Toyota Hilux remains September best-seller but Model Y closing in fast

The Toyota Hilux remained Australia’s best-selling new car in September 2022, but the all-electric Tesla Model Y SUV is fast closing in on the popular Ute.

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) reports that 93,555 vehicles were sold in September bringing the year-to-date total to 811,130. 

This represents a 12.3% increase on the same month in 2021. 

Toyota led the market with a total of 14,852 vehicles sold. Kia was next with 7290 followed by Mazda (7259), Mitsubishi (6,784) and Ford (6,635). 

The Toyota Hilux was the highest selling model with 5170 sales reported. The 

Ford Ranger followed with 4890. Tesla’s Model Y was next with 4359 followed by Mazda’s CX-5 (2439) and Mitsubishi’s Triton (2319).

Sales across the ACT increased by 67.7% with 1498 vehicles sold.  Sales were also up in New South Wales 20.8% (28,945); Victoria 23.8% (25,367) and Queensland 2.9% (20,634).  

All other States and Territories recorded declines in sales.  The NT 9.8% (832); South Australia 2.2% (6005); Tasmania 0.9% (1630); and Western Australia; 6% (8644). 

While supplies of new cars to the Australian market are showing signs of improvement, FCAI chief executive Tony Weber says logistical and supply chain issues remained problematic as the global automotive market recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic.

China was the third largest supplier of vehicles to the Australian market in September with 14,889 vehicles. Japan (23,880) and Thailand (20,363) remain Australia’s largest source of vehicles.

Kiwi Model Y trajectory

The rise and rise of the all-electric Tesla Model Y SUV up the sales charts is not an exclusive story to the Australian new car market.

Much the same is happening across the Tasman Sea in the land of the Kiwi, where the Model Y became the country’s best-selling car in September 2022 with 1502 new registrations recorded by Waka Kotahi – New Zealand Transport Agency.

The Ford Ranger was second with 1043 units newly registered in New Zealand in September 2022 followed by the Toyota Hilux in third with 989 units registered.

Year to date the top three best-selling models in the New Zealand market are the Toyota Hilux (7621 units), followed by the Ford Ranger (7450 units) and the Mitsubishi Outlander (7139 units).

In the share of the market year to date, Toyota New Zealand retains its lead with 17% (21,131 units), followed by Mitsubishi Motors 15% share (18,964 units) and then Ford New Zealand with 8% (9679 units).