The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) ‘VFACTS’ report revealed 82,137 vehicles were sold in April, an increase of 1.3% on figures reported for the same period in 2022.

It is important to note April is historically one of the slowest months on the calendar for new-car sales due to the school holidays, public holidays, and the Easter break.

Toyota Australia reported 12,029 new cars as sold in April 2023, a drop of 33% compared to the same month last year.

Toyota’s continued sales slump has seen the Toyota Hilux ute drop to second place for the first time in seven years, with the Ford Ranger taking out top gong.

More notably, Tesla’s Model Y was the fourth-best selling SUV car in the country, while the brand’s Model 3 was the top-selling sedan. It now outsells established brands such as Honda, Subaru, and Volkswagen.

This is largely due to delayed shipments arriving, which count towards the sales tally.

FCAI Chief Executive Tony Weber said the EV market share accounted for 8% of new car sales in April. 

“This is well up from 1.1% compared with April 2022,” Mr Weber said.

“If you take all forms of electrification, that number has increased from 9.5% to 15.4%, and we know that this number would have been larger had the industry not faced global supply challenges.

“It is worth noting that five out of the top ten models sold in April offer some form of electrification.”

Car sale figures for the months prior in February and March reached 86,878 and 97,251 respectively, bringing the year-to-date total to 351,139.

The top 10 selling vehicles in April 2023

  1. Ford Ranger - 3,567
  2. Toyota Hi-Lux - 3,526
  3. Toyota RAV4 - 2,198
  4. Tesla Model Y - 2,095
  5. Hyundai i30 - 2,029
  6. Mitsubishi Outlander - 1,829
  7. Isuzu Ute D-Max - 1,809
  8. Hyundai Tucson - 1,678
  9. MG ZS - 1,588
  10. Tesla Model 3 - 1,581

Across the states, the report revealed new car sales grew in the ACT by 5%; Queensland, 4.4%; Victoria, 4.2%; Western Australia, 5.2%.

At the opposite end of the ladder, new car sales decreased in New South Wales by 1.5%; Northern Territory, 10.3%; and Tasmania, 13.3%.

Chinese cars on the rise

Sales of vehicles sourced from China increased by 68.5% last month with 13,426 vehicles sold, firmly establishing China as our third favourite car importer.

Japan remains Australia’s largest source of vehicles (22,304) followed by Thailand (15,886) and Korea in fourth spot (12,952).

Advertisement

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
Filters
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

Image by Dylan McLeod via Unsplash