VFACTS AUGUST 2021: Sales low for the month despite growth on 2020

The Australian new-car market has continued its roller-coaster ride in 2021 after posting its second-worst August figures since the global financial crisis.

Official data released today reveals 81,199 vehicles were sold last month. It’s the lowest August sales since the 73,287 units shifted in 2009, as the industry continues to contend with the COVID-19 pandemic’s double-whammy of supply shortages and lockdown restrictions.

August was also the lowest monthly sales result of 2021 since the traditionally slow month of January, when 79,666 units were registered.

The positive outlook for car manufacturers and dealers is that August’s new-car registrations represent a 33 per cent improvement over the same month last year. The market is still on track to return to one-million-plus sales for the year, up 27 per cent year to date.

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2021 Toyota HiLux

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) said August continued to prove the market’s resilience in testing times.

“The bounce of 33 per cent on last year’s figure demonstrates the resolve of car manufacturers to engage with customers and drive-up new vehicle ownership,” said FCAI chief executive Tony Weber. “With access to showrooms limited, vehicle-makers are working to engage customers in their homes and other places of isolation.”

SUVs again accounted for most new vehicles, with a 27 per cent month-on-month increase taking the segment to 40,981 units – or nearly half the market.

Light commercial vehicles (LCVs) had the biggest jump compared with this time last year – up 71 per cent to 19,236 vehicles.

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2021 Ford Ranger Wildtrak

Passenger cars (17,339 units) enjoyed a respectable month, too, with an 18 per cent month-on-month increase more than double its year-to-date growth of seven per cent.

Mid-sized SUVs was the most popular individual vehicle category last month based on official VFACTS figures, which split utility vehicles into 4x4 (14,603) and 4x2 (3016). Combined ute sales of 17,619 units otherwise trumps the 14,629 mid-sized SUVs sold.

The 4x2 ute segment had the largest growth, up 169 per cent compared with August 2020, while there was also a notable increase for large SUVs, which were up 70 per cent month-on-month.

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2021 Toyota Corolla

Top 10 models

Toyota dominated the best-sellers list more than usual last month, with its vehicles accounting for four of the top five models.

The Toyota HiLux was the best-selling vehicle last month, outselling its nemesis the Ford Ranger by 4470 units to 3959.

Toyota’s Corolla small car was third for a second consecutive month, securing its best result of 2021 so far (3563 units), while the RAV4 was Australia’s favourite SUV (3169 sales).

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2022 Isuzu D-Max

And the Toyota Prado achieved its highest sales of the year so far, with 2731 units. The 4WD has been a constant presence in the top 10 since entering for the first time this year in May.

The Mazda CX-5, Hyundai i30 and Isuzu D-Max are no strangers to the top 10, though the MG ZS/ZST made a second-consecutive appearance after its July feat of becoming the first Chinese car to feature in the best-sellers list.

Mitsubishi’s Outlander SUV made it into the charts for the second month on a trot, but again at the expense of the company’s Triton ute, which struggled in August.

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2021 Mazda CX-5

Top 10 models: August 2021

1) Toyota HiLux - 4470 + 267% (v August 2020)
2) Ford Ranger - 3959 + 35%
3) Toyota Corolla - 3563 + 143%
4) Toyota RAV4 - 3169 – 34%
5) Toyota Prado - 2731 + 453%
6) Mazda CX-5 - 2239 – 19%
7) Hyundai i30- 2047 + 43%
8) Isuzu D-Max - 1941 + 885%
9) MG ZS - 1700 + 436%
10) Mitsubishi Outlander - 1638 + 85%

Top 10 models: 2021 year to date

1) Toyota HiLux – 37,156
2) Ford Ranger – 33,359
3) Toyota RAV4 – 25,873
4) Mazda CX-5 – 19,918
5) Toyota Corolla – 19,917
6) Isuzu D-Max – 18,173
7) Hyundai i30 – 17,100
8) Mitsubishi Triton – 15,397
9) Toyota Prado – 15,153
10) Kia Cerato – 13,485

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2020 Toyota RAV4

Top 10 brands

Toyota smashed the market in a big way last month, achieving 25 per cent market share with nearly 20,000 sales.

Mazda occupied its usual second spot, but behind it the fierce mid-field battle continues between Kia, Ford and Hyundai. The three brands were separated by just 49 units last month.

Kia once again outsold sister brand Hyundai with 5065 units to 5016, taking third place for the second time this year. Ford sat in a South Korean sandwich with 5058 sales.

Hyundai keeps third position in the 2021 race overall with 48,712 sales, but Ford (48,510) and Kia (48,161) are looking to steal that bronze medal.

Mitsubishi is making sixth place its own – a position it occupied for both August and year to date.

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2022 Toyota LandCruiser Prado

Volkswagen is on the verge of overtaking Nissan for seventh in the 2021 race. The German brand grew sales by 36 per cent compared to August 2020, where the Japanese brand’s sales fell nine per cent – dropping Nissan out of the top 10 for the second consecutive month.

Subaru had another strong month, but Isuzu Ute and MG continued to register remarkable growth – up 290 and 147 per cent, respectively, compared with this time last year.

Mercedes-Benz didn’t make the top 10 but outsold Nissan – 2364 to 2162 units.

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2021 Hyundai i30 N

Top 10 brands: August 2021

1) Toyota - 19,959 + 60% (v August 2020)
2) Mazda - 7645 + 10%
3) Kia - 5065 + 12%
4) Ford - 5058 + 30%
5) Hyundai - 5016 + 11%
6) Mitsubishi - 4802 + 11%
7) VW - 3793 + 36%
8) Subaru - 3232 + 58%
9) Isuzu Ute - 3099 + 290%
10) MG - 3011 – 147%

Top 10 brands: 2021 year to date

1) Toyota - 156,555
2) Mazda - 77,010
3) Hyundai - 48,712
4) Ford - 48,510
5) Kia - 48,161
6) Mitsubishi - 47,547
7) Nissan - 28,835
8) Volkswagen - 28,524
9) MG - 25,868
10) Subaru - 25,701

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2022 Mitsubishi Outlander

In charts

August 2021 - Top 10 models

August 2021: YTD sales top 10

August 2021 - Overall segment sales

August 2021-2020 Category sales

August 2021-2020 YTD Category sales