Car News

Introducing an entirely new nameplate to an established – and, some would argue, saturated – Australian new-car market carries an inherent risk. With a multitude of choices already on offer, any new model needs to offer a compelling package to take on the already established nameplates within a segment.

Australians are buying new cars at almost the same rate as this time last year – to pre-coronavirus levels – as the industry remains hopeful the worst is behind it and there is a clear road ahead. Official sales figures released today by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) show new-car sales in October 2020 were down by just 1.5 per cent compared with the same month the previous year, with 81,220 vehicles reported as sold versus 82,456 in October 2019.

Australia’s favourite workhorse utes are increasingly being used as weekend getaway cars. That’s the assessment from industry insiders trying to explain the unexpected surge in the sales of utes such as the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger, and full-size US pick-ups such as the Ram 1500. “People can’t travel overseas so they’re treating themselves to a new car instead, and choosing one they can take on holidays here,” said a veteran car dealer with more than 20 years in the trade.

The Ford Ranger ute was Australia’s top selling vehicle in September, overtaking the Toyota HiLux to become market leader for the first time in three years. The September 2017 and September 2020 results are the only time a Ford motor vehicle has been number one in the monthly sales charts in Australia since the Falcon last beat the Holden Commodore in August 2005.

A petrol-electric hybrid vehicle has topped the monthly sales charts for the first time in Australian automotive history – as Victoria’s strict lockdown restrictions kept the market in reverse during the coronavirus crisis. The Toyota RAV4 SUV was the nation’s top-selling vehicle for the second month in a row, but the hybrid version alone accounted for the overwhelming majority of sales – and was enough to lead the entire market in its own right.