VFACTS: March 2024 new car sales results for Australia

Another monthly sales record has been smashed, with March VFACTS new vehicle registration figures confirming a best-ever March effort. It was also a best-ever first quarter, with over 300,000 units newly registered so far this year (Jan-March).

According to the data, Aussies purchased (newly registered) 109,647 vehicles in March. That’s up 12.7 per cent on March 2023 and contributes to a continuing year-to-date increase, now at 13.2 per cent.

Starting with the most popular new vehicle brands, Toyota is still in front, by a big margin. Further down the top 10 list, though, we see Ford has overtaken Mazda for the month for second spot.

Nissan dropped from fourth in February 2024 back to eighth, while Hyundai slipped another spot to seventh, after falling the previous month as well. MG rounds out the top 10 once again in 10th spot.

See below for the top 10 best-selling car brands for March 2024, including the percentage change from the same month last year in brackets:

Toyota: 18,961 (+43.4% on March 2023)
Ford: 8776 (+35.3%)
Mazda: 8246 (0.0%)
Mitsubishi: 7866 (+34.2%)
Kia: 7070 (+10.4%)
Tesla: 6017 (+68.2%)
Hyundai: 5985 (+11.5%)
Nissan: 4976 (+46.2%)
Isuzu: 4351 (-4.0%)
MG: 3949 (-1.4%)

2024 Ford Ranger - lineup

What were the best-selling vehicles for the month? Well, the Ford Ranger came home on top once again. The Toyota HiLux fell behind again after losing out top spot the previous month. In fact, the Toyota RAV4 managed to move up into second spot.

We suspect this is largely due to supply constraints for Toyota, as we’ve heard RAV4 deliveries have been rolling in thick and fast lately, while HiLux supply continues to trickle through.

Interestingly, there were no ‘cars’ in the top 10 lineup in March; all either ute or SUV. See below for the top 10 best-selling vehicles during March 2024, including the percentage change compared with the same month last year:

Ford Ranger: 5661 (+25.6%)
Toyota RAV4: 5070 (+185.2%)
Tesla Model Y: 4379 (+126.0%)
Toyota HiLux: 3995 (-12.8%)
Mitsubishi Outlander: 2764 (+27.4%)
Isuzu D-Max: 2465 (-11.6%)
Ford Everest: 2264 (129.8%)
Nissan X-Trail: 2161 (+124.4%)
Toyota LandCruiser: 2159 (+28.3%)
Mazda CX-5: 2134 (+11.3%)

In the car categories, starting with the small under $40,000 class, the Toyota Corolla came home with the win once again. Interestingly, the Kia Cerato jumped into second spot. It has experienced decent sales in the past but has since dropped back. But now it appears to be on the rise again (check out that percentage increase).

Segment sales stand at 5849 for the month, up 35 per cent, while the YTD tally is 19,013 units, up 53.5 per cent. See below for the full results for this class in March, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:

Toyota Corolla: 2027 (+103.5%)
Kia Cerato: 1193 (+182.0%)
Hyundai i30: 1021 (-32.7%)
Mazda3: 922 (-5.2%)
MG MG5: 276 (new vehicle)
BYD Dolphin: 213 (new vehicle)
Subaru Impreza: 160 (-57.0%)
Skoda Scala: 37 (-22.9%)
Hyundai Ioniq: 0 (0.0%)

Over in the small above $40,000 segment, the MG4 continues to lead the pack. The Audi A3 wasn’t too far behind in second spot in March, with its cousin, the VW Golf, rounding out the top three.

This class now has more models than ever before, wth the WRX, Civic, and newcomers in the form of the GWM Ora, and Cupra Leon and Born bolstering the overall figures. In March this class reported 1653 sales, with 5076 units registered so far this year (up 11.6 per cent YTD).

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

MG MG4: 352 (new vehicle)
Audi A3: 246 (+0.8%)
Volkswagen Golf: 200 (+13.6%)
Mercedes-Benz A-Class: 166 (-52.0%)
Subaru WRX: 121 (-41.5%)
Honda Civic: 113 (-47.4%)
BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe: 106 (-54.3%)
GWM Ora: 96 (new vehicle)
BMW 1 Series: 82 (-77.0%)
MINI Clubman: 51 (+410.0%)
Nissan Leaf: 37 (-11.9%)
Cupra Born: 35 (+483.3%)
Cupra Leon: 33 (-19.5%)
Peugeot 308: 10 (-50.0%)
Renault Megane: 4 (33.3%)
Mercedes-Benz B-Class: 1 (-97.7%)
Ford Focus: 0 (-100.0%)

MG MG4 Xpower

Over in the medium below $60,000 segment, there is no stopping the relentless Toyota Camry. It ploughed through against the trends toward SUVs, reporting very impressive sales for the month. Sales are actually up a whopping 238 per cent YTD for the Japanese sedan.

Combined class efforts saw 2371 units registered in March (up 154.1 per cent), with the YTD effort standing at 6957 units (up 182.8 per cent). See below for the full class results, with the percentage change compared with March 2023 in brackets:

Toyota Camry: 1690 (+154.1%)
BYD Seal: 365 (new vehicle)
Mazda6: 168 (+7.7%)
Skoda Octavia: 89 (-24.6%)
Hyundai Sonata: 37(+15.6%)
Volkswagen Passat: 19 (-69.4%)
Honda Accord: 3 (-82.4%)

Up one rung, the medium above $60,000 segment was led by the Tesla Model 3 once again. It is smashing records in this segment, also helping the overall class figures grow higher than ever before.

BMW 3 Series sales are steaming along, although at a much lower quantity than Tesla Model 3 rates, with YTD efforts up 46.4 per cent for the German favourite. Its electric sibling, the i4, also posted decent figures for the month.

Combined efforts for this segment saw 2737 units registered in March (down 12.2 per cent), with 8917 across year-to-date (down 19.2 per cent). See below for the full results in this class in March 2024, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:

Tesla Model 3: 1638 (-0.1%)
BMW 3 Series: 325 (+36.6%)
BMW i4: 236 (+999%)
Mercedes-Benz C-Class: 156 (-32.8%)
Lexus ES: 86 (-56.1%)
Mercedes-Benz CLA: 65 (+66.8%)
BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe: 47 (-54.4%)
Audi A4: 44 (-38.0%) / Audi A5 Sportback: 44 (+10.0%)
Hyundai IONIQ 6: 27 (-55.7%)
Volvo V60 Cross Country: 16 (+23.1%)
Alfa Romeo Giulia: 14 (+55.6%) / Jaguar XE: 14 (0.0%)
Volkswagen Arteon: 10 (-85.3%)
Peugeot 508: 8 (-20.0%)
Volvo S60: 5 (-54.5%)
Genesis G70: 2 (-50.0%)
Polestar 2: 0 (-100.0%)

BMW i4 charging

Nothing really to see here, sadly. The large below $70,000 segment saw just 29 sales in total. That was made up of just two vehicles in March. Both sales for the month and YTD are down quite a bit, at 90.8 and 90.4 per cent, respectively.

See below for the full results for March 2024, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:

Skoda Superb: 25 (+66.7%)
Citroen C5 X: 4 (-33.3%)
Kia Stinger: 0 (-100%)

The premium version of above is doing better, with YTD figures up 3.0 per cent. The BMW 5 Series was the most popular for the month, followed by the Porsche Taycan and Audi A6.

Combined, the segment saw 191 sales, down 21.4 per cent compared with last March. See below for the complete results for this segment, with the percentage change compared with March last year in brackets:

BMW 5 Series: 65 (+109.7%)
Porsche Taycan: 43 (-8.5%)
Audi A6: 28 (+55.6%)
Mercedes-Benz EQE: 19 (-66.7%)
Audi e-tron GT: 15 (-64.3%)
Mercedes-Benz E-Class: 10 (+76.2%)
Maserati Ghibli: 4 (0.0%)
Jaguar XF: 3 (0.0%)
Audi A7: 2 (-50.0%) / Genesis G80: 2 (+200.0%)
Toyota Mirai: 0 (0.0%)
Mercedes-Benz CLS: 0 (-100%)

At the top end, the upper large above $100,000 class saw a whole bunch of models score the same result in sales. The BMW 7 Series and Lexus LS crossed the line for equal first, with the Panamera coming home in second.

Total class sales topped 30 units for the month and 59 across YTD, resulting in an 18.9 per cent decrease and 46.8 per cent decline, respectively. See below for the full results for this class for March 2024, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:

BMW i7: 5 (-61.5%) / Lexus LS: 5 (+400.0%)
Porsche Panamera: 4 (+300.0%)
Audi A8: 3 (+50.0%)
Bentley sedan: 3 (+200.0%)
BMW 7 Series: 3 (-25.0%)
BMW 6 Series GT: 3 (0.0%)
BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe: 2 (-50.0%)
Mercedes-Benz S-Class: 1 (-88.9%)
Rolls-Royce sedan: 1 (0.0%)
Mercedes EQS: 0 (-100.0%)
Mercedes-AMG GT 4: 0 (0.0%)

2024 Subaru BRZ tS

Over in the sports cars now, starting with the entry sports below $80,000 segment, and it looks like the Subaru BRZ is still in the lead. Ford will soon introduce the new Mustang, which is expected to shake things up a bit.

Total class sales topped 281 units for the month, and year-to-date the tally stands at 857. Those figures are down 51.3 per cent and 39.2 per cent. See below for the full results for the month, with the percentage change compared with March 2023 in brackets:

Subaru BRZ: 80 (-58.3%)
Mazda MX-5: 69 (+122.6%)
Toyota GR86: 67 (+11.7%)
Nissan Z: 37 (+94.7%)
MINI Cabrio: 25 (+13.6%)
Ford Mustang: 3 (-98.9%)

In the sports above $80,000 class we see the BMW 2 Series is still in the lead, leaving a big gap behind it. Its bigger brother is the runner-up, the 4 Series, followed by the Lotus Emira. Toyota Supra sales are hanging in there, along with the Porsche Cayman.

The class reported 413 sales overall, which is pretty good considering the more affordable segment above reported 281 sales. Compared with March last year, that’s up 29.1 per cent, and the YTD figure is up 26.1 per cent. See below for the full segment results, with the percentage change compared with March 2023 in brackets:

BMW 2 Series coupe/convertible: 155 (+127.9%)
BMW 4 Series coupe/convertible: 98 (+53.1%)
Lotus Emira: 33 (+999%)
Toyota GR Supra: 25 (+4.2%)
Porsche Cayman: 22 (+83.3%)
Audi TT: 16 (+128.6%)
Porsche Boxster: 15 (+275.0%)
Chevrolet Corvette: 11 (-56.0%)
Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe/convertible: 9 (-89.3%)
Lexus LC: 8 (0.0%)
Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class: 6 (0.0%)
Audi A5: 5 (-28.6%)
BMW Z4: 4 (+300%) / Jaguar F-Type: 4 (-50.0%)
Mercedes-Benz E-Class coupe/convertible: 2 (-84.6%)

2024 Porsche 911 T

Lastly, the sports above $200,000 segment saw the Porsche 911 snapped up by over 100 lucky buyers. This is the highest figure we’ve seen. Ferrari also reported decent figures for an exotic brand, with Aston Martin not too far behind.

Combined efforts reached 193 units for the month, which is up 138.3 per cent compared with last March, while the YTD figure (426) is up 76.8 per cent. See below for the full lineup results, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:

Porsche 911: 118 (+353.8%)
Ferrari coupe/convertible: 21 (+31.3%)
Aston Martin coupe/convertible: 17 (+41.7%)
Lamborghini coupe/convertible: 12 (+999%)
Bentley coupe/convertible: 9 (0.0%)
Mercedes-Benz SL: 6 (new vehicle)
McLaren coupe/convertible: 5 (-16.7%)
BMW 8 Series: 4 (-55.6%)
Maserati coupe/convertible: 1 (-50.0%)
Rolls-Royce coupe/convertible: 0 (0.0%)

In SUV segments, we know the Toyota RAV4 was the best-selling model outright, with the Tesla Model Y following up as the best-selling premium SUV. Throughout the segments, the Ford Everest stood out with impressive figures for March, while the Lexus NX reported decent numbers as well for its class.

As for the top three segments, the SUV Medium below $60,000 class came home with the most, reporting 21,604 sales (up 30.2 per cent for the month), followed by the SUV Small below $45,000 class with 13,859 sales (up 29.4 per cent), and then the SUV Large below $70,000 segment with 10,702 sales (up 6.7 per cent).

See below for the complete sales (new registrations) results for each SUV category for March 2024, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:

Best-selling SUVs – Light

Mazda CX-3: 1467 (+46.4%)
Suzuki Jimny: 856 (+98.6%)
Hyundai Venue: 588 (+14.0%)
Toyota Yaris Cross: 442 (+12.2%)
Kia Stonic: 437 (-18.9%)
Nissan Juke: 192 (+57.4%)
Suzuki Ignis: 191 (-26.3%)
Ford Puma: 178 (+22.8%)
Volkswagen T-Cross: 29 (-95.0%)
Renault Captur: 24 (-76.0%)

Best-selling SUVs – Small below $45,000

MG ZS: 2046 (+11.0%)
Hyundai Kona: 1607 (+122.6%)
GWM Haval Jolion: 1203 (+23.3%)
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross: 1131 (+43.3%)
Mitsubishi ASX: 1103 (+37.0%)
Subaru Crosstrek: 1049 (new vehicle, replaces XV)
Mazda CX-30: 947 (-29.2%)
Kia Seltos: 836 (-21.0%)
Toyota Corolla Cross: 779 (+81.6%)
Nissan Qashqai: 701 (+21.5%)
Volkswagen T-Roc: 644 (-14.2%)
Chery Omoda 5: 392 (new vehicle)
Honda HR-V: 390 (+95.0%)
Toyota C-HR: 369 (0.0%)
Suzuki Vitara: 220 (+93.0%)
Suzuki S-Cross: 198 (+421.1%)
Skoda Kamiq: 136 (-23.2%)
Jeep Compass: 39 (-74.7%)
Renault Arkana: 31 (-77.4%)
Mazda MX-30: 21 (-59.6%)
Peugeot 2008: 16 (-40.7%)
Citroen C4: 1 (-80.0%)
Subaru XV: 0 (-100.0%)

Best-selling SUVs – Small above $45,000

Audi Q3: 492 (+27.1%)
BMW X1: 445 (+166.5%)
Volvo XC40: 305 (-49.7%)
Kia Niro: 154 (+10.8%)
Mercedes-Benz GLA: 142 (-51.4%)
BMW X2: 135 (+68.8%)
Lexus LBX: 132 (new vehicle)
Mercedes-Benz EQA: 105 (+90.9%)
Audi Q2: 73 (-22.3%)
Lexus UX: 70 (-36.9%)
MINI Countryman: 63 (-78.1%)
Volvo C40: 25 (-50.0%)
Alfa Romeo Tonale: 22 (+15.8%) / Renault Megane E-Tech: 22 (new vehicle)
Jaguar E-Pace: 14 (+999%)
Genesis GV60: 4 (-80.0%)

Best-selling SUVs – Medium below $60,000

Toyota RAV4: 5070 (+185.2%)
Mitsubishi Outlander: 2764 (+27.4%)
Nissan X-Trail: 2161 (+124.4%)
Mazda CX-5: 2134 (+11.3%)
Kia Sportage: 2114 (+148.4%)
Hyundai Tucson: 1492 (+12.9%)
Subaru Forester: 1316 (-30.0%)
BYD Atto 3: 1044 (-1.6%)
GWM Haval H6: 843 (-1.4%)
Honda CR-V: 582 (-50.5%)
Honda ZR-V: 540 (new vehicle)
Volkswagen Tiguan: 420 (-35.4%)
GWM Haval H6 GT: 346 (-4.9%)
MG HS: 297 (-59.6%)
Chery Tiggo 7 Pro: 163 (new vehicle)
Renault Koleos: 122 (-64.8%)
Skoda Karoq: 85 (-39.3%)
Ford Escape: 51 (-76.6%)
SsangYong Korando: 33 (-51.5%)
Peugeot 3008: 24 (-70.7%)
Citroen C5 Aircross: 3 (-40.0%)
Jeep Cherokee: 0 (-100%)

Best-selling SUVs – Medium above $60,000

Tesla Model Y: 4379 (+126.0%)
Lexus NX: 546 (-4.7%)
BMW X3: 292 (-37.5%)
Porsche Macan: 263 (+21.2%)
Mazda CX-60: 219 (new vehicle)
Mercedes-Benz GLC: 211 (+11.1%)
Volvo XC60: 157 (-21.9%)
Mercedes-Benz GLC coupe: 149 (+7.2%)
Audi Q5: 141 (-78.1%)
Cupra Formentor: 138 (-46.1%)
Hyundai IONIQ 5: 112 (0.0%)
Subaru Solterra: 111 (new vehicle)
Toyota bZ4x: 103 (new vehicle)
Genesis GV70: 90 (+275.0%)
Range Rover Evoque: 73 (+30.4%)
Mercedes-Benz GLB: 66 (-69.2%)
BMW X4: 46 (-67.6%)
Land Rover Discovery Sport: 41 (+7.9%)
Maserati Gracale: 33 (+17.9%)
Mercedes-Benz EQC: 18 (-10.0%)
Mercedes-Benz EQB: 16 (-78.4%)
Alfa Romeo Stelvio: 14 (+7.7%)
Cupra Ateca: 7 (-95.2%)
Peugeot 5008: 6 (0.0%)
Peugeot 408: 5 (new vehicle)

Best-selling SUVs – Large below $70,000

Ford Everest: 2264 (+129.8%)
Isuzu MU-X: 1886 (+8.1%)
Kia Sorento: 955 (-11.3%)
Subaru Outback: 929 (-11.9%)
Mitsubishi Pajero Sport: 914 (+82.1%)
Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace: 454 (-7.3%)
Toyota Prado: 446 (-51.3%)
Toyota Kluger: 420 (+37.7%)
Mazda CX-8: 384 (+30.8%)
GWM Tank 300: 354 (new model)
Hyundai Santa Fe: 348 (-16.7%)
Hyundai Palisade: 316 (+32.2%)
Toyota Fortuner: 283 (-16.0%)
LDV D90: 229 (-15.5%)
SsangYong Rexton: 139 (-10.3%)
Skoda Kodiaq: 123 (-0.8%)
Jeep Wrangler: 95 (+1.1%)
Nissan Pathfinder: 84 (-66.7%)
Mazda CX-9: 58 (-92.0%)
GWM Tank 500: 13 (new vehicle)
Volkswagen Passat Alltrack: 8 (-72.4%)
Dodge Journey: 0 (0.0%)
Mitsubishi Pajero: 0 (-100.0%)

Best-selling SUVs – Large above $70,000

BMW X5: 263 (-52.2%)
Land Rover Defender: 211 (-21.9%)
Kia EV6: 198 (+164.0%)
Range Rover Sport: 191 (-15.1%)
Lexus RX: 164 (-12.8%)
Mercedes-Benz GLE: 138 (-38.4%)
Volvo XC90: 133 (-2.2%)
Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV: 124 (new model)
Porsche Cayenne Coupe: 104 (+76.3%)
Porsche Cayenne: 78 (+32.2%)
Audi Q7: 71 (-50.0%)
BMW iX: 68 (-40.4%)
Mazda CX-90: 67 (new model)
BMW X6: 65 (-3.0%) / Jeep Grand Cherokee: 65 (-62.2%)
Ford Mustang Mach-E: 56 (new model) / Jaguar F-Pace: 56 (+107.4%)
Audi Q8: 53 (+278.6%)
Volkswagen Touareg: 49 (-53.8%)
Range Rover Velar: 38 (+5.6%)
Mercedes-Benz GLE coupe: 34 (-48.5%)
Audi e-tron: 29 (+70.6%)
Genesis GV80: 21 (0.0%)
Lexus RZ: 17 (new vehicle)
Genesis GV80 Coupe: 11 (new vehicle)
Maserati Levante: 5 (0.0%)
Jaguar I-Pace: 0 (-100.0%)

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

Toyota LandCruiser: 1219 (+58.9%)
Nissan Patrol: 663 (+12.4%)
Kia EV9: 70 (new vehicle)
Land Rover Discovery: 62 (+588.9%)

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

Range Rover: 77 (+79.1%)
BMW X7: 65 (-56.1%)
Lexus LX: 45 (-29.7%)
Mercedes-Benz G-Class: 44 (+63.0%)
Mercedes-Benz GLS: 19 (-69.4%)
BMW XM: 18 (new vehicle)
Aston Martin DBX: 7 (-30.0%) / Lamborghini Urus: 7 (0.0%)
Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV: 7 (new vehicle)
Ferrari Purosangue: 6 (new vehicle)
Bentley Bentayga: 4 (+100.0%)
Rolls-Royce Cullinan: 1 (-66.7%)

Isuzu D-Max 4x2

And finally we get to the hugely popular utes. Ford took the crown with the Ranger as the most popular outright, but the Isuzu D-Max took out the win for 4×2, specifically.

See below for the top 15 best-selling utes in Australia for March 2024, according to VFACTS, including 4×2 and 4×4 and the large above $100,000 segments combined:

Ford Ranger: 5661
Toyota HiLux: 3995
Isuzu D-Max: 2465
Mitsubishi Triton: 1954
Mazda BT-50: 1390
Nissan Navara: 1101
Toyota LandCruiser 70: 940
Volkswagen Amarok: 842
GWM Ute: 759
LDV T60/T60 EV: 446
RAM 1500: 313
SsangYong Musso: 306
Ford F-150: 238
Chevrolet Silverado: 184
Chervolet Silverado HD: 125

So, to refresh your memory, total sales for March 2024 hit 109,647, which is up 12.7 per cent compared with last March. The year-to-date total of 304,452 is also up, by 13.2 per cent.

The most popular energy source for the month was petrol, making up 47,761 sales (down 4.9 per cent), and then diesel with 31,731 sales (up 5.5 per cent), and then hybrids with 13,935 units (up 165.6 per cent). PHEVs accounted for 1412 sales (up 148.2 per cent), and EVs made up 10,464 (up 58.3 per cent).