VFACTS: July 2022 car sales figures

Australia’s monthly car sales (meaning deliveries) steadied in July, showing 0.4 per cent growth over the same month last year despite ongoing stock shortages and wait lists.

Industry database VFACTS reports 84,461 sales for the first month of the new financial year, against 84,161 in July of 2021.

Given there was one fewer selling day this July than last July (26 days versus 27), the average daily sales increase was a tick over 131 units.

Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive Tony Weber said the flat result showed the market has yet to normalise since the beginning of the pandemic.

“Logistics, including shipping, remain unpredictable. While small growth on the same month in 2021 is encouraging, we do not expect the supply of vehicles to Australia to stabilise in the near future,” he said, on behalf of Australia’s 50-plus car brands.

This was not unanimous, with sales in New South Wales (up 10.9 per cent) and South Australia (up 13.3 per cent) going against the wider trend.

Toyota topped the brand sales charts, while its HiLux remained the market’s top-selling car.

While demand for electric vehicles (EVs) remains sky high, the lack of supply means sales only grew 18.3 per cent, compared to a year-to-date increase of 276.6 per cent. Tesla registered just four vehicles, as it awaits its next big shipment from Shanghai.

Brands

Toyota topped the charts as always and showed monthly growth despite wait times north of 12 months on many of its most popular models – and at least one ordering freeze.

That suggests it’s as much a demand problem as a supply problem, despite the FCAI’s statements.

Mazda took second ahead of Hyundai, which beat Kia into fourth spot (though Kia still leads YTD), ahead of Mitsubishi in fifth. Both Korean brands posted double-digit growth, suggesting freer supply.

Rounding out the top 10 were Ford (down 20.3 per cent, and struggling to keep up with new Ranger demand), MG (years of steep growth from a low base are paused for now, as it has achieved scale), Mercedes-Benz including commercials, Subaru, and Isuzu Ute despite the lattermost dipping 19.2 per cent.

Brands that clearly did suffer due to tight supply included Nissan (down 18.7 per cent), Volkswagen (down 47.3 per cent), Lexus (down 30.8 per cent), Skoda (down 41.4 per cent), and Land Rover (down 66.1 per cent).

Models

The top 20 sellers list comprised six medium SUVs, five utility vehicles, two small cars, two large SUVs, two small SUVs, one upper large SUV, one light SUV, and one medium car.

1. Toyota HiLux – 6441
2. Ford Ranger – 2934
3. Toyota RAV4 – 2437
4. Mazda CX-5 – 2346
5. Hyundai Tucson – 2186
6. Toyota Corolla – 1982
7. Isuzu D-Max – 1930
8. Mitsubishi Triton – 1879
9. Kia Sportage – 1837
10. Toyota Kluger – 1766
11. Hyundai i30 – 1758
12. Mitsubishi Outlander – 1310
13. Nissan X-Trail – 1269
14. MG ZS – 1229
15. Mazda CX-30 – 1226
16. Toyota Camry – 1222
17. Toyota Landcruiser Wagon – 1171
18. Toyota Prado – 1047
19. Toyota LandCruiser C/C – 975
20. Mazda CX-3 – 962

Segments

• Micro Cars: Kia Picanto (415), Mitsubishi Mirage (67), Fiat 500 (17)
• Light Cars under $25,000: MG 3 (893), Suzuki Baleno (431), Suzuki Swift (402)
• Light Cars over $25,000: Mini Hatch (216), Audi A1 (8), Citroen C3 (7)
• Small Cars under $40,000: Toyota Corolla (1982), Hyundai i30 (1758), Kia Cerato (946)
• Small Cars over $40,000: Audi A3 (330), Mercedes-Benz A-Class (230), BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe (149)
• Medium Cars under $60,000: Toyota Camry (1222), Mazda 6 (101), Volkswagen Passat (60)
• Medium Cars over $60,000: Mercedes-Benz C-Class (360), BMW 3 Series (122), Mercedes-Benz CLA (109)
• Large Cars under $70,000: Kia Stinger (112), Skoda Superb (58)
• Large Cars over $70,000: Porsche Taycan (42), BMW 5 Series (41), Audi A6 (33)
• Upper Large Cars: Mercedes-Benz EQS (22), Mercedes-Benz S-Class (16), Porsche Panamera (9)
• People Movers: Kia Carnival (920), Hyundai Staria (91), Volkswagen Multivan (45)
• Sports Cars under $80,000: Ford Mustang (199), Subaru BRZ (162), Mazda MX-5 (45)
• Sports Cars over $80,000: BMW 4 Series (53), Mercedes-Benz C-Class (46), Chevrolet Corvette (24)
• Sports Cars over $200,000: Porsche 911 (50), Ferrari range (15), Lamborghini two-door range (12)

• Light SUVs: Mazda CX-3 (962), Hyundai Venue (724), Toyota Yaris Cross (616)
• Small SUVs under $40,000: MG ZS (1229), Mazda CX-30 (1226), Hyundai Kona (931)
• Small SUVs over $40,000: Audi Q3 (549), Mercedes-Benz GLA (325), Volvo XC40 (267)
• Medium SUVs under $60,000: Toyota RAV4 (2437), Mazda CX-5 (2346), Hyundai Tucson (2186)
• Medium SUVs over $60,000: Mercedes-Benz GLC (488), BMW X3 (419), Lexus NX (287)
• Large SUVs under $70,000: Toyota Kluger (1766), Toyota Prado (1047), Isuzu MU-X (818)
• Large SUVs over $70,000: Mercedes-Benz GLE (352), BMW X5 (261), Land Rover Defender (153)
• Upper Large SUVs under $100,000: Toyota LandCruiser Wagon (1171), Nissan Patrol (298)
• Upper Large SUVs over $100,000: Mercedes-Benz GLS (98), BMW X7 (89), Audi Q8 (58)

• Light Vans: Volkswagen Caddy (41), Peugeot Partner (23), Renault Kangoo (2)
• Medium Vans: Toyota HiAce (474), Hyundai Staria Load (326), LDV G10 (301)
• Large Vans: Renault Master (286), Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (233), LDV Deliver 9 (16)
• Light Buses: Toyota HiAce (192), Toyota Coaster (20), LDV Deliver 9 (14)
• 4×2 Utes: Toyota HiLux (1600), Mitsubishi Triton (356), Isuzu D-Max (249)
• 4×4 Utes: Toyota HiLux (4841), Ford Ranger (2693), Isuzu D-Max (1681)

Miscellaneous

Sales by region

• New South Wales: 26,519, up 10.9 per cent
• Victoria: 22,076, down 5.8 per cent
• Queensland: 18,900, down 1.1 per cent
• Western Australia: 8059, down 9.0 per cent
• South Australia: 5649, up 13.3 per cent
• Tasmania: 1327, down 13.2 per cent
• Australian Capital Territory: 1175, down 16.4 per cent
• Northern Territory: 756, down 16.6 per cent

Category breakdown

• SUV: 44,704 sales, 52.9 per cent market share
• Light commercials: 20,064 sales, 23.8 per cent market share
• Passenger cars: 16,023 sales, 19.0 per cent market share
• Heavy commercials: 3670 sales, 4.3 per cent market share

Top segments by market share

• Medium SUV: 19.9 per cent
• 4×4 Utes: 18.0 per cent
• Small SUV: 12.9 per cent
• Large SUV: 12.8 per cent
• Small Car: 9.2 per cent

Sales by buyer type

• Private buyers: 44,539, up 1.8 per cent
• Business fleets: 28,464, down 5.6 per cent
• Rental fleets: 5734, up 28.5 per cent
• Government fleets: 2054, down 8.9 per cent

Sales by propulsion or fuel type

• Petrol: 44,039, down 4.2 per cent
• Diesel: 28,735, up 0.5 per cent
• Hybrid: 6779, up 31.6 per cent
• Electric: 609, up 18.3 per cent
• PHEV: 578, up 77.8 per cent
• Hydrogen FCEV: 1

Sales by country of origin

• Japan: 25,812 units, down 3.7 per cent
• Thailand: 18,788 units, down 1.3 per cent
• Korea: 14,142 units, up 34.3 per cent
• China: 6889 units, up 1.5 per cent
• USA: 4165, up 31.6 per cent

Some previous monthly reports

• June 2022 Australian new vehicle sales (VFACTS)
• May 2022 Australian new vehicle sales (VFACTS)
• April 2022 Australian new vehicle sales (VFACTS)
• 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)

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