VFACTS January: Sales slump as pandemic bites

Australian new-vehicle sales have posted their second-worst January result in the last 10 years as the global coronavirus pandemic continues to impact.

A total of 75,863 new vehicles were sold last month Down Under. The only worse-performing January since 2011 was in 2020, when 71,731 vehicles were registered.

January 2022 was also down 4.8 per cent compared to the 79,666 sales recorded in January 2021.

As per usual, Toyota led the market overall while the HiLux ute claimed its normal position atop the sales charts with the Prado SUV also in the top 10 (fifth). However, the HiLux was beaten by the Ford Ranger and Mitsubishi Triton in the volume-selling 4x4 segment.

Mazda was in its traditional second spot, albeit with a best-ever market share of 12.9 per cent following a record sales month for the CX-5, but Mitsubishi climbed over Hyundai, Ford and Kia into third on the back of a 26.1 per cent year-on-year sales boost.

Further down Isuzu Ute clambered into the top 10 in ninth place thanks to marginally improved D-MAX and increasing MU-X sales.

Chinese brand MG recorded its best-ever monthly result of seventh overall, riding a 46.9 per cent year-on-year sales climb. It shared the distinction with Toyota of having two top-10 selling vehicles in the form of the ZS small SUV and MG3 mini-car.

Among the top 10 brands, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Kia, MG and Isuzu grew sales while the rest dipped. Volkswagen dropped out of the top 10 altogether.

Notable performers – good and bad – year-on-year included Audi (-46%), Chevrolet (+87.5%), Genesis (+433.3%, off an admittedly small base), GWM (+51.2%), Honda (-48.8%), Land Rover (-36.8%), LDV (+36.6%), Lexus (-29.1%), Nissan (-37.9%), Peugeot (+72%), Porsche (-31.6%), RAM (+64.7%), Renault (+150%), Skoda (-63.4%), SsangYong (+44.6%) and Volkswagen (-43.9%).

There were some startling results among individual models. Honda – now selling direct rather than franchising – sold only 58 Civics compared to 576 just 12 months ago.

Toyota RAV4 sales more than halved to 1425, reflecting its much-documented supply issues, while LandCruiser 300 sales were also less than half what the old 200 Series managed in January 2021.

“The microprocessor shortage and the pandemic’s impact on supply chains continues into 2022. This is an issue impacting markets all over the globe. Despite this, consumer interest, inquiry, and the fundamental demand for new cars in Australia remains strong,” said FCAI chief executive Tony Weber.

“Manufacturers are continuing to work hard to address supply chain and production issues. We are also experiencing bottlenecks in having vehicles processed from some Australian ports. We will continue to work with all parties involved to resolve the issue.”

Light commercial sales grew year-on-year, by 4.4 per cent, but SUVs dipped 4.7 per cent and the passenger segment slumped by 15.3 per cent.

Across the states and territories, only Tasmania recorded more registrations than 12 months ago.

Electric vehicle sales – not including dominant Tesla – climbed 109.5 per cent year-on-year from 296 to 620. Plug-in hybrid vehicle sales climbed by 94.3 per cent to 307 sales.

Top 10 brands in January:

Top 10 models in January:

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