In February 2021, 83,977 new vehicles were sold, up from 79,940 in February last year, according to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries' (FCAI) 'VFACTS' report.

However, these figures are still down on February 2019, when 87,102 vehicles were sold.

SUVs made up more than half of all new vehicles sold in February 2021, while light commercial vehicles (utes) made up 23%, with all but two top-ten sellers being a ute or SUV (details below).

The FCAI says this reflects a "continued shift in preference by consumers away from passenger vehicles", which fell 15.3% in February compared to February 2020.

The positive car sales data was buoyed by a strong uptick of sales in Queensland (+14.8%), Western Australia (+21.7%), and the Northern Territory (+32.7%).

However, the data was partially offset by falls in the ACT (-38.3%), Victoria (-8.7%), and Tasmania (-3.9%).

FCAI chief Tony Weber said the chamber remains "confident that this trend of growth will continue in an environment where business operating conditions continue to normalise."

The chamber's data coincides with the release of Australia's GDP figures for the December quarter, which indicated the purchase of vehicles increased 31.8% - the largest rise in the history of the GDP measurement, which dates back to the 1950s.

In the market for a new car? The table below features car loans with some of the lowest interest rates on the market.

Update resultsUpdate
LenderCar LoanInterest Rate Comparison Rate* Monthly Repayment Interest Type Vehicle Type Maximum Vehicle Age Ongoing Fee Upfront Fee Total Repayment Early Repayment Instant Approval Online Application TagsFeaturesLinkCompare
6.24% p.a.
7.36% p.a.
$583
Variable
New
1 year
$8
$400
$35,000
Featured
  • Available for purchasing new and demo vehicles
  • $5,000 to $150,000 loan amount
  • Redraw facility available up to $5000/day
  • Required: Good credit history, stable employment history. Aus citizenship or PR.
6.34% p.a.
8.36% p.a.
$585
Variable
New
1 year
$8
$400
$35,084
6.57% p.a.
7.19% p.a.
$588
Fixed
New
No Max
$0
$250
$35,278
Loan amounts from $2k to $75k
  • Available for any new motorised vehicle
  • No ongoing or early exit fees
  • 1-7 years loan terms. Pay monthly, fortnightly, or weekly
  • Get quick decision. Funds in 24 hrs if approved
6.09% p.a.
7.21% p.a.
$581
Variable
New
1 year
$8
$400
$34,874
Featured
  • Discounted rate on qualifying electric cars
  • Up to 7 yrs loan term
  • Redraw available up to $5,000/day
Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

All products with a link to a product provider’s website have a commercial marketing relationship between us and these providers. These products may appear prominently and first within the search tables regardless of their attributes and may include products marked as promoted, featured or sponsored. The link to a product provider’s website will allow you to get more information or apply for the product. By de-selecting “Show online partners only” additional non-commercialised products may be displayed and re-sorted at the top of the table. For more information on how we’ve selected these “Sponsored”, “Featured” and “Promoted” products, the products we compare, how we make money, and other important information about our service, please click here.

The comparison rates in this table are based on a loan of $30,000 and a term of 5 years unless indicated otherwise. The comparison rates for car loans and secured personal loans for the relevant amounts and terms are for secured loans unless indicated otherwise. The comparison rates for unsecured personal loans are applicable for unsecured loans only. WARNING: This comparison rate applies only to the example or examples given. Different amounts and terms will result in different comparison rates. Costs such as redraw fees or early repayment fees, and cost savings such as fee waivers, are not included in the comparison rate but may influence the cost of the loan. Comparison rates are not calculated for revolving credit products.

Monthly repayment figures are estimates only, exclude fees and are based on the advertised rate for the term and for the loan amount entered. Actual repayments will depend on your individual circumstances and interest rate changes. Rates correct as of . View disclaimer.

Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

Top Ten Selling Vehicles, February 2021

  1. Toyota HiLux
  2. Ford Ranger
  3. Toyota RAV4
  4. Toyota Landcruiser
  5. Toyota Corolla
  6. Hyundai i30
  7. Mazda CX-5
  8. Isuzu Ute D-Max
  9. Mitsubishi Triton
  10. Mitsubishi ASX

Australia's "uniquely hostile" EV market

Electric Vehicle Council chief Behyad Jafari said Australia is a "uniquely hostile" market to electric vehicle (EV) uptake.

"Australian drivers are ready to join the exciting global electric car transition, but our politicians are yanking the handbrake," he said.

"We have no targets, no significant incentives, no fuel efficiency standards – and in Victoria we even have a new tax on non-emitting vehicles."

In 2020 there were about 6,900 EVs sold in Australia, a 2.7% increase from 2019, with EVs accounting for 0.7% of total Australian car sales.

This lags behind European countries, with the EU increasing its EV marketshare from 3.8% to 10.2% in a year, backed by strong sales in the United Kingdom and Norway.

The UK and Norway have introduced strict timelines to phase-out fuel-emitting vehicles, with Norway's as early as 2025.

In Norway, more than half of all new vehicles sold in 2020 were electric.

See Also: Electric Vehicle Incentives in Australia

Mr Jafari took aim at Victoria's road-use charge of 2.5c/km on EVs, slated to take effect from July this year.

"Victoria is now doing what no other jurisdiction on earth does by discouraging people from buying electric vehicles by slugging them with a special tax," he said.

"When this policy idea gets pushed by the oil lobby around the world, they typically get laughed out of the room. Tim Pallas [Victorian Treasurer] cut them a key to his office.

"The federal government’s inaction is bad, but even they’re not destructive enough to actively discourage electric vehicle uptake with a new tax."

However, certain motoring groups, such as the RACV, have backed the road charge.

"As the number of zero-emissions cars on our roads continues to grow, the EV tax will make up for lost fuel excise, so authorities can continue to fund and maintain Victoria’s roads," RACV senior engineer Nicholas Platt said.

“The technological shifts we’re seeing in the car market are good for consumers and the environment, but they are also going to significantly undermine the federal budget and its reliance on fuel-excise revenue to fund transport projects."

Under Victoria's road tax, EV drivers travelling 15,000km a year will pay $375, compared to a Toyota Camry driver consuming 8.3L/100km paying $526 in fuel excise a year.

However, Parliamentary figures indicate fuel excise revenue is declining anyway - it made up 39% of road-related revenue in 2013, compared to 44% a decade earlier, as more efficient vehicles came to market, and before the relative surge in EV uptake.

Motorists are also double-taxed on fuel, paying both GST and the fuel excise, which is reviewed, and usually increased, every six months.

Photo by Bram van Oost on Unsplash





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