A total of 68,985 new car sales was recorded during September according to VFACTS data released today by The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI).

 

September’s result was down 21.8 per cent when compared to the corresponding month last year. It’s also 30th consecutive month of decreasing sales.

 

On a year to date basis, the industry has reported a total of 644,891 new cars have been sold representing a decline of 20.5 per cent from the same period in 2019 when 811,464 new vehicles were sold.

 

Tony Weber, chief executive of the FCAI, said that while the market remains slow, the industry was hoping to see an increasingly positive trend as barriers to purchase are eased and consumer confidence returns.

 

“First of all, we are seeing COVID-19 health restrictions across Australia, and particularly in metropolitan Melbourne, continue to ease.

 

“Another sign that the market may improve is the announcement by the Federal Government last week of an easing of lending conditions for private buyers and small business in Australia.

 

“Freeing up restrictions around financial lending will act as a stimulus for Australian industry,” Mr Weber said.

 

Since the findings of the Royal Commission into the banking industry were released, lenders have been required by law to properly assess each loan application against tougher criteria, some argue this has been an overcorrection to the issue.

 

The FCAI added: "Restrictive lending practices have been one of the major factors contributing to the declining new vehicle market which has seen 30 consecutive months of decreasing sales in Australia. This market regression has also been attributed to a number of other factors including natural disasters, unfavourable exchange rates and economic uncertainty."

 

Continuing Stage 4 restrictions in Melbourne saw the Victorian market contract by 57.7 per cent with just 10,447 sales recorded. Also going backwards was New South Wales (down 6.0 per cent), SA (down 22.1 per cent), Queensland (down 7.9 per cent) and Tasmania (down 34.2 per cent or 659 cars).

 

Reversing the trend were WA (up 1.5 per cent), the ACT (up 3.4 per cent) and the NT (up 10.6 per cent).

 

During September 17,720 passenger cars were sold, representing 25.7 per cent of the total market, SUVs claimed 47.3 per cent of the market with a total of 32,647 sales, and light commercial vehicles claimed 22.9 per cent of the market with 15,772 sales.

  

With four models in the the top 10 models, Toyota was again the top-selling brand with 12,936 sales, followed by Mazda with 7000 sales, Hyundai with 5273 sales, Kia with 5092 sales, and Ford with 4816 sales. Ford was the only brand in the top 10 to grow with a 0.7 per cent bump.

 

For the first time in three years, the Ford Ranger (3726 sales) was Australia’s best-selling vehicle outright in September, outselling the Toyota HiLux (3610 sales).

 

With the updated HiLux now on sale around Australia, it won’t be long until it reclaims the top spot.

 

Following the two utes were the Toyota RAV4 with 2433 sales, the Hyundai i30 with 1786 sales and the Mazda CX-5 with 1765 sales.

 

A full segment by segment breakdown is included below.

 

 

Ford Ranger - 3726, up 19.6 per cent

Toyota HiLux - 3610, up 7.3 per cent

Toyota RAV4 - 2433, up 41.8 per cent

Hyundai i30 - 1786, down 27.0 per cent

Mazda CX-5 - 1765, down 25.1 per cent

Kia Cerato - 1599, down 20.9 per cent

Toyota Corolla - 1462, down 34.1 per cent

Mitsubishi Triton - 1446, down 51.8 per cent

Hyundai Tucson - 1199, down 19.4 per cent

Toyota Camry - 1192, up 0.5 per cent

 

 

Toyota - 12,936, down 14.7 per cent

Mazda - 7000, down 14.3 per cent

Hyundai - 5273, down 27.2 per cent

Kia - 5092, down 0.7 per cent

Ford - 4816, up 0.7 per cent

Mitsubishi - 4179, down 53.5 per cent

Volkswagen - 3493, down 8.5 per cent

Nissan - 2588, down 44.4 per cent

Mercedes-Benz - 2395, down 10.7 per cent

Subaru - 2121, down 39.4 per cent

 

 

Micro cars: Kia Picanto 357, Mitsubishi Mirage 34, Fiat 500 34

Light cars: MG 3 809, Mazda 2 471, Kia Rio 388

Light cars over $40k: Mini 146, Audi A1 30, Renault Zoe 9

Small cars: Hyundai i30 1786, Kia Cerato 1599, Toyota Corolla 1462

Small cars over $40k: Mercedes A-Class 460, Audi A3 262, BMW 1 Series 235

Medium cars: Toyota Camry 1192, Skoda Octavia 227, Mazda 6 152

Medium cars over $60k: Mercedes C-Class 284, BMW 3 Series 241, Mercedes CLA 213

Large cars: Kia Stinger 179, Skoda Superb 28, Chrysler 300 14

Large cars over $70k: Mercedes E-Class 93, BMW 5 Series 51, Audi A6 23

Upper large cars: BMW 7 Series 11, Mercedes S-Class 9, BMW 8 Series GC 8

People movers: Kia Carnival 237, Honda Odyssey 69, LDV G10 67

Sports cars: Ford Mustang 145, Mazda MX-5 54, Hyundai Veloster 49

Sports cars over $80k: Mercedes E-Class 97, Mercedes C-Class 94, BMW 4 Series 23

Sports over $200k: Porsche 911 62, Ferrari 25, Aston Martin 2D 9

Light SUV: Mazda CX-3 1188, Hyundai Venue 385, VW T-Cross 364

Small SUV: Kia Seltos 1089, Hyundai Kona 1036, Mitsubishi ASX 940

Small SUV over $40k: Audi Q3 362, BMW X1 351, Volvo XC40 293

Medium SUV: Toyota RAV4 2433, Mazda CX-5 1765, Hyundai Tucson 1199

Medium SUV over $60k: BMW X3/X4 407, Mercedes GLC 295, Volvo XC60 273

Large SUV: Toyota Prado 820, Mazda CX-9 624, Kia Sorento 569

Large SUV over $70k: BMW X5/X6 212, Mercedes GLE 190, Audi Q7 137

Upper large SUV: Toyota LandCruiser 990, Nissan Patrol 190

Upper large SUV over $100k: Audi Q8 71, BMW X7 67, Land Rover Discovery 50

Vans under 2.5t: Volkswagen Caddy 128, Renault Kangoo 250 Peugeot Partner 24

Vans 2.5-3.5t: Toyota HiAce 442, Hyundai iLoad 249, LDV G10 143

Vans over 3.5t: Mercedes Sprinter 195, Renault master 177, VW Crafter 96

4×2 utes: Toyota HiLux 820, Ford Ranger 272, Isuzu D-Max 262

4×4 utes: Ford Ranger 3454, Toyota HiLux 2790, Mitsubishi triton 1234