VFACTS August: Chinese brands surge in popularity  

Last month was the second-strongest August for new-car registrations on record, with 100,539 vehicles being delivered – near enough a fifth of which were contributed by Chinese brands. 

The Ford Ranger has finally clapped back against the Toyota Hilux to take the sales crown in August, but only just; the Ranger posted 4942 sales compared to the Hilux’s 4823, while the ever-present RAV4 hovered in third with 4115 deliveries. 

Catching many off guard, the MG ZS (2680) finished fourth last month, well clear of the Isuzu D-Max (2314) in fifth, with places six-through-10 occupied by the Ford Everest (2203), Toyota Prado (2033), Hyundai Kona (1983), Toyota Corolla (1823) and Chery Tiggo 4 (1780) respectively. 

Quick side note: the Tesla Model Y was technically the fifth-best-selling model in August, but Tesla doesn’t submit its sales data to/for VFacts reports. 

Back on track, the MG’s and Chery’s presence in the top 10 best-selling models wasn’t a fluke either seeing as MG and Chery, along with BYD and GWM, all cracked the top 10 best-selling brands. 

Toyota predictably ruled the roost with 20,791 deliveries compared to Ford’s 8002 and Kia’s 7402, the latter already seeing gains courtesy of its brand new Tasman ute. 

Positions four-through-10 went to Mazda (6814), Hyundai (6344), BYD (4877), Mitsubishi (4551), GWM (4488), MG (3927) and Chery (3305), in that order. 

SUVs are predictably still Australia’s preferred class of vehicle with the high-riding hatches, wagons and four-door coupes representing a healthy 60 per cent (60,495) of the overall market last month. 

Light commercials meantime accounted for 23 per cent (23,211) of the market. 

Passenger sales accounted for 13.1 per cent (13,203) of the market and are down a hefty 25 per cent so far this year ending August. 

With the overall market down just 2.1 per cent on 2024 so far this year to date and some key new product inbound and/or finding its feet in showrooms, 2025 is on-track to be another year of growth, especially if the momentum of the Chinese brands continues. 

“The presence of four Chinese brands in the top ten illustrates the continuing evolution of the automotive landscape in Australia,” FCAI CEO Tony Weber said.  

“Consumers have an extraordinary range of vehicles to choose from – more than 400 models, including around 100 EVs.” 

Best-selling models of August 2025 
1. Ford Ranger – 4942 
2. Toyota Hilux – 4823 
3. Toyota RAV – 44115 
4. MG ZS – 2680 
5. Isuzu D-Max – 2314 
6. Ford Everest – 2203 
7. Toyota Prado – 2033 
8. Hyundai Kona – 1983
9. Toyota Corolla – 1823 
10. Chery Tiggo 4 – 1780 
* Data sourced from VFacts 

Best-selling makes of August 2025 
1. Toyota – 20,791 
2. Ford – 8002 
3. Kia – 7402 
4. Mazda – 6814 
5. Hyundai – 6322 
6. BYD – 4877 
7. Mitsubishi – 4551 
8. GWM – 4488 
9. MG – 3927 
10. Chery – 3305 
* Data sourced from VFacts 

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