After a cracking, record-breaking year of new vehicle registrations in 2023, January 2024 seems to be off to a good start compared with last year.
According to the January VFACTS report for 2024, which counts new vehicle registrations, Aussies snapped up 89,782 new vehicles during the month. That’s up 5.8 per cent on the 84,873 units delivered during January last year. However, sales have slowed slightly compared with December, when 98,544 units were sent out.
In terms of the most popular new vehicle brands, Toyota is off to a commanding start, with Mazda rolling up in second spot and then Ford. GWM jumps into the top 10, straight into eighth spot, with Subaru just beating Volkswagen for number 10.
See below for the top 10 best-selling car brands for January 2024, including the percentage change from the same month last year in brackets:
- Toyota: 17,903 (+34.0% on January 2023)
- Mazda: 8165 (-13.2%)
- Ford: 6624 (0.0%)
- Hyundai: 6162 (+6.1%)
- Mitsubishi: 5911 (+12.0%)
- Kia: 5707 (-5.0%)
- MG: 4006 (-0.2%)
- Isuzu: 3758 (+40.7%)
- GWM: 3124 (+24.8%)
- Subaru: 3068 (-14.8%)
Moving on to the best-selling vehicles for the month, the Ford Ranger maintains its lead from December. Toyota isn’t far behind with its HiLux, and then we drop back to the LandCruiser for third. Interestingly, the Toyota Corolla is back in the top 10, as is the Prado. That means, with the RAV4, five out of the top 10 best-sellers are Toyotas.
See below for the top 10 best-selling vehicles during January 2024, including the percentage change compared with the same month last year:
- Ford Ranger: 4747 (0.0%)
- Toyota HiLux: 4092 (-0.9%)
- Toyota LandCruiser: 2541 (+55.8%)
- Isuzu D-Max: 2541 (+37.9%)
- Toyota RAV4: 2211 (+12.9%)
- Mitsubishi Outlander: 2381 (+27.0%)
- MG ZS: 1888 (+2.5%)
- Toyota Corolla: 1843 (+65.1%)
- Toyota Prado: 1746 (+47.7%)
- Hyundai i30: 1727 (+10.4%)
Focusing in on specific segments, the small under $40,000 category was led by the Corolla, as suggested above. However, the i30 maintains a very close gap, while the Kia Cerato and Mazda3 continue to trail behind at some distance.
The segment is experiencing a 59.5 per cent increase in sales compared with the same month last year, which is interesting considering this category is thought to be shrinking. See below for the full results for this class in January, with the percentage change compared with January 2023 in brackets:
- Toyota Corolla: 1843 (-65.1%)
- Hyundai i30: 1727 (+10.4%)
- Mazda3: 1040 (+26.2%)
- Kia Cerato: 1022 (+231.8%)
- MG MG5: 404 (new vehicle)
- BYD Dolphin: 256 (new vehicle)
- Subaru Impreza: 168 (-40.8%)
- Skoda Scala: 82 (+148.5%)
- Hyundai Ioniq: 0 (-100%)
Stepping up to the premium small above $40,000 segment and it’s the MG4 that remains a firm hold on the lead for the first month of the year. The little electric car has been a hit since it arrived last year, especially with the bonkers X-Power variant in the mix.
Further down the top-sellers list, the VW Golf just out-sold its cousin, the Audi A3, making up second and third positions, with the once-favourite Mercedes A-Class kicking off the year from xx spot. We also notice the GWM Ora is off to a decent start.
The segment reported 1615 deliveries for the month, which is up 19 per cent on the same month last year. Again, small hatchbacks seem to be flipping the SUV trend?
See below for the complete results for the month, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:
- MG MG4: 537 (new vehicle)
- Volkswagen Golf: 203 (-24.0%)
- Audi A3: 198 (-11.6%)
- Subaru WRX: 167 (-32.4%)
- BMW 1 Series: 93 (-33.6%)
- GWM Ora: 88 (new vehicle)
- Mercedes-Benz A-Class: 87 (-61.3%)
- BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe: 59 (-16.9%)
- Honda Civic: 52 (-21.2%)
- Cupra Born: 49 (new vehicle)
- MINI Clubman: 29 (-999%)
- Cupra Leon: 23 (-14.8%)
- Nissan Leaf: 14 (-64.1%)
- Peugeot 308: 8 (-60.0%)
- Renault Megane: 7 (+133%)
- Mercedes-Benz B-Class: 1 (-80.0%)
- Ford Focus: 0 (-100.0%)
Moving up a size, the medium below $60,000 category is seeing a surprising jump in sales compared with last year. However, the increase is partly driven by the arrival of the new BYD Seal, which is fast-approaching Toyota Camry levels of attention.
The segment reported 2078 sales for the month, which is up 168.8 per cent on last January. Toyota’s ever-popular Camry continues to lead the class and its January effort is up 220 per cent. See below for the complete segment results, with the percentage change compared with January 2023 in brackets:
- Toyota Camry: 1192 (+220.4%)
- BYD Seal: 589 (new vehicle)
- Mazda6: 144 (-27.6%)
- Skoda Octavia: 104 (-14.8%)
- Hyundai Sonata: 25(+31.6%)
- Volkswagen Passat: 16 (-71.9%)
- Honda Accord: 8 (+100%)
Into the premium sedans (and wagons), the medium above $60,000 class was led by the Tesla Model 3 once again. The electric sedan is experiencing a 75 per cent drop in figures compared with last January, though. BMW 3 Series and Polestar 2 figures trail behind.
Class efforts reached 1685 units for the month. That’s down 59.6 per cent on last year. See below for the full results in this class for January 2024, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:
- Tesla Model 3: 723 (-75.3%)
- BMW 3 Series: 208 (+29.2%)
- Polestar 2: 151 (-7.9%)
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class: 136 (-66.7%)
- Lexus ES: 98 (-24.6%)
- BMW i4: 93 (+675.0%)
- Mercedes-Benz CLA: 75 (-41.4%)
- Hyundai IONIQ 6: 42 (new vehicle)
- Alfa Romeo Giulia: 31 (+93.8%)
- Audi A5 Sportback: 26 (-27.8%)
- Volvo S60: 23 (+91.7%)
- Volkswagen Arteon: 22 (-60.7%)
- Audi A4: 18 (-71.4%)
- Volvo V60 Cross Country: 17 (+325.0%)
- BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe: 13 (-63.9%)
- Genesis G70: 4 (-50.0%)
- Peugeot 508: 3 (-57.1%)
- Jaguar XE: 2 (+100.0%)
In perhaps the segment that’s struggling the most, the large below $70,000 class, things don’t look good. It’s being held together by the Skoda Superb and Citroen C5 X, with zero deliveries of the Kia Stinger (soon to be out of production).
Total deliveries stood at just 20 units for the month, and that’s down 90.4 per cent on last January. See below for the full results for January 2024, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:
- Skoda Superb: 18 (-45.5%)
- Citroen C5 X: 2 (-33.3%)
- Kia Stinger: 0 (-100%)
Into the executive class, with the large above $70,000 category, the BMW 5 Series continues in the lead for the start of the year. Porsche Taycan sales are still going strong, especially for such a high-end brand, followed the Genesis G80, surprisingly. However, we suspect G80 sales are largely down to new demo fleet vehicles hitting the country.
The segment reported 154 sales in the first month of 2024. That’s up 45.3 per cent on last January. See below for the complete results for this class, with the percentage change compared with January last year in brackets:
- BMW 5 Series: 52 (+100.0%)
- Porsche Taycan: 40 (+100%)
- Genesis G80: 13 (+999%)
- Audi A6: 12 (+71.4%)
- Mercedes-Benz E-Class: 11 (-8.3%)
- Audi e-tron GT: 10 (-69.7%)
- Mercedes-Benz EQE: 7 (-50.0%)
- Audi A7: 5 (+25.0%)
- Maserati Ghibli: 2 (+100.0%)
- Jaguar XF: 1 (+100.0%) / Toyota Mirai: 1 (+100.0%)
- Mercedes-Benz CLS: 0 (-100%)
Right at the top of the food-chain for luxury sedans, the upper large above $100,000 category, is being led by the Mercedes-AMG GT 4 four-door to kick off 2024. However, many nameplates here recorded zero new registrations. Perhaps as company executives and bankers are still enjoying extended leave while the rest of us are back at it, hard at work already.
The segment reported just 11 sales overall, which is down 77.1 per cent. See below for the full results for this class for January 2024, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:
- Mercedes-AMG GT 4: 4 (+100.0%)
- Porsche Panamera: 3 (-62.5%)
- Mercedes-Benz S-Class: 2 (-80.0%)
- Bentley sedan: 1 (+100.0%) / Mercedes EQS: 1 (0.0%)
- Audi A8: 0 (-100.0%)
- BMW 7 Series: 0 (-100.0%)
- BMW i7: 0 (-100.0%)
- BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe: 0 (-100.0%)
- Lexus LS: 0 (-100.0%)
- Rolls-Royce sedan: 0 (-100.0%)
Over into the sports cars, starting with the entry sports below $80,000 category, Subaru has set the pace with the BRZ. It was followed closely by the Toyota GR86 twin and then the fun-loving Mazda MX-5.
Ford Mustang sales are pretty much dried up now as we await the next-gen model’s arrival this year. We also notice the BMW 2 Series has been bumped up a class for 2024.
Class efforts reached 303 units, which is pretty steady, albeit down 20.9 per cent on last January. See below for the full results for the month, with the percentage change compared with January 2023 in brackets:
- Subaru BRZ: 96 (-17.2%)
- Toyota GR86: 89 (+178.1%)
- Mazda MX-5: 49 (-43.0%)
- Nissan Z: 35 (-22.2%)
- MINI Cabrio: 32 (+10.3%)
- Ford Mustang: 2 (-97.3%)
In the sports above $80,000 segment the BMW 2 Series joins the fleet and competes, oddly, with the 4 Series. This move means the 2 Series becomes the favourite, against largely more expensive and more serious contenders.
Overall segment efforts reached 310 sales, up 21.1 per cent on last January. See below for the full segment results, with the percentage change compared with January 2023 in brackets:
- BMW 2 Series coupe/convertible: 140 (+197.9%)
- BMW 4 Series coupe/convertible: 56 (-11.1%)
- Chevrolet Corvette: 22 (+37.5%)
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe/convertible: 15 (-63.4%)
- Toyota GR Supra: 13 (+62.5%)
- Porsche Cayman: 12 (-50.0%)
- Audi TT: 11 (+57.1%)
- Lotus Emira: 9 (-10.0%)
- Porsche Boxster: 7 (0.0%)
- Audi A5: 6 (-14.3%) / Jaguar F-Type: 6 (-25.0%)
- Lexus LC: 5 (+100%)
- BMW Z4: 3 (-50.0%) / Mercedes-Benz E-Class coupe/convertible: 3 (-75.0%)
- Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class: 2 (new vehicle)
Up in the pinnacle performance arena, in the sports above $200,000 segment, the Porsche 911 remains in charge, by quite a margin actually. And sales are up compared with last January by an impressive 87 per cent. Ferrari sales are also off to a decent start for a niche brand, as are Bentley two-door model sales.
Class figures topped 92 units, which is up 43.8 per cent for the month. See below for the full lineup results, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:
- Porsche 911: 45 (+87.5%)
- Ferrari coupe/convertible: 11 (-35.3%)
- Bentley coupe/convertible: 9 (+100.0%)
- Lamborghini coupe/convertible: 6 (0.0%) / Mercedes-Benz SL: 6 (new vehicle)
- Aston Martin coupe/convertible: 4 (+100.0%)
- BMW 8 Series: 3 (-40.0%) / McLaren coupe/convertible: 3 (-70.0%) / Rolls-Royce coupe/convertible: 3 (+100%)
- Maserati coupe/convertible: 2 (0.0%)
Shifting to the must-have SUVs, and it was the Toyota RAV4 that came in as the most popular SUV for the first month of the year. Surprisingly, it wasn’t the Tesla Model Y (384 units) as the best-selling premium SUV. Instead, the crown goes to the Lexus NX.
In terms of the most popular classes, the SUV Medium below $60,000 segment experienced the highest demand with 14,861 units (up 2.4 per cent for the month), followed by the SUV Small below $45,000 with 11,640 sales (up 23.0 per cent), and then the SUV Large below $70,000 class with 10,389 units (up 9.3 per cent).
See below for the complete sales (new registrations) results for each SUV category for January 2024, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:
Best-selling SUVs – Light
- Mazda CX-3: 1524 (-36.9%)
- Toyota Yaris Cross: 742 (+44.6%)
- Suzuki Jimny: 597 (+0.7%)
- Hyundai Venue: 546 (-18.8%)
- Kia Stonic: 528 (+35.4%)
- Nissan Juke: 181 (+118.1%)
- Ford Puma: 180 (+2.3%)
- Suzuki Ignis: 170 (-16.3%)
- Volkswagen T-Cross: 137 (-71.9%)
- Renault Captur: 36 (-73.1%)
Best-selling SUVs – Small below $45,000
- MG ZS: 1888 (+2.5%)
- Hyundai Kona: 1368 (+120.3%)
- GWM Haval Jolion: 1055 (+20.6%)
- Mazda CX-30: 1040 (+57.3%)
- Mitsubishi ASX: 945 (-13.8%)
- Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross: 882 (+54.5%)
- Subaru Crosstrek: 810 (new vehicle, replaces XV)
- Toyota Corolla Cross: 775 (+46.8%)
- Kia Seltos: 674 (+47.8%)
- Chery Omoda 5: 515 (new vehicle)
- Nissan Qashqai: 491 (-14.0%)
- Volkswagen T-Roc: 468 (+46.7%)
- Honda HR-V: 241 (+10.6%)
- Suzuki Vitara: 166 (+10.7%)
- Jeep Compass: 85 (-22.7%)
- Skoda Kamiq: 77 (-45.8%)
- Renault Arkana: 55 (-47.6%)
- Suzuki S-Cross: 48 (+220.0%)
- Mazda MX-30: 27 (-59.1%)
- Peugeot 2008: 25 (+66.7%)
- Toyota C-HR: 5 (-98.4%)
- Citroen C4: 0 (-100.0%)
- Subaru XV: 0 (-100.0%)
Best-selling SUVs – Small above $45,000
- Audi Q3: 355 (-11.9%)
- Volvo XC40: 341 (-16.4)
- BMW X1: 285 (+313.0%)
- Lexus UX: 107 (+10.3%)
- Kia Niro: 96 (-41.8%)
- Mercedes-Benz GLA: 84 (+31.3%)
- Audi Q2: 63 (+26.0%)
- Mercedes-Benz EQA: 62 (+416.7%)
- Volvo C40: 59 (-53.5%)
- Alfa Romeo Tonale: 42 (new vehicle)
- MINI Countryman: 14 (-84.3%)
- Jaguar E-Pace: 13 (+44.4%)
- Genesis GV60: 12 (+9.1%)
- BMW X2: 8 (-79.5%)
- Renault Megane E-Tech: 2 (new vehicle)
Best-selling SUVs – Medium below $60,000
- Toyota RAV4: 2211 (+12.9%)
- Mitsubishi Outlander: 2077 (+24.1%)
- Mazda CX-5: 1720 (-21.4%)
- Kia Sportage: 1665 (+5.9%)
- Hyundai Tucson: 1506 (-6.7%)
- Subaru Forester: 1061 (-22.6%)
- Nissan X-Trail: 929 (-2.7%)
- GWM Haval H6: 681 (+12.0%)
- Honda CR-V: 577 (-29.2%)
- Honda ZR-V: 468 (new vehicle)
- BYD Atto 3: 465 (+74.2%)
- Volkswagen Tiguan: 411 (+5.4%)
- MG HS: 281 (-65.9%)
- GWM Haval H6 GT: 228 (-20.0%)
- Chery Tiggo 7 Pro: 214 (new vehicle)
- Renault Koleos: 121 (-62.2%)
- Ford Escape: 87 (-24.3%)
- Skoda Karoq: 75 (-56.9%)
- SsangYong Korando: 56 (+33.3%)
- Peugeot 3008: 25 (-39.0%)
- Citroen C5 Aircross: 3 (+200.0%)
- Jeep Cherokee: 0 (-100%)
Best-selling SUVs – Medium above $60,000
- Lexus NX: 399 (+111.1%)
- Tesla Model Y: 384 (-0.5%)
- Mazda CX-60: 290 (new vehicle)
- Porsche Macan: 279 (+48.4%)
- BMW X3: 219 (-43.0%)
- Audi Q5: 197 (-34.6%)
- Mercedes-Benz GLC: 173 (-18.0%)
- Volvo XC60: 147 (-30.7%)
- Mercedes-Benz GLC coupe: 89 (-5.3%)
- Genesis GV70: 70 (-1.4%)
- Cupra Formentor: 69 (+36.1)
- Range Rover Evoque: 62 (+999%)
- Mercedes-Benz GLB: 53 (-66.5%)
- Hyundai IONIQ 5: 48 (+60.0%)
- BMW X4: 44 (+83.3%)
- Mercedes-Benz EQB: 24 (+700.0%)
- Alfa Romeo Stelvio: 21 (+61.5%)
- Land Rover Discovery Sport: 20 (+150.0%) / Mercedes-Benz EQC: 20 (-13.0%)
- Peugeot 408: 19 (new vehicle)
- Maserati Gracale: 16 (new vehicle)
- Subaru Solterra: 11 (new vehicle)
- Cupra Ateca: 6 (-52.8%)
- Peugeot 5008: 2 (-71.4%)
Best-selling SUVs – Large below $70,000
- Toyota Prado: 1746 (+47.7%)
- Toyota Kluger: 1256 (+84.4%)
- Isuzu MU-X: 1217 (+47.0%)
- Ford Everest: 1176 (-4.4%)
- Subaru Outback: 755 (-4.7%)
- Kia Sorento: 647 (-38.0%)
- Mitsubishi Pajero Sport: 624 (-5.6%)
- Mazda CX-8: 539 (-16.4%)
- GWM Tank 300: 393 (new vehicle)
- Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace: 367 (+1.7%)
- Toyota Fortuner: 346 (+67.1%)
- Hyundai Santa Fe: 295 (-40.4%)
- LDV D90: 265 (-7.7%)
- Hyundai Palisade: 230 (-31.8%)
- SsangYong Rexton: 170 (+49.1%)
- Mazda CX-9: 117 (-65.6%)
- Skoda Kodiaq: 98 (-16.9%)
- Jeep Wrangler: 67 (-15.2%)
- Nissan Pathfinder: 65 (-11.0%)
- Volkswagen Passat Alltrack: 10 (-28.6%)
- Dodge Journey: 6 (new vehicle)
- Mitsubishi Pajero: 0 (-100.0%)
Best-selling SUVs – Large above $70,000
- Kia EV6: 199 (+352.3%)
- BMW X5: 184 (-10.7%)
- Range Rover Sport: 180 (+309.1%)
- Lexus RX: 158 (+999%)
- Land Rover Defender: 156 (+66.0%)
- Mercedes-Benz GLE: 123 (-51.4%)
- Mazda CX-90: 86 (new model)
- Jeep Grand Cherokee: 71 (+6.0%)
- Ford Mustang Mach-E: 59 (new model) / Porsche Cayenne: 59 (-13.2%)
- Volvo XC90: 57 (-42.4%)
- Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV: 56 (new model)
- Porsche Cayenne Coupe: 51 (-7.3%)
- BMW X6: 41 (+141.2%)
- Volkswagen Touareg: 40 (-51.8%)
- Jaguar F-Pace: 39 (+254.5%)
- Audi Q8: 37 (+76.2%)
- Range Rover Velar: 35 (+100%)
- Audi Q7: 34 (-77.8%)
- Genesis GV80: 31 (+93.8%)
- Mercedes-Benz GLE coupe: 29 (-5.74%)
- BMW iX: 24 (-74.7%)
- Lexus RZ: 18 (new vehicle)
- Audi e-tron: 15 (+150%)
- Maserati Levante: 4 (-60.0%)
- Jaguar I-Pace: 2 (-50.0%)
Best-selling SUVs – Upper large below $120,000
- Toyota LandCruiser: 1463 (+46.9%)
- Nissan Patrol: 509 (+101.2%)
- Kia EV9: 47 (new vehicle)
- Land Rover Discovery: 42 (+999%)
Best-selling SUVs – Upper large above $120,000
- BMW X7: 72 (+26.3%)
- Lexus LX: 56 (+31.7%)
- Mercedes-Benz G-Class: 31 (+999%)
- Range Rover: 27 (-6.9%)
- Mercedes-Benz GLS: 25 (-10.7%)
- Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV: 10 (new vehicle)
- Bentley Bentayga: 9 (+100%)
- BMW XM: 5 (new vehicle)
- Aston Martin DBX: 4 (+33.3%)
- Ferrari Purosangue: 3 (new vehicle) / Lamborghini Urus: 3 (-25.0%)
And then last but not least, the ute and pickup truck segments. These were led by the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux and Isuzu D-Max, as we saw at the top. The HiLux remains the favourite of the 4×2 class specifically.
See below for the top 15 best-selling utes in Australia for January 2024, according to VFACTS, including 4×2 and 4×4 and the large above $100,000 segments combined:
- Ford Ranger: 4747
- Toyota HiLux: 4092
- Isuzu D-Max: 2541
- Mitsubishi Triton: 1383
- Mazda BT-50: 1165
- Toyota LandCruiser 70: 1078
- LDV T60/T60 EV: 954
- GWM Ute: 679
- Volkswagen Amarok: 650
- Nissan Navara: 476
- RAM 1500: 290
- SsangYong Musso: 242
- Chevrolet Silverado: 193
- Ford F-150: 123
- Chervolet Silverado HD: 71
So, in total, we saw total sales top 89,782 for January, which is up 5.8 per cent on last January and of course that means year-to-date (YTD) is up 5.8 per cent. Of that total figure, 42,247 units were petrol power, 28,923 were diesel, 9821 were hybrid, 4893 were electric, and 980 were PHEV. One hydrogen vehicle was also registered.