Records have continued to tumble just three months into 2024, with 109,647 new cars sold throughout March and 304,452 during the first quarter (Q1), according to new VFACTS data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI).
These results represented an increase of 12.7% and 13.2%, respectively, on the corresponding periods from 2023, which come against the backdrop of increased order fulfilments following the easing of shipping delays and stock shortages.
All three months in Q1 broke their respective records, with January (89,782) and February (105,023) bringing in the new year with a bang.
Sales of electric and partially electrified cars also grew throughout the month, with just under a quarter of all vehicles sold (23.5%) being EVs, PHEVs or hybrid vehicles.
In terms of vehicle segments, SUVs continue to go from strength to strength, with the 64,631 registered as sold last month representing an increase of 20.7% compared to March 2023 and establishing a market share of 58.9%.
The growth was much more modest for light commercial (23,061, +4.8%) and passenger vehicles (17,611, +2.9%), while heavy commercial vehicle sales (4,344) dropped by 4.1% compared to last year.
Victoria was the state that saw the most growth, with the 30,099 new cars registered as sold being 24.9% greater than the total recorded last year, while the Northern Territory (930, +19.8%) and New South Wales (33,808, +11.7%) also saw improvements in the double digits.
Market sales: March 2024
| Category | March sales | % change vs 2023 | Market share % |
| SUV | 64,631 | 20.7 | 58.9 |
| Light commercial | 23,061 | 4.8 | 21.0 |
| Passenger | 17,611 | 2.9 | 16.1 |
| Heavy commercial | 4,344 | -4.1 | 4.0 |
Vehicle sales by state or territory: March 2024
| State/territory | March sales | % change vs 2023 |
| New South Wales | 33,808 | 11.7 |
| Victoria | 30,099 | 24.9 |
| Queensland | 23,550 | 5.9 |
| Western Australia | 11,074 | 9.3 |
| South Australia | 6,992 | 6.9 |
| Tasmania | 1,610 | -0.6 |
| Australian Capital Territory | 1,584 | 0.5 |
| Northern Territory | 930 | 19.8 |
Vehicle brands: March
Toyota continues to steam ahead in vehicle sales, with the 18,961 recorded across March placing it over 10,000 units clear of the next best brand and 43.4% ahead of its result from 2023.
Ford moved into second on the monthly leaderboard with a strong 8,776 (+35.3%) pushing it clear of perennial second-placer Mazda, who finished on 8,246 for the month (0.0%).
It was also a big month for Mitsubishi, with the Japanese manufacturer moving into the top four on the back of 7,866 new vehicle registrations in March (+34.2%), which kept it ahead of another heavyweight in Kia (7,070, +10.4%), who rounded out the top five.
American EV manufacturer Tesla jumped above Hyundai, with its 6,017 registrations (+68.2%) edging out the South Korean automaker by just 32 units (5,985, +11.5%).
After a bumper February where it rose into the top four, Nissan slid to eighth (4,976, +46.2%), but its haul was still enough to account for Isuzu Ute (4,351, -4.0%) and MG (3,949, -1.4%), both of whom saw regressions on their March 2023 numbers.
Year-to-date (YTD) sales are, unsurprisingly, dominated by Toyota, which has taken only three months to crack 50,000 units sold for the year and is in a much stronger position this year than last (56,238, +37.4%).
Mazda has held onto second spot (23,761, -6.1%), but faces stiff competition from Ford (22,675, +18.5%), while Mitsubishi became the fourth company to pass 20,000 this year (20,188, +21.3%).
Best-selling vehicle brands: March 2024
| Brand | March sales | % change vs 2023 |
| Toyota | 18,961 | 43.4 |
| Ford | 8.776 | 35.3 |
| Mazda | 8,246 | 0.0 |
| Mitsubishi | 7,866 | 34.2 |
| Kia | 7,070 | 10.4 |
| Tesla | 6,017 | 68.2 |
| Hyundai | 5,985 | 11.5 |
| Nissan | 4,976 | 46.2 |
| Isuzu Ute | 4,351 | -4.0 |
| MG | 3,949 | -1.4 |
| Subaru | 3,766 | -2.2 |
| GWM | 3,619 | 8.4 |
| Volkswagen | 3,026 | -12.9 |
| BMW | 2,532 | -11.4 |
| Suzuki | 2,023 | 33.3 |
Best-selling vehicle brands: 2024
| Brand | YTD sales | % change vs 2023 |
| Toyota | 56,238 | 37.4 |
| Mazda | 23,761 | -6.1 |
| Ford | 22,675 | 18.5 |
| Mitsubishi | 20,188 | 21.3 |
| Kia | 18,918 | 2.8 |
| Hyundai | 17,850 | 7.0 |
| Nissan | 14,293 | 69.7 |
| Isuzu Ute | 12,801 | 23.6 |
| Tesla | 12,789 | 22.9 |
| MG | 12,429 | 0.4 |
Vehicle models: March
The Ford Ranger has begun to hit its straps, claiming its third successive monthly crown in style with 5,661 units marked as sold at a rate 25.6% higher than March 2023.
However, the big story of the month was the Toyota RAV4, which shot into second place overall with 5,070 units (which was 185.2% greater than its total over the same period last year) to disrupt the typical ute duopoly of the Ranger and the Toyota HiLux.
Tesla’s Model Y also climbed the ranks into third with a big month (4,379, +126.0%), leaving the HiLux in a very unfamiliar position outside the podium places (3,995, -12.8%) and losing important ground on its main rival in the YTD sales figures.
It wasn’t just the RAV4 and Model Y that saw significant spikes this month, though; both the Ford Everest (2,264, +129.9%) and Nissan X-TRAIL (2,161, +124.4%) more than doubled their sales figures from 12 months ago.
The Mitsubishi Outlander (2,764, +27.4%) did enough to land a place in the top five for the month, leapfrogging the Isuzu Ute D-Max (2,465, -11.6%), while the Toyota LandCruiser (2,159, +28.3%) and the Mazda CX-5 (2,134, +11.3%) rounded out the best-sellers’ list.
The Ranger now sits more than 3,000 units ahead of the HiLux in annual sales (15,761 to 12,490) as the two continue to duke it out at the top, but the RAV4 has moved into third position overall after its strong month (10,124).
A third Toyota model, the Corolla, occupies seventh spot overall, while there’s also room for two Tesla cars in the Model Y (6,835) and Model 3 (5,954).
Best-selling vehicle models: March 2024
| Model | March sales | % change vs 2023 |
| Ford Ranger | 5,661 | 25.6 |
| Toyota RAV4 | 5,070 | 185.2 |
| Tesla Model Y | 4,379 | 126.0 |
| Toyota HiLux | 3,995 | -12.8 |
| Mitsubishi Outlander | 2,764 | 27.4 |
| Isuzu Ute D-Max | 2,465 | -11.6 |
| Ford Everest | 2,264 | 129.9 |
| Nissan X-TRAIL | 2,161 | 124.4 |
| Toyota LandCruiser | 2,159 | 28.3 |
| Mazda CX-5 | 2,134 | 11.3 |
Best-selling vehicle models: 2024
| Model | YTD sales | % change vs 2023 |
| Ford Ranger | 15,761 | 14.8 |
| Toyota HiLux | 12,490 | -1.3 |
| Toyota RAV4 | 10,124 | 73.0 |
| Isuzu Ute D-Max | 7,947 | 21.1 |
| Mitsubishi Outlander | 7,050 | 17.3 |
| Tesla Model Y | 6,835 | 115.7 |
| Toyota Corolla | 6,411 | 92.8 |
| MG ZS | 6,291 | 9.7 |
| Tesla Model 3 | 5,954 | -17.7 |
| Nissan X-TRAIL | 5,598 | 117.7 |
