercedes-Benz CLA (206), BMW 3 Series (195), Mercedes-Benz C-Class (80)
Large Cars under $70,000: Kia Stinger (117), Skoda Superb (21)
Large Cars over $70,000: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (59), BMW 5 Series (35), Porsche Taycan (17)
Upper Large Cars: Chrysler 300 (16), Mercedes-Benz S-Class (11), Porsche Panamera (9)
People Movers: Kia Carnival (475), Hyundai Staria (79), LDV G10 (65)
Sports Cars under $80,000: Ford Mustang (215), Nissan 370Z (54), Mazda MX-5 (37)
Sports Cars over $80,000: BMW 4 Series (72), Mercedes-Benz C-Class (57), Mercedes-Benz E-Class (16)
Sports Cars over $200,000: Porsche 911 (23), Ferrari range (15), Bentley Continental (15)

Light SUVs: Toyota Yaris Cross (737), Kia Stonic (721), Mazda CX-3 (571)
Small SUVs under $40,000: Mitsubishi ASX (1489), MG ZS (1161), Mazda CX-30 (1078)
Small SUVs over $40,000: Audi Q3 (492), Volvo XC40 (360), Mercedes-Benz GLA (171)
Medium SUVs under $60,000: Toyota RAV4 (3390), Hyundai Tucson (1416), Mazda CX-5 (1415)
Medium SUVs over $60,000: Mercedes-Benz GLC (342), BMW X3 (312), Lexus NX (255)
Large SUVs under $70,000: Toyota Prado (2173), Isuzu MU-X (1297), Toyota Kluger (1266)
Large SUVs over $70,000: Mercedes-Benz GLE (253), Lexus RX (167), Land Rover Defender (150)
Upper Large SUVs under $100,000: Nissan Patrol (700), Toyota LandCruiser Wagon (227)
Upper Large SUVs over $100,000: Mercedes-Benz GLS (67), Land Rover Discovery (54), Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen (53)

Light Vans: Renault Kangoo (60), Volkswagen Caddy (54), Peugeot Partner (36)
Medium Vans: Toyota HiAce (1079), LDV G10/G10+ (316), Mitsubishi Express (215)
Large Vans: Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (254), LDV Deliver 9 (239), Renault Master (130)
Light Buses: Toyota HiAce (228), Toyota Coaster (27), Ford Transit (14)
4×2 Utes: Toyota HiLux (1253), Isuzu D-Max (470), Ford Ranger (341)
4×4 Utes: Ford Ranger (3851), Toyota HiLux (2382), Isuzu D-Max (1363)
Light Vans: Renault Kangoo (60), Volkswagen Caddy (54), Peugeot Partner (36)
Medium Vans: Toyota HiAce (1079), LDV G10/G10+ (316), Mitsubishi Express (215)
Large Vans: Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (254), LDV Deliver 9 (239), Renault Master (130)
Light Buses: Toyota HiAce (228), Toyota Coaster (27), Ford Transit (14)
4×2 Utes: Toyota HiLux (1253), Isuzu D-Max (470), Ford Ranger (341)
4×4 Utes: Ford Ranger (3851), Toyota HiLux (2382), Isuzu D-Max (1363)

Miscellaneous

Sales by region

NSW: 23965, down 7.9 per cent
Victoria: 20,495, up 96.2 per cent
Queensland: 20,062, up 24.2 per cent
WA: 9191, up 16.6 per cent
SA: 6139, up 18.6 per cent
Tasmania: 1645, up 29.7 per cent
ACT: 893, down 35.4 peer cent
NT: 922, up 38.4 per cent

Category breakdown

SUV: 40,832 sales, 49.0 per cent market share
Light commercials: 20,035 sales, 24.0 per cent market share
Passenger cars: 18,531 sales, 22.2 per cent market share
Heavy commercials: 3914 sales, 4.7 per cent market share

Top segments by market share

4×4 Utes: 17.4 per cent
Medium SUV: 16.8 per cent
Large SUV: 13.4 per cent
Small SUV: 12.9 per cent
Small Car: 11.4 per cent

Sales by buyer type

Private buyers: 41,140, up 20.2 per cent
Business fleets: 29,753, up 7.9 per cent
Rental fleets: 5862, up 159.6 per cent
Government fleets: 2643, up 27.9 per cent

Sales by propulsion or fuel type

Petrol: 44,872, up 12.2 per cent
Diesel: 26,800, up 24.4 per cent
Hybrid: 6959, up 60.8 per cent
EV minus Tesla*: 466, up 189.4 per cent
PHEV: 301, up 142.7 per cent
FCEV: Nil

* Tesla refuses to supply sales information

Sales by country of origin

Japan: 28,874 units, up 40.7 per cent
Thailand: 16,926 units, up 6.7 per cent
Korea: 10,837 units, up 3.4 per cent
China: 6560 units, up 103.7 per cent
Germany: 3459, down 31.9 per cent

Quotes

FCAI chief executive Tony Weber said the global microprocessor shortage, compounded by local COVID-19 restrictions, was continuing to impact sales across Australia.

“To see an increase of 21 percent on 2020 figures is definitely encouraging news. For many manufacturers it is bittersweet with the knowledge of what could have been achieved in a normal trading environment,” Mr Weber said.

“These are challenging times, but automotive manufacturers are rising to meet them. Brands are working across their supply chains to deal with microprocessor issues and consumers are embracing online purchasing through click and collect delivery options.

“In many respects these figures give the industry great encouragement and excitement for what will be possible in 2022 when lockdowns will hopefully be a thing of the past.”