VFACTS: China looms large over 2025 Aussie sales results

The rise and rise of China has emerged as a key theme of Australia’s 2025 sales results.

Offering a combination of low pricing and high equipment levels, Chinese-manufactured vehicles accounted for approximately 20 per cent of total new vehicle sales in Australia in 2025, pushing up from around 14 per cent in 2024.

Only more Japanese-manufactured cars are now sold in Australia.

Three Chinese brands – GWM (seventh), BYD (eighth) and MG (10th) – were top 10 sellers in 2025, up from two in 2024 (GWM and MG).

BYD and Chery were the two fastest-growing brands of any significance last year, posting sales increases of 156.2 and 176.8 per cent respectively.

“BYD’s growth has been genuine, driven by great quality vehicles with world-leading battery-electric powertrains, unmatched style and comfort, and at prices suited to Australian families and younger buyers looking to purchase their first new energy vehicle,” BYD Australia COO Stephen Collins said.

BYD’s top-sellers are the Shark 6 PHEV ute, the Sealion 7 battery-electric SUV and the Sealion 6 PHEV.

Chery’s performance meantime has been driven by the compact Tiggo 4 SUV, which claimed second place in the mainstream light SUV segment with 950 per cent sales growth year-on-year.

GWM was the steadiest in growth at 23.4 per cent, with the mass volume Haval Jolion compact SUV’s 36.3 per cent climb a highlight.

Other new Chinese brands also took significant chunks out of an overall market that remained static.

In its first year on-sale in Australia, Geely sold 5010 vehicles, Chery spin-off Omoda Jaecoo 3721 and Zeekr 1994, with the 7X providing late impetus. Other new Chinese brands such as Deepal and Leapmotor posted less than 1000 units each.

With so much volume going to the Chinese newbies in a static market, there invariably are losers, and some of them are also Chinese.

The most obvious victim amongst them was MG, which slumped 18.4 per cent in 2025 and from seventh to 10th in the running order.

That’s despite a plethora of new model launches in 2025, including the U9 dual-cab ute and the QS seven-seat family SUV. Every existing MG model bar the niche Cyberster suffered sales downturns in 2025.

Commercial brand LDV is another established Chinese player on the wrong side of the growth curve in 2025, slipping 11.9 per cent – a sales drop just under 2000 units.

They join a slew of legacy brands that declined in 2025, some by quite disastrous proportions.

Nissan dropped out of the top 10 to 12th with a 21.6 per cent slide. Every model in its range dipped bar the slow-selling Pathfinder and the new Ariya EV, however the brand’s local boss has predicted a turnaround in 2027.

Meanwhile, Mitsubishi dropped from fifth to sixth with sales off 17.9 per cent – Triton 4x4 was its sole improver year-on-year.

Isuzu Ute finished off strongly in December but still slid 12.2 per cent as sales of both the D-MAX and MU-X slowed.

EV specialist Tesla dumped 24.8 per cent primarily because of a collapse in interest in the Model 3 sedan. Suzuki, buffeted by Jimny shortages and recalls, was down 27.7 per cent. Volkswagen continued a multi-year slide, down 20.6 per cent.

Niche brands that could be among the first victims of the Chinese onslaught showed significant signs of stress.

Stellantis brands, apart from Leapmotor, had a bit of a horror show with Alfa Romeo off 17.5 per cent, Fiat off 22 per cent and Jeep down 33.3 per cent.

Inchcape-run minnow Peugeot was down 28.8 per cent. Another French brand, Renault, dipped 17.8 per cent.

Market leader Toyota held its own with a subtle 0.6 per cent decline but still topped six segments.

Podium placegetters Ford (-5.8%) and Mazda (-4.2%) both slipped. Kia was steady in fourth place, its plans for growth floundering alongside slow sales for the Tasman ute.

Ford was able to celebrate the Ranger ute as Australia’s top-seller for the third year in a row, although sales were down 9.6 per cent. It expects a reboot in 2026 with an updated range and the Super Duty’s arrival.

“This [result] is a clear validation of the hard working and talented Australian-based design and engineering team who are focused on delivering for our customers every day,” Ford Australia marketing director Ambrose Henderson said.

It wasn’t a struggle for all established brands.

MINI was up a spectacular 37.7 per cent thanks to big interest growth across the range led by the latest Cooper. VW spin-off Cupra was up 21 per cent off a relatively small base, with the newly arrived Tavascan and Terramar proving the difference.

Heavyweight Hyundai reversed its slide of recent years with 7.7 per cent growth, primarily on the back of increased hybrid sales. 4x4 specialist Land Rover was up 5.4 per cent.

Especially noteworthy was Honda’s 9.2 per cent improvement – its second year of growth after the sales collapse that came with its dealership restructure in 2021.

Most leading luxury brands improved, although Porsche was off 27 per cent with every model line down bar the Panamera (which is its slowest selling model). Volvo was off 18.6 per cent.

The pressure will only intensify in 2026 as more Chinese brands arrive and more cut-price models roll into the Australian market redefining the value equation for buyers.

GAC has just launched and Denza (BYD), Wey (GWM) and Lepas (Chery) are all confirmed for this year.

Then there are others who say they are coming such as Forthing, Avatr, Firefly and iCaur.

The potential shake-out of Australia’s crazily congested and competitive market could be seismic.

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