Isuzu Ute Australia (IUA) has finished 2024 in 8th place overall in the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) official sales figures for new vehicles in Australia.
It’s the highest ranking yet for the Japanese marque and the third consecutive top-ten finish.
With a record total of 48,172 vehicles sold, IUA achieved a year-on-year increase of 6.2%. That result is notable given that IUA produces two models: the D-Max one-tonne Ute and the MU-X seven-seat SUV.
The domestic automotive market sold 1.221 million new vehicles in 2023, up from 1.216 million in 2023, a 0.3% increase.
IUA now accounts for 3.9% of all new-car deliveries in Australia, one of the world’s most competitive automotive marketplaces. More than 50 brands compete across around 450 separate models.
The D-Max and the MU-X each had their distinct narratives throughout the year.
Australia’s love affair with the ute continues, with the D-Max consolidating its position to finish 3rd in the one-tonne Ute LCV (Light Commercial Vehicle) segment and 4th place overall.
With 30,194 D-Maxs delivered, 2024 saw IUA top 30,000 ute sales for the second year running. That result reflects the strong reception for the facelifted 2024 Isuzu D-Max, released in May and significantly shaped by customer feedback. With a record 31,202 D-Max utes sold and delivered the previous year, 2023 remains the benchmark.
The MU-X, meanwhile, saw record-breaking demand for the model, delivering 17,978 vehicles across 2024 – up from 14,139 for a year-on-year increase of 27.2%. (The 2023 result of 14,139 MU-X sales was an increase of 28.7% on the SUV’s 2022 numbers. Combined, MU-X sales are up 38.9% since the start of 2023.)
IUA has delivered 224,137 D-Max and 90,335 MU-X vehicles since November 2008.
Consistent demand for Isuzu’s 7-seat full-size SUV means the MU-X has now placed among Australia’s top two best-selling ute-based SUVs for a decade, as well as finishing 2024 ranked 2nd place overall in the hotly contested ‘SUV Large < $80K’ segment.
“Success in one of the world’s most fiercely competitive markets is not something we take for granted, and we always strive to ensure that our customers are at the heart of everything we do. Finishing 2024 as Australia’s eighth best-selling automotive brand is an outstanding result for our two-vehicle marque and a reflection, I hope, of our commitment to listening to our customers and their feedback,” IUA managing director Junta Matsui says.
“The long-term success of the MU-X has also been gratifying. Incredibly, 2024 marked 11 years since the MU-X became available locally, and it’s continued to achieve close to 30% growth in each of the past two years, as well as placing first or second among Ute-based SUV sales for a decade.”
Matsui is confident in the strength of IUA moving forward.
A deeper examination of FCAI figures revealed further success in the details for IUA. The D-MAX also achieved 2nd position in the ‘Pick Up/Cab Chassis 4X2’ segment, with 6,163 sales accounting for a 23.7% market share.
Light commercial vehicle sales comprise 22.1% of the Australian market, including three of the top four most popular models. SUVs continue to dominate the market overall, now representing 57% of total Australian new car sales.
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