VFACTS: November 2023 new car sales results for Australia

The monthly new car sales figures for November suggest we are on track for a record year in 2023, as the VFACTS report reveals another record month in units.

Aussie consumers took delivery of 112,141 new vehicles in November this year (we’ll call them sales), which is an all-time record for the month of November. It continues the trend, with the six of the last seven months setting new records this year.

That figure is up 17.9 per cent on last November, and it contributes to a 12.6 per cent increase on the overall year-to-date (YTD) tally of 1,118,236 vehicles. We’re on track for a record year. It’s also a decent chunk more than the 106,809 units registered in the previous month of October. FCAI chief cxecutive, Tony Weber, spoke about the results in a statement, saying:

“This is an extraordinary result in what is now likely to be an extraordinary record-breaking year. Another record-breaking month underscores the dynamic and competitive nature of Australia’s automotive landscape, showcasing the wide array of choices available to consumers.”

However, Weber suggests rising living costs could influence some challenges in 2024. He said:

“The automotive sector remains a testament to the resilience and adaptability of both industry players and consumers alike. However, as cost-of-living pressures hit we may see a market cooling in the coming months, and we anticipate a more challenging 2024.”

In terms of the most popular new vehicle brands, Toyota remains at the top. It shifted 21,002 vehicles during the month, which is 4.5 per cent higher than last November. However, its YTD efforts are down 8.8 per cent.

Further down the top 10 list we see MG has dropped from fifth in October to sixth for November, and Volkswagen drops to 10th spot. Most manufacturers reported a big increase compared with the same month last year, except Kia saw a 5.8 per cent drop. MG also saw marginal gains, up 1.9 per cent.

See below for the top 10 best-selling car brands for November 2023, including the percentage change from the same month last year in brackets:

Toyota: 21,002 (+4.5% on November 2022)
Mazda: 8707 (+15.3%)
Ford: 8165 (+14.0%)
Hyundai: 6718 (+21.7%)
Mitsubishi: 6268 (+12.8%)
Kia: 5767 (-5.8%)
MG: 5603 (+1.9%)
Isuzu: 4853 (+73.4%)
Nissan: 4268 (+148.9%)
Volkswagen: 4004 (+31.5%)

As for the best-selling vehicles for the month, the Ford Ranger crossed the line with the most sales once again. It is fast-approaching the HiLux and could become Australia’s most popular new vehicle for 2023. Combined 4×2 and 4×4 units are at 55,968 for the HiLux and 55,589 for the Ranger. It’s neck-and-neck.

Aside from David and Goliath fighting at the top, the Isuzu D-Max remains in third but the Tesla Model Y has crept up into fourth. The Toyota Prado moves up into fifth, and the MG ZS has dropped back from sixth in October to 10th for this month.

See below for the top 10 best-selling vehicles during November 2023, including the percentage change compared with the same month last year:

Ford Ranger: 6301 (+24.2%)
Toyota HiLux: 5901 (+8.5%)
Isuzu D-Max: 3692 (+133.7%)
Tesla Model Y: 3151 (+74.6%)
Toyota Prado: 3090 (+195.7%)
Toyota RAV4: 2449 (-7.3%)
Toyota LandCruiser: 2423 (+5.5%)
Mitsubishi Outlander: 2381 (+27.0%)
Mazda CX-5: 2256 (+15.8%)
MG ZS: 2537 (+10.6%)

Into the specific vehicle segments, starting with the small under $40,000 category, Toyota remains in the lead with its Corolla. It recorded 1976 sales during the month, but it is on a decline, down 47.1 per cent compared with last November and down 22.8 per cent across YTD.

The Hyundai i30, meanwhile, is reporting a 15.6 per cent rise over last November. However, its YTD effort is down 2.2 per cent. Further down the list we see the BYD Dolphin has joined the ranking, setting off to a very decent start.

Overall segment sales are up 0.2 per cent for the month and down 16.4 per cent year-to-date. See below for the full results for this class in November, with the percentage change compared with November 2022 in brackets:

Toyota Corolla: 1976 (-47.1%)
Hyundai i30: 1566 (+15.6%)
Kia Cerato: 782 (+70.7%)
MG MG5: 758 (new vehicle)
Mazda3: 654 (-1.5%)
BYD Dolphin: 589 (new vehicle)
Skoda Scala: 176 (+551.9%)
Subaru Impreza: 2 (-99.2%)
Hyundai Ioniq: 0 (-100%)

Into the luxury small above $40,000 segment and we can’t help but notice the MG4 soaring at the top. It more than doubled the efforts of its nearest competitor, the Audi A3 in the case of November.

The Volkswagen Golf was bumped down to third by the A3 compared with the previous month, and the BMW 1 Series moved up one place. Other than that, this segment remained pretty stable from the previous month.

Segment sales topped 2552 units during the month, which is up 81.1 per cent. However, various new models have been added to this class in recent times, including the Honda Civic, Subaru WRX and VW Golf, which no doubt inflated the numbers.

See below for the complete results for the month, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:

MG MG4: 835 (new vehicle)
Audi A3: 397 (+91.8%)
Volkswagen Golf: 351 (-4.1%)
Subaru WRX: 185 (-38.1%)
BMW 1 Series: 138 (+146.4%)
Mercedes-Benz A-Class: 134 (-24.7%)
Honda Civic: 124 (+40.9%)
Cupra Born: 103 (new vehicle)
BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe: 89 (+21.9%)
GWM Ora: 69 (new vehicle)
Nissan Leaf: 43 (+230.8%)
Cupra Leon: 37 (-45.6%)
Peugeot 308: 23 (-30.3%)
MINI Clubman: 20 (999%)
Renault Megane: 4 (+200%)
Mercedes-Benz B-Class: 0 (-100.0%)
Ford Focus: 0 (-100.0%)
BMW i3: 0 (-100%)

Over in the medium below $60,000 category, it’s the Toyota Camry once again at the top. It reported some decent figures for the month, spiking 128.6 per cent compared with November last year.

This class recorded 1565 new registrations for the month, and that’s up 69.2 per cent for the month and contributes to an increase of 3.5 per cent across YTD. See below for the complete segment results, with the percentage change compared with November 2022 in brackets:

Toyota Camry: 1214 (+128.6%)
Mazda6: 137 (-25.9%)
Skoda Octavia: 95 (+2.2%)
Hyundai Sonata: 73(+160.7%)
Volkswagen Passat: 34 (-60.0%)
Honda Accord: 12 (+300.0%)

For the luxury version of above, in the medium above $60,000 class, the Tesla Model 3 continues to post the strongest figures. Sales are up 101.5 per cent for the electric sedan. Sales of the BMW i4, which is a similar package, are also up 999 per cent perhaps suggesting a trend towards electric powertrains.

The Polestar 2 also jumped into third spot and the Hyundai IONIQ 6 moved up into sixth, again, possibly reflecting an upward demand for electric vehicles in this class. Four of the top 10 best-selling vehicles in this class in November were fully electric.

Class figures reached 2022 vehicles for the month, which is up 27.5 per cent on last November. The year-to-date tally is also up, by 42.5 per cent. See below for the full results in this class for November 2023, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:

Tesla Model 3: 788 (+101.5%)
BMW 3 Series: 292 (+19.2%)
Polestar 2: 191 (-20.4%)
Lexus ES: 138 (+106.0%)
Mercedes-Benz C-Class: 113 (-60.2%)
Hyundai IONIQ 6: 98 (new vehicle)
BMW i4: 93 (+999%)
Audi A4: 76 (+8.6%)
Mercedes-Benz CLA: 74 (-22.1%)
Audi A5 Sportback: 71 (+86.8%)
BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe: 29 (-21.6%)
Alfa Romeo Giulia: 16 (-38.5%)
Genesis G70: 15 (+87.5%)
Volvo V60 Cross Country: 10 (+150.0%)
Volkswagen Arteon: 8 (-87.1%)
Volvo S60: 6 (-25.0%)
Peugeot 508: 3 (-57.1%)
Jaguar XE: 1 (+100.0%)
Lexus IS: 0 (0.0%)

In the large below $70,000 class we see not much is happening, sadly. This segment was led by the Skoda Superb for the month, although all options recorded fairly small figures. An influx of new SUVs and utes, and EVs, is likely causing buyers to move away from this class.

The three-car field saw just 25 units delivered, collectively, which is down 83 per cent on last November and adds to a 25.4 per cent decline so far this year. See below for the full results for November 2023, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:

Skoda Superb: 14 (-44.0%)
Kia Stinger: 8 (-92.5%)
Citroen C5 X: 3 (-80.0%)

Moving up to the large above $70,000 category and we see the BMW 5 Series recorded the highest figure. This is perhaps as the new model arrives, including the electric i5. The Porsche Taycan come home with second place, followed by the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

Overall class figures reached 243 units in November. Compared with last year, the month is up 81.3 per cent and the YTD tally is up 33.1 per cent. See below for the complete results for this class, with the percentage change compared with November last year in brackets:

BMW 5 Series: 76 (+105.4%)
Porsche Taycan: 56 (+460.0%)
Mercedes-Benz E-Class: 34 (+6.3%)
Audi A6: 28 (+12.0%)
Mercedes-Benz EQE: 19 (new vehicle)
Audi e-tron GT: 15 (new vehicle)
Audi A7: 8 (+33.3%)
Genesis G80: 5 (+25.0%)
Maserati Ghibli: 2 (-83.3%)
Mercedes-Benz CLS: 0 (-100%)
Jaguar XF: 0 (0.0%)
Toyota Mirai: 0 (0.0%)

At the top end of the class, the upper large above $100,000 category, the Mercedes S-Class came home with the most sales. However, so did the BMW 7 Series. The two legendary rivals crossed the line at the same time.

From there, the Mercedes EQS – basically an electric S-Class – reported the second-highest sales, followed by the electric version of the 7 Series, the i7. What a coincidence.

The segment reported 38 sales for the month, up 5.6 per cent on last November, and the year-to-date tally is 491 units, up 2.7 per cent on the same 11-month period last year.

See below for the full results for this class for November, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:

Mercedes-Benz S-Class: 7 (+40.0%) / BMW 7 Series: 7 (+133.3%)
Mercedes EQS: 6 (+200.0%)
BMW i7: 5 (+66.7%)
Audi A8: 3 (+50.0%)
Bentley sedan: 2 (+100.0%) / Mercedes-AMG GT 4: 2 (100%) / Porsche Panamera: 2 (-66.7%) / Rolls-Royce sedan: 2 (+100.0%)
BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe: 1 (-92.3%) / Maserati Quattroporte: 1 (0.0%)
Lexus LS: 0 (0.0%)

2024 Toyota GR86-Driving Enthusiast Vbox testing

Into the fun cars, starting with the entry sports below $80,000 category, BMW reported the highest sales once again with its 2 Series two-door models. Sales are up 69.7 per cent YTD for the sporty coupe and convertible.

The Toyota GR86 came home in second spot once again, with sales up 519.4 per cent YTD, mainly due to the new model coming in about this time last year. Its cousin, the Subaru BRZ also reported decent numbers and its YTD effort is up 43.1 per cent.

This category reported 528 new registrations during November this year, which is down 12.1 per cent on the same month last year. The YTD tally of 6436 vehicles is up an impressive 46.7 per cent, however. See below for the full results for the month, with the percentage change compared with November 2022 in brackets:

BMW 2 Series coupe/convertible: 171 (+2.4%)
Toyota GR86: 117 (+244.1%)
Subaru BRZ: 95 (-19.5%)
Mazda MX-5: 80 (+23.1%)
MINI Cabrio: 29 (+999%)
Nissan Z: 27 (+170.0%)
Ford Mustang: 9 (-95.7%)
Nissan 370Z: 0 (outgoing model)

Into slightly more serious realms, the sports above $80,000 segment was led by the BMW 4 Series once again. Its main rival, the two-door Mercedes C-Class came in as the second favourite. Interestingly, the Corvette was the third most popular followed by the Toyota Supra.

This segment reported 294 sales overall for the month, and that’s up 57.2 per cent on last November. The YTD total is currently at 3340 vehicles, up 24 per cent on the same period last year. See below for the full segment results, with the percentage change compared with November 2022 in brackets:

BMW 4 Series coupe/convertible: 69 (+9.5%)
Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe/convertible: 45 (+80.0%)
Chevrolet Corvette: 37 (+184.6%)
Toyota GR Supra: 36 (+44.0%)
Lotus Emira: 22 (new vehicle)
Audi TT: 20 (+999%)
Audi A5: 17 (+325.0%)
Porsche Cayman: 16 (-69.1%)
Porsche Boxster: 10 (+233.3%)
BMW Z4: 8 (+300.0%) / Mercedes-Benz E-Class coupe/convertible: 8 (0.0%)
Jaguar F-Type: 3 (+200.0%) / Lexus LC: 3 (+300.0%)
Alfa Romeo 4C: 0 (0%)
Alpine A110: 0 (0%)
Lexus RC: 0 (0%)
Lotus Elise: 0 (0%)
Lotus Exige: 0 (0%)
Caterham: 0 (0%)

At the top of the class, the sports above $200,000 segment was once again led by the iconic Porsche 911. Sales are up 142.9 per cent for the month for the German sports car, and up 4.3 per cent across YTD.

Ferrari and Lamborghini reported very close figures, with Aston Martin and the Mercedes SL clashing for fourth spot.

The total class figures hit 294 units in November, and that’s up 57.2 per cent on the same month last year. The YTD tally of 3340 units is up 24 per cent. See below for the full lineup results, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:

Porsche 911: 51 (+142.9%)
Lamborghini coupe/convertible: 17 (+30.8%)
Ferrari coupe/convertible: 18 (+63.6%)
Aston Martin coupe/convertible: 14 (+366.7%) / Mercedes-Benz SL: 14 (new vehicle)
Bentley coupe/convertible: 6 (+50%)
McLaren coupe/convertible: 3 (-25.0%)
Rolls-Royce coupe/convertible: 2 (+200%)
BMW 8 Series: 1 (-88.9%) / Maserati coupe/convertible: 1 (-85.7%)
Nissan GT-R: 0 (0.0%)
Audi R8: 0 (0.0%)

Over into the very popular SUV segments, they were all led by the Tesla Model Y. It was not only the most popular premium SUV but the most popular SUV outright.

As for specific segment popularity, the SUV Medium below $60,000 category was the favourite with 18,547 units (up 15.2 per cent for the month), followed by the SUV Small below $45,000 with 12,708 sales (up 9.2 per cent), and then the SUV Large below $70,000 class with 11,879 units (up 9.7 per cent).

See below for the complete sales (new registrations) results for each SUV category for November 2023, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:

Best-selling SUVs – Light

Mazda CX-3: 1200 (-0.6%)
Toyota Yaris Cross: 893 (+21.5%)
Hyundai Venue: 575 (+133.7%)
Kia Stonic: 515 (-4.1%)
Volkswagen T-Cross: 498 (+112.8%)
Suzuki Jimny: 247 (-58.5%)
Ford Puma: 169 (-28.7%)
Nissan Juke: 168 (+999%)
Suzuki Ignis: 165 (+25.0%)
Renault Captur: 27 (-71.0%)

Best-selling SUVs – Small below $45,000

MG ZS: 2047 (-32.9%)
Hyundai Kona: 1332 (+64.9%)
Mazda CX-30: 1081 (+49.5%)
GWM Haval Jolion: 1029 (+17.6%)
Subaru Crosstrek: 1027 (new vehicle, replaces XV)
Volkswagen T-Roc: 964 (+123.7%)
Kia Seltos: 931 (+135.7%)
Toyota Corolla Cross: 869 (+10.1%)
Mitsubishi ASX: 694 (-33.1%)
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross: 587 (+86.9%)
Chery Omoda 5: 556 (new vehicle)
Nissan Qashqai: 514 (+78.5%)
Suzuki Vitara: 293 (-30.2%)
Skoda Kamiq: 237 (+42.8%)
Honda HR-V: 165 (-46.3%)
Renault Arkana: 135 (-4.9%)
Jeep Compass: 94 (-26.6%)
Suzuki S-Cross: 50 (-21.9%)
Peugeot 2008: 43 (+87.0%)
Toyota C-HR: 30 (-95.9%)
Mazda MX-30: 27 (-50.0%)
Citroen C4: 2 (-33.3%)
Subaru XV: 1 (-99.9%)
GWM Haval H2: 0 (0.0%)

Best-selling SUVs – Small above $45,000

BMW X1: 758 (+521.3%)
Audi Q3: 423 (-39.3%)
Volvo XC40: 419 (+20.4)
Audi Q2: 243 (+556.8%)
Lexus UX: 201 (+154.4%)
Mercedes-Benz EQA: 169 (+550.0%)
Mercedes-Benz GLA: 159 (+37.1%)
Kia Niro: 158 (-37.1%)
MINI Countryman: 100 (+185.7%)
Alfa Romeo Tonale: 62 (new vehicle)
Volvo C40: 38 (-84.4%)
Genesis GV60: 18 (+50%)
Jaguar E-Pace: 13 (+85.7%)
BMW X2: 8 (-83.3%)
Renault Megane E-Tech: 0 (new vehicle)

Best-selling SUVs – Medium below $60,000

Toyota RAV4: 2449 (+7.3%)
Mitsubishi Outlander: 2381 (+27.0%)
Mazda CX-5: 2256 (+15.8%)
Hyundai Tucson: 1899 (+9.5%)
Kia Sportage: 1559 (-15.5%)
Subaru Forester: 1470 (+21.0%)
Nissan X-Trail: 1361 (+157.3%)
GWM Haval H6: 914 (+2.2%)
MG HS: 758 (-23.7%)
BYD Atto 3: 668 (-20.9%)
Honda CR-V: 657 (+2.3%)
Volkswagen Tiguan: 468 (+145.0%)
Cupra Formentor: 359 (+144.2)
GWM Haval H6 GT: 357 (-18.3%)
Honda ZR-V: 300 (new vehicle)
Chery Tiggo 7 Pro: 269 (new vehicle)
Ford Escape: 104 (-51.2%)
Renault Koleos: 83 (-35.7%)
Skoda Karoq: 81 (-13.8%)
SsangYong Korando: 56 (+107.4%)
Peugeot 5008: 50 (+525.0%)
Peugeot 3008: 47 (+20.5%)
Citroen C5 Aircross: 1 (0.0%)
Jeep Cherokee: 0 (-100%)

Best-selling SUVs – Medium above $60,000

Tesla Model Y: 3151 (-74.6%)
Lexus NX: 661 (+82.6%)
Mazda CX-60: 456 (new vehicle)
Audi Q5: 359 (+11.8%)
Mercedes-Benz GLC: 336 (+31.8%)
BMW X3: 283 (+8.8%)
Mercedes-Benz GLC coupe: 190 (+160.3%)
Porsche Macan: 170 (-2.3%)
Volvo XC60: 159 (-34.8%)
Genesis GV70: 118 (+306.9%)
Hyundai IONIQ 5: 88 (+4.8%)
BMW X4: 63 (-11.3%)
Mercedes-Benz EQB: 50 (+354.5%)
Mercedes-Benz GLB: 49 (-82.7%)
Range Rover Evoque: 44 (+109.5%) / Maserati Gracale: 44 (new vehicle)
Mercedes-Benz EQC: 43 (+290.9%)
Lexus RZ: 35 (new vehicle)
Alfa Romeo Stelvio: 19 (+14.3%)
Cupra Ateca: 15 (-82.8%)
Land Rover Discovery Sport: 10 (-79.2%)
Peugeot 408: 0 (0.0%)
Hyundai Nexo: 0 (0%)

Best-selling SUVs – Large below $70,000

Toyota Prado: 3090 (+195.7%)
Ford Everest: 1389 (+5.9%)
Isuzu MU-X: 1161 (-4.7%)
Subaru Outback: 1045 (+13.0%)
Mitsubishi Pajero Sport: 919 (+16.9%)
Toyota Fortuner: 607 (+46.3%)
GWM Tank 300: 529 (new vehicle)
Mazda CX-8: 515 (+4.7%)
Hyundai Santa Fe: 418 (-23.9%)
Hyundai Palisade: 353 (+5.1%)
Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace: 350 (-49.3%)
Toyota Kluger: 340 (-57.3%)
Kia Sorento: 265 (-75.1%)
LDV D90: 258 (-21.6%)
Mazda CX-9: 168 (-56.5%)
SsangYong Rexton: 166 (+23.0%)
Skoda Kodiaq: 117 (-10.0%)
Nissan Pathfinder: 89 (+8.5%)
Jeep Wrangler: 85 (-30.3%)
Volkswagen Passat Alltrack: 15 (-21.1%)
Mitsubishi Pajero: 0 (-100.0%)
GWM Haval H9: 0 (0)

Best-selling SUVs – Large above $70,000

Land Rover Defender: 368 (+180.9%)
BMW X5: 330 (+17.4%)
Mercedes-Benz GLE: 264 (-22.1%)
Audi Q7: 246 (+38.2%)
Kia EV6: 212 (+999%)
Range Rover Sport: 181 (+999%)
Lexus RX: 174 (+295.5%)
Mercedes-Benz GLE coupe: 156 (+81.4%)
Mazda CX-90: 131 (new model)
BMW X6: 95 (+58.3%)
Jeep Grand Cherokee: 84 (-11.6%)
Volvo XC90: 81 (+125.0%)
Audi Q8: 54 (+68.8%)
Porsche Cayenne Coupe: 53 (+1.9%)
Range Rover Velar: 52 (+147.6%) / Volkswagen Touareg: 52 (-63.9%)
Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV: 50 (new model)
Jaguar F-Pace: 45 (+104.5%)
BMW iX: 41 (-32.8%) / Porsche Cayenne: 41 (-42.3%)
Genesis GV80: 34 (-2.9%)
Audi e-tron: 20 (+100.0%)
Maserati Levante: 7 (-74.1%)
Jaguar I-Pace: 6 (+600%)
Ford Mustang Mach-E: 1 (new model)

Best-selling SUVs – Upper large below $120,000

Toyota LandCruiser: 1458 (-1.3%)
Nissan Patrol: 941 (+251.1%)
Kia EV9: 98 (new vehicle)
Land Rover Discovery: 59 (+999%)

Best-selling SUVs – Upper large above $120,000

BMW X7: 91 (+999%)
Lexus LX: 59 (+293.3%)
Mercedes-Benz G-Class: 47 (+422.2%)
Range Rover: 41 (+355.6%)
Mercedes-Benz GLS: 22 (-68.1%)
BMW XM: 21 (new vehicle)
Lamborghini Urus: 8 (+33.3%)
Aston Martin DBX: 7 (+600.0%) / Bentley Bentayga: 7 (0.0%)
Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV: 6 (new vehicle)
Rolls-Royce Cullinan: 1 (-50.0%)

Lastly, the ever-popular ute and pickup classes, the Ranger was the best-seller, as mentioned, followed by the Toyota HiLux and Isuzu D-Max. The Toyota HiLux remains as the most popular 4×2 model.

See below for the top 10 best-selling utes in Australia for November 2023, according to VFACTS, including 4×2 and 4×4 and the large above $100,000 segments combined:

Ford Ranger: 6301
Toyota HiLux: 5901
Isuzu D-Max: 3692
Mitsubishi Triton: 1687
Mazda BT-50: 1511
Nissan Navara: 1125
Toyota LandCruiser 70: 965
LDV T60/T60 EV: 829
Volkswagen Amarok: 821
GWM Ute: 782

To recap, November 2023 recorded a total of 112,141 new vehicle registrations, up from 106,809 in October this year. For the month, sales are up 17.9 per cent and YTD the industry is up 12.6 per cent. This year is set to be a record year. We’ll find out for sure at around this time in January. Stay tuned.