Yet another monthly new car sales record has been set in Australia, as April VFACTS figures for 2024 reveal soaring industry numbers for the second month running.
This is now the second month in a row that a new monthly sales record has been set. According to the report, which counts new vehicle registrations (not technically sales but rather deliveries), the Aussie market snapped up 97,202 vehicles during April.
That’s a new record high for the month of April, and it contributes to a year-to-date tally of 401,654. That, too, is an all-time record for the first four months of any previous year. Compared with 2023, that same period saw 351,139 sales.
Figures are down compared with March 2024 but that is pretty common for this time of the year. March reported 109,647 new registrations.
Stepping into the most popular new vehicle brands, Toyota remains the favourite, easily maintaining a strong lead over all of its competitors. The Japanese auto giant’s YTD tally is up by a whopping 45.4 per cent, which is much higher than the industry’s increase of 14.4 per cent for the four-month period.
In other areas of the top 10, we notice Tesla is out and GWM is in, and Subaru is back in while leaving Nissan looking for other charts to live in for April. Kia moved up a spot to fourth from fifth in March, and Isuzu is up to seventh.
See below for the top 10 best-selling car brands for April 2024, including the percentage change from the same month last year in brackets:
- Toyota: 20,771 (+72.7% on April 2023)
- Ford: 8648 (+71.3%)
- Mazda: 7301 (5.4%)
- Kia: 6653 (+7.3%)
- Mitsubishi: 5314 (+19.7%)
- Hyundai: 5185 (-9.5%)
- Isuzu: 4256 (+46.6%)
- MG: 3781 (-1.4%)
- GWM: 3330 (+50.3%)
- Subaru: 3246 (+29.3%)
What were the best-selling vehicles in April? It was the Toyota RAV4. The trusty mid-size SUV outsold the very popular HiLux and Ranger for the first time in a long while. Both the Ranger and HiLux were obviously second and third most popular.
The Toyota Camry and Corolla were the only two ‘cars’ in the top 10, with the rest either SUV or ute. On that note, it’s interesting to see the Camry in the top 10 as it hasn’t been here for a while either.
See below for the top 10 best-selling vehicles during April 2024, including the percentage change compared with the same month last year:
- Toyota RAV4: 5857 (+166.5% on April 2023)
- Ford Ranger: 5569 (+56.1%)
- Toyota HiLux: 4693 (+33.1%)
- Ford Everest: 2400 (+254.5%)
- Isuzu D-Max: 2380 (-31.6%)
- Toyota Corolla: 2097 (+165.1)
- Toyota LandCruiser: 1970 (+34.1%)
- Isuzu MU-X: 1876 (+71.3%)
- Toyota Camry: 1873 (+226.3%)
- Mitsubishi Outlander: 1848 (+1.0%)
Focusing in on the car segments, the small under $40,000 class, the Toyota Corolla came through with the win once again. No surprises there. But the Kia Cerato is catching back up, a bit like a few years ago when it was right on the heels of the front-runners. Hyundai i30 and Mazda3 sales were very close, and then it drops back to the MG5.
Total class efforts reached 6090 units in April, which is up 30.8 per cent on last April. The YTD tally stands at 25,103 units, and that’s up an impressive 47.3 per cent. Not bad considering this segment is thought to be evaporating. See below for the full results for this class in April, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:
- Toyota Corolla: 2097 (+165.1%)
- Kia Cerato: 1454 (+181.2%)
- Mazda3: 893 (+5.7%)
- Hyundai i30: 785 (-61.3%)
- MG MG5: 447 (new vehicle)
- Subaru Impreza: 202 (-52.2%)
- BYD Dolphin: 181 (new vehicle)
- Skoda Scala: 31 (-38.0%)
- Hyundai Ioniq: 0 (0.0%)
Stepping up to the small above $40,000 segment, and it’s the MG4 that holds a commanding lead. It’s easy to see why, too, as it is a very practical and spacious run-around that happens to be fully electric as well.
The Mercedes A-Class appears to be making a comeback after spending months and months at the top of this class a couple of years ago. Since the influx of models such as the Subaru WRX, Honda Civic, and VW Golf were pushed into this category, it has been hard for the veteran premium players to keep up. Although, Audi A3 sales have been quite strong in recent months.
Total class efforts topped 1828 units for the month, and the YTD tally is 6904 units. Those figures are up 70.8 per cent and 22.9 per cent, respectively. See below for the complete results for the month, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:
- MG MG4: 476 (new vehicle)
- Audi A3: 345 (+161.4%)
- Mercedes-Benz A-Class: 251 (+3.3%)
- Subaru WRX: 231 (+31.3%)
- Volkswagen Golf: 105 (-23.4%)
- Honda Civic: 92 (-7.1%)
- GWM Ora: 80 (new vehicle)
- BMW 1 Series: 70 (-41.7%)
- BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe: 55 (-15.4%)
- Cupra Born: 41 (+95.2%)
- MINI Clubman: 38 (+999%)
- Cupra Leon: 20 (+11.1%)
- Nissan Leaf: 11 (-47.6%) / Peugeot 308: 11 (-42.1%)
- Renault Megane: 2 (-33.3%)
- Mercedes-Benz B-Class: 0 (-100%)
- Ford Focus: 0 (-100.0%)
Into the medium below $60,000 class. The Toyota Camry has a huge reputation for being a trusty and spacious vehicle that loyalty no doubt plays a huge part in its success. Even if a big chunk of the sales are to fleet and taxi/rider-sharing situations, it remains as one of the greatest success stories for any vehicle nameplate.
It really edged ahead in April, but the BYD Seal looks like it had a cracking month as well. The new electric sedan is proving to be quite an interesting package. This leaves the poor-old Mazda3 to third spot, even though it is still a superb all-round package.
This class reported 2951 sales in April, up 224.6 per cent on last April. The year-to-date figure of 9908 units is also up by an impressive 194.1 per cent. See below for the full class results, with the percentage change compared with April 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%)
Moving up, the medium above $60,000 segment saw Tesla Model 3 sales drop off a bit this month. Sales almost halved that of the previous month, leaving its YTD figure of 6865 units down by 22.2 per cent.
The BMW 3 Series and its electric cousin, the i4 seem to be going ok, with sales up 27.1 per cent and over 1000 per cent, respectively, across the first four months of the year. Mercedes C-Class sales aren’t too far behind, but down 48.5 per cent YTD.
The class combined reported 1941 sales in April, down 31.4 per cent for the month. The YTD figure of 10,858 units is also down, 21.7 per cent. See below for the full results in this class in April 2024, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:
- Tesla Model 3: 911 (-42.4%)
- BMW 3 Series: 219 (-11.3%)
- BMW i4: 206 (+999%)
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class: 189 (-4.1%)
- Lexus ES: 109 (-18.7%)
- Mercedes-Benz CLA: 60 (-55.6%)
- Audi A5 Sportback: 53 (+112.0%)
- Audi A4: 44 (-12.0%)
- Hyundai IONIQ 6: 37 (-58.4%)
- Alfa Romeo Giulia: 25 (+257.1%) / Volvo S60: 25 (+47.1%)
- BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe: 21 (-80.6%)
- Volkswagen Arteon: 13 (-74.0%) / Volvo V60 Cross Country: 13 (-13.3%)
- Jaguar XE: 7 (-58.8%)
- Genesis G70: 6 (-50.0%)
- Peugeot 508: 3 (-80.0%)
- Polestar 2: 0 (No longer reported)
Into the large below $70,000 segment where just three vehicles compete. Well, it’s actually two vehicles that are competing because the Kia Stinger reported zero sales once again.
Class combined efforts reached just 20 units, and that’s down 92.2 per cent on last April. Year-to-date, the class is experiencing a 90.8 per cent drop. See below for the full results for April 2024, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:
- Skoda Superb: 16 (+14.3%)
- Citroen C5 X: 4 (-60.0%)
- Kia Stinger: 0 (-100%)
Stepping up to the luxury version of the large cars, and it’s not so grim. Sales for the month reached 124 units, albeit with a lot more models, and that’s down 49.4 per cent. The YTD tally is 644 units, down 14.1 per cent.
The best-seller during April was the BMW 5 Series once again, and it looks like Porsche Taycan sales dropped off a bit from its usual close-running second spot. See below for the complete results for this segment, with the percentage change compared with April last year in brackets:
- BMW 5 Series: 57 (+39.0%)
- Mercedes-Benz EQE: 19 (-64.8%)
- Audi A6: 13 (-31.6%)
- Porsche Taycan: 12 (-55.6%)
- Audi e-tron GT: 9 (-79.1%)
- Genesis G80: 6 (-14.3%)
- Mercedes-Benz E-Class: 4 (-91.8%)
- Audi A7: 2 (0.0%) / Jaguar XF: 2 (0.0%)
- Maserati Ghibli: 0 (-100.0%)
- Mercedes-Benz CLS: 0 (-100%)
- Toyota Mirai: 0 (0.0%)
Over in the upper large above $100,000 segment there isn’t much happening. The BMW i7 remains the favourite, with the BMW 7 Series and Porsche Panamera posting equal numbers for second spot.
Total class efforts saw 24 sales reached, which is down 17.2 per cent for the month and contributes to a 40.7 per cent decline across YTD. See below for the full results for this class for April 2024, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:
- BMW i7: 6 (+100%)
- BMW 7 Series: 4 (-20.0%) / Porsche Panamera: 4 (+100.0%)
- Mercedes-Benz S-Class: 3 (-57.1%)
- Bentley sedan: 2 (0.0%) / Rolls-Royce sedan: 2 (100.0%)
- Audi A8: 1 (-50%) / Lexus LS: 1 (0.0%) / Mercedes-AMG GT 4: 1 (+100.0%)
- BMW 6 Series GT: 0 (0.0%)
- BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe: 0 (-10.0%)
- Mercedes EQS: 0 (-100.0%)
Into more exciting stuff, starting with the entry sports below $80,000 class, and it looks like the Subaru BRZ retains its leading position. Ford must be eager to see its new Mustang launching here soon as sales of the outgoing model finish off.
The segment reported 213 sales in total, and that’s down 45.7 per cent on last April. The year-to-date combined effort is at 1070 units, down 40.6 per cent. See below for the full results for the month, with the percentage change compared with April 2023 in brackets:
- Subaru BRZ: 74 (-34.5%)
- Mazda MX-5: 58 (+141.7%)
- Toyota GR86: 37 (-52.6%)
- Nissan Z: 27 (+68.8%)
- MINI Cabrio: 16 (-11.1%)
- Ford Mustang: 1 (-99.3%)
Up one rung, in the sports above $80,000 segment, the BMW 2 Series set a commanding lead in April. Its bigger brother, the 4 Series couldn’t get near it. Lotus Emira sales seem to be going quite good for a niche brand/vehicle, and even the Corvette is holding strong.
Total combined figures reached 290 units in April, up 1.4 per cent on last April. Year-to-date efforts are up 19.6 per cent, with 1289 sales. It just goes to show consumers are not shying away from the more expensive options compared with the junior class above. See below for the full segment results, with the percentage change compared with April 2023 in brackets:
- BMW 2 Series coupe/convertible: 131 (+129.8%)
- BMW 4 Series coupe/convertible: 42 (+7.7%)
- Chevrolet Corvette: 20 (-28.6%)
- Porsche Cayman: 19 (+35.7%) / Porsche Boxster: 19 (+850%)
- Lotus Emira: 15 (+650%) / Toyota GR Supra: 15 (-28.6%)
- Audi A5: 8 (+33.3%)
- BMW Z4: 5 (+66.7%)
- Jaguar F-Type: 4 (+300.0%) / Lexus LC: 4 (+300.0%)
- Audi TT: 3 (-62.5%)
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe/convertible: 2 (-97.6%)
- Mercedes-Benz E-Class coupe/convertible: 2 (-90.9%)
- Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class: 1 (0.0%)
At the top of the foodchain, the sports above $200,000 segment was once again led by the Porsche 911. McLaren sales reached 11 units, helping to contribute to a 5 per cent YTD increase, while Lamborghini sales are up a whopping 207 per cent YTD.
Total class figures reached 98 units, and that’s up 84.9 per cent on last April. The YTD figure of 524 units is also up, 78.2 per cent. See below for the full lineup results, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:
- Porsche 911: 59 (+110.7%)
- McLaren coupe/convertible: 11 (+100%)
- Lamborghini coupe/convertible: 8 (+300%)
- Mercedes-Benz SL: 6 (new vehicle)
- Ferrari coupe/convertible: 5 (-54.5%)
- Aston Martin coupe/convertible: 5 (-44.4%)
- Bentley coupe/convertible: 3 (0.0%)
- BMW 8 Series: 1 (-66.7%)
- Maserati coupe/convertible: 0 (0.0%)
- Rolls-Royce coupe/convertible: 0 (0.0%)
Now for the SUV segments. The Toyota RAV4 was obviously the best-selling SUV, since it was the best-selling vehicle outright in Australia during April 2024. But what about the best-selling premium SUV? That went to the Tesla Model Y.
Splitting up the top three segments, the SUV Medium below $60,000 class was the favourite, with 17,991 sales (up 22.6 per cent for the month), followed by the SUV Small below $45,000 category with 12,069 sales (up 25.6 per cent), and then the SUV Large below $70,000 class with 9855 sales (up 34.1 per cent).
See below for the complete sales (new registrations) results for each SUV category for April 2024, with the percentage change compared with the same month last year in brackets:
Best-selling SUVs – Light
- Mazda CX-3: 1416 (+64.7%)
- Suzuki Jimny: 862 (+142.8%)
- Toyota Yaris Cross: 714 (+138.0%)
- Hyundai Venue: 443 (+5.7%)
- Kia Stonic: 420 (-36.8%)
- Suzuki Ignis: 170 (-5.0%)
- Ford Puma: 77 (+52.2%)
- Nissan Juke: 67 (+35.6%)
- Renault Captur: 24 (-51.0%)
- Volkswagen T-Cross: 17 (-95.0%)
Best-selling SUVs – Small below $45,000
- MG ZS: 1707 (+7.5%)
- Hyundai Kona: 1303 (+123.1%)
- Toyota Corolla Cross: 1180 (+185.7%)
- GWM Haval Jolion: 1101 (+53.3%)
- Mitsubishi ASX: 978 (+27.5%)
- Mazda CX-30: 927 (-28.2%)
- Subaru Crosstrek: 818 (+999%)
- Volkswagen T-Roc: 762 (+12.2%)
- Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross: 652 (-0.6%)
- Kia Seltos: 613 (-38.6%)
- Nissan Qashqai: 488 (+23.9%)
- Chery Omoda 5: 409 (-3.8%)
- Toyota C-HR: 334 (-6.2%)
- Honda HR-V: 281 (+119.5%)
- Suzuki Vitara: 231 (+285%)
- Skoda Kamiq: 99 (-6.6%)
- Suzuki S-Cross: 59 (+103.4%)
- Jeep Compass: 55 (-46.6%)
- Peugeot 2008: 35 (+84.2%)
- Renault Arkana: 26 (-66.7%)
- Mazda MX-30: 9 (-81.6%)
- Citroen C4: 2 (-50.0%)
- Subaru XV: 0 (-100.0%)
Best-selling SUVs – Small above $45,000
- Audi Q3: 428 (+42.2%)
- Lexus LBX: 252 (new vehicle)
- Volvo XC40: 251 (-52.4%)
- BMW X1: 243 (-5.4%)
- Mercedes-Benz GLA: 183 (-2.7%)
- Kia Niro: 181 (+27.5%)
- Volvo EX30: 115 (new vehicle)
- Audi Q2: 97 (+47.0%)
- BMW X2: 90 (+373.7%)
- Lexus UX: 80 (-63.5%)
- Mercedes-Benz EQA: 73 (+2.8%)
- MINI Countryman: 62 (-52.7%)
- Volvo C40: 38 (-71.4%)
- Alfa Romeo Tonale: 21 (+75.0%)
- Renault Megane E-Tech: 16 (new vehicle)
- Jaguar E-Pace: 12 (0.0%)
- Genesis GV60: 7 (-63.2%)
Best-selling SUVs – Medium below $60,000
- Toyota RAV4: 5857 (+166.5%)
- Mitsubishi Outlander: 1848 (+1.0%)
- Kia Sportage: 1699 (+97.8%)
- Mazda CX-5: 1629 (+31.1%)
- Hyundai Tucson: 1548 (-7.7%)
- Nissan X-Trail: 1219 (+13.3%)
- Subaru Forester: 916 (+4.1%)
- GWM Haval H6: 758 (+22.3%)
- Honda CR-V: 473 (-27.5%)
- BYD Atto 3: 418 (-62.6%)
- Volkswagen Tiguan: 343 (-54.3%)
- Honda ZR-V: 331 (new vehicle)
- GWM Haval H6 GT: 281 (-1.1%)
- MG HS: 261 (-64.4%)
- Chery Tiggo 7 Pro: 176 (new vehicle)
- Skoda Karoq: 73 (-27.0%)
- Renault Koleos: 53 (-85.4%)
- Peugeot 3008: 40 (-13.0%)
- SsangYong Korando: 37 (-5.1%)
- Ford Escape: 29 (-84.7%)
- Citroen C5 Aircross: 2 (-77.8%)
- Jeep Cherokee: 0 (-100%)
Best-selling SUVs – Medium above $60,000
- Tesla Model Y: 1166 (-44.3%)
- Lexus NX: 368 (-30.3%)
- BMW X3: 341 (+29.7%)
- Audi Q5: 273 (-7.1%)
- Volvo XC60: 258 (+0.8%)
- Mazda CX-60: 230 (new vehicle)
- Mercedes-Benz GLC: 186 (+20.8%)
- Porsche Macan: 134 (-43.0%)
- Mercedes-Benz GLC coupe: 120 (-13.7%)
- Hyundai IONIQ 5: 113 (+76.6%)
- Cupra Formentor: 107 (+52.9%)
- Genesis GV70: 97 (-1.0%)
- Mercedes-Benz GLB: 89 (-70.0%)
- Toyota bZ4x: 74 (new vehicle)
- BMW X4: 71 (+1.4%)
- Subaru Solterra: 57 (new vehicle)
- Range Rover Evoque: 47 (-39.7%)
- Maserati Gracale: 27 (-37.2%)
- Land Rover Discovery Sport: 18 (-65.4%)
- Mercedes-Benz EQB: 15 (-78.9%)
- Alfa Romeo Stelvio: 11 (+120%)
- Mercedes-Benz EQC: 6 (-79.3%)
- Peugeot 408: 5 (new vehicle)
- Peugeot 5008: 4 (-63.6%)
- Cupra Ateca: 2 (-96.0%)
- Hyundai Nexo: 1 (0.0%)
Best-selling SUVs – Large below $70,000
- Ford Everest: 2400 (+254.5%)
- Isuzu MU-X: 1876 (+71.3%)
- Kia Sorento: 1054 (+29.5%)
- Subaru Outback: 948 (+26.1%)
- Mitsubishi Pajero Sport: 549 (+130.7%)
- Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace: 375 (+9.0%)
- Mazda CX-8: 337 (+26.7%)
- Toyota Fortuner: 312 (+43.8%)
- GWM Tank 300: 311 (new model)
- Hyundai Palisade: 261 (+5.7%)
- Toyota Kluger: 260 (-24.2%)
- Hyundai Santa Fe: 230 (-24.3%)
- GWM Tank 500: 179 (new vehicle)
- LDV D90: 173 (-27.0%)
- Toyota Prado: 172 (-77.4%)
- Skoda Kodiaq: 119 (+21.4%)
- SsangYong Rexton: 102 (-32.5%)
- Jeep Wrangler: 86 (-1.1%)
- Nissan Pathfinder: 44 (-71.1%)
- Mazda CX-9: 43 (-92.0%)
- Volkswagen Passat Alltrack: 24 (+9.1%)
- Dodge Journey: 0 (0.0%)
- Mitsubishi Pajero: 0 (-100.0%)
Best-selling SUVs – Large above $70,000
- BMW X5: 271 (+25.5%)
- Land Rover Defender: 255 (-36.6%)
- Range Rover Sport: 180 (-22.6%)
- Lexus RX: 168 (-47.0%)
- Mercedes-Benz GLE: 153 (-24.3%)
- Kia EV6: 132 (+11.9%)
- Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV: 113 (new model)
- BMW X6: 90 (+87.5%)
- Porsche Cayenne Coupe: 67 (+6.3%)
- Mazda CX-90: 65 (new model)
- Audi Q7: 64 (+45.5%)
- Jeep Grand Cherokee: 55 (-46.6%) / Porsche Cayenne: 55 (+96.4%)
- Mercedes-Benz GLE coupe: 45 (-2.2%)
- Ford Mustang Mach-E: 42 (new model)
- BMW iX: 36 (-49.3%)
- Jaguar F-Pace: 31 (+106.7%)
- Audi Q8: 29 (-27.5%) / Range Rover Velar: 29 (-17.1%)
- Volkswagen Touareg: 28 (-58.8%) / Volvo XC90: 28 (-70.8%)
- Lexus RZ: 26 (new vehicle)
- Audi e-tron: 18 (+100%)
- Genesis GV80: 12 (-50.0%)
- Genesis GV80 Coupe: 11 (new vehicle)
- Maserati Levante: 2 (-83.3%)
- Jaguar I-Pace: 1 (-50.0%)
Best-selling SUVs – Upper large below $120,000
- Toyota LandCruiser: 1169 (+40.8%)
- Nissan Patrol: 460 (-18.0%)
- Kia EV9: 61 (new vehicle)
- Land Rover Discovery: 29 (+16.0%)
Best-selling SUVs – Upper large above $120,000
- BMW X7: 99 (-2.9%)
- Mercedes-Benz G-Class: 46 (+91.7%)
- Range Rover: 43 (-25.9%)
- Lexus LX: 34 (-54.1%)
- Mercedes-Benz GLS: 33 (-68.0%)
- Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV: 25 (new vehicle)
- BMW XM: 16 (+999%)
- Bentley Bentayga: 7 (+100.0%) / Lamborghini Urus: 7 (+600.0%)
- Aston Martin DBX: 4 (-42.9%) / Ferrari Purosangue: 4 (new vehicle)
- Rolls-Royce Cullinan: 2 (0.0%)
And lastly we arrive at the utes. Specifically, the 4×2 and 4×4 combined efforts. This segment will soon get a shake-up with the arrival of the new Kia Tasman and the BYD ute, while Toyota has just launched its new 48V mild-hybrid HiLux.
See below for the top 15 best-selling utes in Australia for April 2024, according to VFACTS, including 4×2 and 4×4 and the large above $100,000 segments combined:
- Ford Ranger: 5569
- Toyota HiLux: 4693
- Isuzu D-Max: 2380
- Mitsubishi Triton: 1287
- Mazda BT-50: 1137
- Toyota LandCruiser 70: 801
- Volkswagen Amarok: 729
- GWM Ute: 620
- Nissan Navara: 589
- LDV T60/T60 EV: 368
- RAM 1500: 276
- SsangYong Musso: 322
- Chevrolet Silverado: 191
- Ford F-150: 173
- Chervolet Silverado HD: 151
Overall, the industry reported 97,202 sales as mentioned, which is up 18.3 per cent on last April’s efforts. The year-to-date score of 401,654 units sets a new record for this period, and is up 14.4 per cent compared with the same period last year.
In terms of energy sources, petrol made up 40,565 sales (down 4.3 per cent for the month), diesel made up 28,336 units (up 21.9 per cent), and hybrid attributed 16,466 units (up 194.5 per cent). EVs accounted for 6194 sales (down 5.1 per cent), and plug-in hybrids made up 1300 sales (up 138.5 per cent). Hydrogen accounted for 1 sale.
