[ad_1]
New-car sales are on their longest streak of year-on-year growth since 2021, and set a new March record – despite fears of an imminent slowdown – after Toyota posted a 43 per cent increase in deliveries.
Deliveries of new motor vehicles increased for the 11th consecutive month in March 2024 – and set another record – as the number of cars leaving showrooms continues to buck industry warnings of a slowdown around the corner.
The 12.7 per cent growth in new-car sales last month – to 109,647 vehicles, a March best – was assisted by a 4 per cent decline this time last year, when thousands of cars were stuck offshore amid quarantine delays, and market leader Toyota recorded a rare 39 per cent drop.
Industry analysts have previously warned a slowdown in new-car sales is coming, as the number of new orders being written is down from the highs of the wake of the pandemic.
The data published by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) each month reflects the number of new vehicles delivered – rather than how many customers placed a deposit – with many cars reported as sold last month ordered last year, or earlier.
Last month 109,647 new vehicles were reported as sold by the FCAI, up 12.7 per cent compared to March 2023 – and up 2.5 per cent on the all-time record, set in 2018 with 106,988 sales.
March 2024 represents the 11th month in a row of sales growth, compared to the same months the prior year – and is the longest streak of year-on-year since an 11-month run from November 2020 to September 2021.
If new-car deliveries continue in a positive direction in April 2024 – for a full 12 months in a row of increases – it will be the longest period of consecutive monthly sales growth in at least six years.
Among the biggest winners last month was Toyota, which recorded a staggering 43.4 per cent increase compared to March 2023, as this time last year it reported a sales decline of 39 per cent due to port delays and production slowdowns.
Despite the growth, Toyota only accounted for one in six new vehicles sold last month – compared to the one in five, or one in four it typically represents.
Following first-placed Toyota’s tally of 18,961 deliveries was Ford (8776 sales, up 35.3 per cent) and Mazda (8246 sales, up 0.04 per cent).
Electric-car specialist Tesla finished sixth for the month with 6017 deliveries – its all-time highest finishing position – though it is not a record in terms of outright sales volume.
Tesla will stop reporting new-car sales to VFACTS after June 2023 as it is leaving the FCAI.
Kia in fifth position (7070 sales, up 10.4 per cent) outsold its South Korean twin Hyundai, which slipped to seventh position (5985 sales) amid a lack of i30 hatch stock, and a change-over from old to new Santa Fe seven-seat SUVs.
Nissan ended the month in eighth, after a fifth-placed result in February – its first top five finish since 2018. Only two brands in the top 10 recorded sales declines, Isuzu Ute (ninth place, down 4 per cent) and MG (10th place, down 1.4 per cent).
Topping the new-model charts for the fifth month in a row – after last year becoming the first model from its manufacturer to claim the annual title since 1995 – was the Ford Ranger ute, with 5661 deliveries in March 2024, up 25.6 per cent on the same month in 2023.
The Toyota RAV4 recorded a stellar second-place finish – with 5070 sales, up 185 per cent year-on-year, or nearly triple its March 2023 result – ahead of the Tesla Model Y with 4379 deliveries, up 126 per cent.
The Toyota HiLux dropped to fourth place with 3995 sales – down 12.8 per cent on March 2023 – and did not lead the 4×2 or 4×4 ute sales categories.
Just 650 cars separated positions five to 10 – which included the Ford Everest in seventh place, with 2264 deliveries, up 129.8 per cent.
Electric vehicles accounted for 9.5 per cent of new vehicles sold – down from last month’s 9.6 per cent, which set an all-time record.
Data below supplied by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), and compiled by Alex Misoyannis and Kathryn Fisk.
TOP 10 CARS IN March 2024
| Rank | Model | Volume March 2024 | Change year-on-year |
| 1 | Ford Ranger | 5661 | up 25.6 per cent |
| 2 | Toyota RAV4 | 5070 | up 185 per cent |
| 3 | Tesla Model Y | 4379 | up 126 per cent |
| 4 | Toyota HiLux | 3995 | down 12.8 per cent |
| 5 | Mitsubishi Outlander | 2764 | up 27.4 per cent |
| 6 | Isuzu D-Max | 2465 | down 11.6 per cent |
| 7 | Ford Everest | 2264 | up 129.8 per cent |
| 8 | Nissan X-Trail | 2161 | up 124.4 per cent |
| 9 | Mazda CX-5 | 2134 | up 11.3 per cent |
| 10 | Kia Sportage | 2114 | up 148.4 per cent |
TOP 10 CAR BRANDS IN March 2024
| Rank | Brand | Volume March 2024 | Change year-on-year |
| 1 | Toyota | 18,961 | up 43.4 per cent |
| 2 | Ford | 8776 | up 35.3 per cent |
| 3 | Mazda | 8246 | up 0.04 per cent |
| 4 | Mitsubishi | 7866 | up 34.2 per cent |
| 5 | Kia | 7070 | up 10.4 per cent |
| 6 | Tesla | 6017 | up 68.2 per cent |
| 7 | Hyundai | 5985 | up 11.5 per cent |
| 8 | Nissan | 4976 | up 46.2 per cent |
| 9 | Isuzu Ute | 4351 | down 4.0 per cent |
| 10 | MG | 3949 | down 1.4 per cent |
Passenger cars: Top Three in each segment in March 2024
| Micro | Kia Picanto (521) | Fiat/Abarth 500 (31) | Mitsubishi Mirage (0) |
| Light < $30k | MG 3 (978) | Suzuki Swift (558) | Mazda 2 (400) |
| Light > $30k | Mini Hatch (181) | Volkswagen Polo (141) | Skoda Fabia (40) |
| Small < $40k | Toyota Corolla (2027) | Kia Cerato (1193) | Hyundai i30 (1021) |
| Small > $40k | MG 4 (352) | Audi A3 (246) | Volkswagen Golf (200) |
| Medium < $60k | Toyota Camry (1690) | BYD Seal (365) | Mazda 6 (168) |
| Medium > $60k | Tesla Model 3 (1638) | BMW 3 Series (325) | BMW i4 (236) |
| Large < $70k | Skoda Superb (25) | Citroen C5 X (4) | Kia Stinger (0) |
| Large > $70k | BMW 5 Series (65) | Porsche Taycan (43) | Audi A6 (28) |
| Upper Large > $100k | Lexus LS, BMW 7 Series (5) | Porsche Panamera (4) | Audi A8, Bentley Flying Spur, BMW 6 Series GT, BMW i7 (3) |
| People Movers | Kia Carnival (592) | Hyundai Staria (101) | Volkswagen Multivan (48) |
| Sports < $80k | Subaru BRZ (80) | Mazda MX-5 (69) | Toyota GR86 (67) |
| Sports > $80k | BMW 2 Series coupe/convertible (155) | BMW 4 Series coupe/convertible (98) | Lotus Emira (33) |
| Sports > $200k | Porsche 911 (118) | Ferrari sports cars (21) | Aston Martin sports cars (17) |
SUVs: Top Three in each segment in March 2024
| Light SUV | Mazda CX-3 (1467) | Suzuki Jimny (856) | Hyundai Venue (588) |
| Small SUV < $45k | MG ZS (2046) | Hyundai Kona (1607) | GWM Haval Jolion (1203) |
| Small SUV > $45k | Audi Q3 (492) | BMW X1 (445) | Volvo XC40 (305) |
| Medium SUV < $60k | Toyota RAV4 (5070) | Mitsubishi Outlander (2764) | Nissan X-Trail (2161) |
| Medium SUV > $60k | Tesla Model Y (4379) | Lexus NX (546) | Mercedes-Benz GLC (360) |
| Large SUV < $70k | Ford Everest (2264) | Isuzu MU-X (1886) | Kia Sorento (955) |
| Large SUV > $70k | BMW X5 (263) | Land Rover Defender (211) | Kia EV6 (198) |
| Upper Large SUV < $120k | Toyota LandCruiser wagon (1219) | Nissan Patrol wagon (663) | Kia EV9 (70) |
| Upper Large SUV > $120k | Range Rover (77) | BMW X7 (65) | Lexus LX (45) |
Utes and vans: Top Three in each segment in March 2024
| Vans < 2.5t | Peugeot Partner (56) | Volkswagen Caddy (46) | Renault Kangoo (2) |
| Vans 2.5t-3.5t | Toyota HiAce van (829) | Hyundai Staria Load (329) | LDV G10/G10+ (276) |
| 4×2 Utes | Isuzu D-Max (618) | Ford Ranger (526) | Toyota HiLux (440) |
| 4×4 Utes < $100k | Ford Ranger (5135) | Toyota HiLux (3555) | Isuzu D-Max (1847) |
| Utes > $100k | Ram 1500 (313) | Ford F-150 (238) | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (184) |
The post Australian new-car sales in March 2024: VFACTS record streak continues, Toyota RAV4 second appeared first on Drive.
[ad_2]
Source link
