Toyota’s RAV4 medium SUV was the most popular vehicle last month, with the market back up for a record July.
New car sales last month represent a new July record, with the Australian market appearing to bounce back from a dip the month before.
Last month 99,486 vehicles were delivered locally, 2.7 per cent more than in July 2023 – which was itself previously the highest July record, according to VFACTS data released today by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI).
Although, this is the first time Tesla has not reported its numbers to the FCAI since it started doing so at the beginning of 2023. So with its numbers included, along with those of fellow electric car maker Polestar – which has also stopped reporting to the FCAI, the true total is 102,181.
Deliveries had declined for the first time in June 2024 following 14 months of consecutive growth, the longest streak in 20 years.
But much to the relief of the new car market, year-to-date numbers for 2024 as of the end of July are looking healthy, with 731,898 cars sold compared to 678,618 by this time last year – up 7.9 per cent.
In another shake-up, the Toyota RAV4 medium SUV has pipped the Ford Ranger as the top-selling new vehicle with 5933 sales compared to the ute’s 4915 – the fifth time the SUV has done so in its history.
The FCAI’s Chief Executive, Tony Weber, attributed the RAV4’s success to a shift in popularity towards hybrids and away from fully-electric vehicles in recent months.
“The hybrid performance is highlighted by the fact that the Toyota RAV4 was the top-selling vehicle for the month ahead of Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux. Most RAV4 sales are hybrids,” Mr Weber said.
“While the first seven months of 2024 have exceeded expectations, the industry remains cautious about the future pending the implementation of the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard coupled with the economic conditions.”
Following behind the RAV4 and Ranger, the Toyota HiLux took third place in July, posting 4747 sales – though it was hardly a bad month for the brand which also had its Corolla take fourth place (2688), and Kluger end up in tenth (1705).
Ford also scored success with its Everest large SUV ending up in sixth (2162) and up 68 per cent, while the Isuzu D-Max finished slightly ahead in fifth (2369) – making three of the Top 5 vehicles utes.
Rounding out the Top 10 were the Mitsubishi Outlander (2110), Mazda CX-5 (2031) and MG ZS (1815).
Toyota remained the most popular new-vehicle brand last month, with 22,705 deliveries – putting it up by 18 per cent compared to July 2023, and up 29 per cent year-to-date.
It was followed by Mazda, which returned to its normal second place spot (8476 sales, up two per cent), and then Ford back in third (7749 sales, up nine per cent).
Kia finished slightly ahead of its Hyundai twin (fourth and fifth), recording 6620 deliveries and up eight per cent against Hyundai’s 6021, down eight per cent.
Nissan was knocked out of 10th by just 18 cars – its spot taken by Chinese car maker GWM, while MG returned to the Top 10 in July after dropping out in June to take 7th place.
Mitsubishi posted a 38 per cent increase to get 6th place, while Isuzu and Subaru took eighth and ninth respectively.
Electric vehicles accounted for 6.6 per cent of new vehicles reported as sold last month (taking into account Tesla and Polestar), down from seven per cent during the same month last year.
However, battery-electric vehicle sales have taken a hit in recent months, and July’s figures showed that trend to be continuing, with an 41 per cent drop compared to July 2023 (4048 v 6846). Year-to-date though, numbers are still increasing, with data showing they are 8.7 per cent up (54,267 v 49,938).
In contrast, hybrid sales are booming – up 88 per cent compared with July 2023 and 108 per cent year-to-date. Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sales have also seen a huge increase, with 2209 shifted in July compared to just 965 in the same month last year – up 129 per cent for the month and 129 per cent for the year too.
Data below supplied by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and Electric Vehicle Council (EVC), and compiled by Kathryn Fisk.
TOP 10 CARS IN July 2024
| Rank | Model | Volume July 2024 | Change year-on-year |
| 1 | Toyota RAV4 | 5933 | up 116 per cent |
| 2 | Ford Ranger | 4915 | up 9 per cent |
| 3 | Toyota HiLux | 4747 | down 14 per cent |
| 4 | Toyota Corolla | 2688 | up 25 per cent |
| 5 | Isuzu D-Max | 2369 | up 26 per cent |
| 6 | Ford Everest | 2162 | up 68 per cent |
| 7 | Mitsubishi Outlander | 2110 | up 19 per cent |
| 8 | Mazda CX-5 | 2031 | up 26 per cent |
| 9 | MG ZS | 1815 | down 53 per cent |
| 10 | Toyota Kluger | 1705 | up 30 per cent |
TOP 10 CAR BRANDS IN July 2024
| Rank | Brand | Volume July 2024 | Change year-on-year |
| 1 | Toyota | 22,705 | up 18 per cent |
| 2 | Mazda | 8476 | up 2 per cent |
| 3 | Ford | 7749 | up 9 per cent |
| 4 | Kia | 6620 | up 8 per cent |
| 5 | Hyundai | 6021 | down 8 per cent |
| 6 | Mitsubishi | 5718 | up 38 per cent |
| 7 | MG | 4101 | down 23 per cent |
| 8 | Isuzu Ute | 3821 | up 14 per cent |
| 9 | Subaru | 3601 | up 1 per cent |
| 10 | GWM | 3319 | up 29 per cent |
Passenger cars: Top Three in each segment in July 2024
| Micro | Kia Picanto (443) | Fiat/Abarth 500 (38) | Mitsubishi Mirage (0) |
| Light < $30k | MG 3 (1477) | Suzuki Swift (607) | Mazda 2 (468) |
| Light > $30k | Mini Hatch (160) | Volkswagen Polo (92) | Hyundai i20 (72) |
| Small < $40k | Toyota Corolla (2688) | Kia Cerato (1592) | Mazda 3 (1015) |
| Small > $40k | Volkswagen Golf (331) | MG 4 (307) | Audi A3 (213) |
| Medium < $60k | Toyota Camry (1498) | BYD Seal (570) | Mazda 6 (101) |
| Medium > $60k | Tesla Model 3 (1239) | BMW 3 Series (203) | Mercedes-Benz C-Class (162) |
| Large < $70k | Skoda Superb (16) | Citroen C5 X (5) | Kia Stinger (0) |
| Large > $70k | Mercedes-Benz E-Class (44) | Audi A6 (41) | BMW 5 Series (23) |
| Upper Large < $100k | – | – | – |
| Upper Large > $100k | Bentley Sedan (6) | Porsche Panamera (4) | – |
| People Movers | Kia Carnival (1033) | Hyundai Staria (123) | Volkwagen Multivan (45) |
| Sports < $80k | Subaru BRZ (70) | Mazda MX-5 (44) | Toyota GR86 (39) |
| Sports > $80k | BMW 2 Series coupe/convertible (125) | Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class (69) | BMW 4 Series coupe/convertible (63) |
| Sports > $200k | Porsche 911 (63) | Ferrari sports cars (20) | Lamborghini sports cars (16) |
SUVs: Top Three in each segment in July 2024
| Light SUV | Mazda CX-3 (1608) | Suzuky Jimny (691) | Hyundai Venue (633) |
| Small SUV < $45k | MG ZS (1815) | Hyundai Kona (1470) | Mazda CX-30 (1263) |
| Small SUV > $45k | BMW X1 (409) | Volvo EX30 (313) | Audi Q3 (293) |
| Medium SUV < $60k | Toyota RAV4 (2933) | Mitsubishi Outlander (2110) | Mazda CX-5 (2031) |
| Medium SUV > $60k | Tesla Model Y (1353) | Lexus NX (614) | Mazda CX-60 (534) |
| Large SUV < $80k | Ford Everest (2162) | Toyota Kluger (1705) | Isuzu MU-X (1452) |
| Large SUV > $80k | Land Rover Defender (354) | BMW X5 (268) | Lexus RX (208) |
| Upper Large SUV < $120k | Toyota LandCruiser wagon (1540) | Nissan Patrol wagon (664) | Kia EV9 (55) |
| Upper Large SUV > $120k | Land Rover Range Rover (96) | BMW X7 (91) | Lexus GX (81) |
Utes and vans: Top Three in each segment in July 2024
| Vans < 2.5t | Volkswagen Caddy (81) | Peugeot Partner (21) | Renault Kangoo (8) |
| Vans 2.5t-3.5t | Toyota HiAce van (1136) | Hyundai Staria Load (302) | LDV G10/G10+ (277) |
| 4×2 Utes | Toyota HiLux (622) | Isuzu D-Max (510) | Ford Ranger (305) |
| 4×4 Utes < $100k | Ford Ranger (4610) | Toyota HiLux (4125) | Isuzu D-Max (1859) |
| Utes > $100k | Ram 1500 (249) | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (203) | Ford F-150 (192) |
The post Australian new-car sales in July 2024: Hybrid sales boom as Toyota RAV4 leads the VFACTS race appeared first on Drive.
