VFACTS June: Ute sales remain strong as BYD grows

Despite economic pressures and the rising cost of living in Australia, new vehicle sales increased in the last month. However, total sales for the first six months of 2025 were down compared to same period in 2024.

Unsurprisingly, it’s dual-cab utes that continue to dominate, with BYD recording a stellar month that saw the Chinese car-maker enter the top five, courtesy of strong sales of its Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute.

It’s the first time a Chinese car brand has produced such a result, thanks to a whopping 367.9 per cent increase in sales compared to same month last year.

A total of 127,437 new vehicles were sold in June 2025, according to data published by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and Electric Vehicle Council (EVC), marking a 6.2 per cent increase compared to the same month in 2024.

Year to date, total sales are at 624,130 units, while the strong June results (which mark the end of the financial year and usually bring a surge of sales amid heavy discounts) are the best the month has delivered since 2018.

But the first half of 2025 saw sales contract, the period recording a 1.4 per cent decline in new vehicle deliveries compared to the first six months of 2024.

Even so, the FCAI says last month’s strong results demonstrate the strength and resilience of the automotive sector and highlight the continued popularity of dual-cab utes, as well as the diversity of choice in the Australian market.

Light commercial vehicles once again dominated, and the battle for top spot between the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger raged on. In June it was the Ranger that clawed its way back to pole position, with 6293 deliveries – just 98 more than the HiLux (6195).

Rounding out the podium was the Tesla Model Y (3457 units), as deliveries for the updated SUV increase, while the Isuzu D-MAX (3119 units) finished in fourth spot.

That left the BYD Shark 6 to nab fifth place, with 2993 sales in June.

Meanwhile, demand remains strong for SUVs, with the Ranger-based Ford Everest, Mazda CX-5, Hyundai Kona, Toyota RAV4, and Hyundai Tucson rounding out the top 10 in June.

Toyota remained the top seller overall, despite a 3.2% decline for the month of June year on year, partly due to slower RAV4 sales ahead of the all-new mid-size SUV due in 2026.

Elsewhere, passenger cars like hatchbacks and sedans continue to trend downward, with a 27.9% decline year on year, while demand for electric vehicles was up 32.5% for the month to 13,169 units, the segment accounting for a market share of 10.3%.

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