The market recorded 97,037 new vehicle sales in November, down 2.1% on the same month last year, but plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) delivered a standout performance with sales surging 83.3%.
PHEV sales reached 4768 units across passenger, SUV and light commercial segments in November, according to the latest VFACTS data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI).
Year to date, PHEV sales have surged 130.6% to 47,565 units as more models enter the market and consumer awareness increases.
Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive Tony Weber said the results point to a sustained shift in buyer priorities.
“Plug-in hybrids continue to gain momentum because they give drivers the benefit of electric travel for daily use while removing range concerns,” Weber said.
“Consumers are looking for flexible, low-emission choices and brands are meeting that demand.”
Petrol vehicles continued their downward trajectory, with overall petrol sales falling 18.1% in November and 9.5% year to date.
“Petrol’s decline is part of a long-term global market transition,” Weber said. “We are seeing strong interest in hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles, and this trend will only accelerate as more models arrive.”
Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) from all sources accounted for 9.1% of sales in November, up from 6.5% in 2024. BEVs now represent 8.2% of the market year to date, compared to 7.4% for the same period last year.
“The choice of BEVs provided by manufacturers is growing, with 110 models in the market in 2025,” Weber said.
“We encourage governments to continue to invest in recharging infrastructure to support growth in consumer confidence in this new technology.”
SUVs maintain market dominance
Passenger cars experienced another significant contraction, dropping 15.7% for the month and 23.2% year to date, representing 11.8% of sales in November 2025.
In comparison, SUVs have grown 5.4% over the year and make up more than 60.5% of the market.
Toyota was the market leader with sales of 19,787 during November, followed by Ford (7407), Mazda (6979), Hyundai (6707) and Kia (6510).
The top models were the Toyota RAV4 (6390), Ford Ranger (4673), Toyota HiLux (3418), Chery Tiggo 4 Pro (2287) and Isuzu Ute D-Max (2119).
The Chery Tiggo 4 Pro recorded the strongest growth among top sellers, jumping 207% compared to November 2024, while the Hyundai Kona increased 57%.
Sales in the Australian Capital Territory were down 2.3% on November 2024 to 1302. New South Wales was down 1.4% to 30,062, Northern Territory fell 7.8% to 670, Queensland dropped 3.5% to 20,572, South Australia fell 7.5% to 6096, Victoria was down 2.7% to 25,995, while Tasmania increased 14.7% to 1883 and Western Australia rose 1.9% to 10,457.
