New car sales posted another month of decline due to supply constraints, with June 2022 figures showing a 9.7 per cent decrease from last year.

Data released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) reveal a total of 99,974 vehicles were sold for the month, bringing the year-to-date total to 537,858.

FCAI Chief Executive Tony Weber said the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic continues to hamper automotive manufacturing.  This, combined with the war in Ukraine and shipping issues means that the supply of new vehicles hitting Australia’s shores cannot keep up with demand.

“Globally, car makers are continuing to suffer from plant shutdowns.  In Europe we have component supply heavily impacted by the conflict in Ukraine. Microprocessors continue to be in short supply and global shipping remains unpredictable.”

“While demand for new cars remains strong in Australia, it is unlikely we will see supply chain issues resolve in the near future,” Mr Weber said.

Sales across every State and Territory were down apart from the Northern Territory where 1,115 vehicles were sold representing an increase of 16.3 per cent on June 2021.

Sales in the Australian Capital Territory fell 11.6 per cent (1,486); New South Wales 7.5 per cent (32,027); Queensland 13.2 per cent (21,983); South Australia 8.6 per cent (6,214); Tasmania 17.2 per cent (1,572); Victoria 12.2 per cent (25,764); and Western Australia 2.2 per cent (9,813).

Japan’s Toyota continued to dominate the charts, reporting 22,516 vehicles as sold in June, or more than one in every five cars sold (22.6 per cent market share – something it has held for about most of the last 24 months. Kia was next with 8,480 vehicles sold, followed by Hyundai with 8,259.

The Toyota HiLux ute was crowned the highest-selling model has shattered its own sales record in June, with a 40 per cent sales increase compared to the same month last year – despite chronic stock shortages weighing it and its rivals down. The HiLux was followed by the Hyundai Tuscon and the Ford Ranger.

Electric vehicle sales were up 116.2 per cent from the same month last year, with a total of 1,137 vehicles sold.

Electric vehicle specialist Tesla reported 172 vehicles as sold in Australia last month, as it suffers the after-effects of lockdowns in China earlier this year that halted production of its sole vehicle, the Model 3 sedan. However, sales are expected to pick up towards the end of the year, as the first batch of Model Y SUVs arrive from August – and production of Model 3s kicks back into full swing.

Top 5 Brands, June 2022:

1. Toyota – 22,561 sales (up 7.0 per cent from 2021)
2. Kia – 8,480 (up 7.5 per cent)
3. Hyundai – 8,259 (up 12.3 per cent)
4. Mazda – 6,245 (down 48.9 per cent)
5. Mitsubishi – 5,846 (up 3.6 per cent)

Top 5 Models, June 2022:

1. Toyota Hi-Lux – 7,582 sales (up 40.1 per cent from 2021)
2. Hyundai Tucson – 2,840 (up 89.8 per cent)
3. Ford Ranger – 2,802 (down 53.7 per cent)
4. Toyota Landcruiser – 2,783 (up 30.0 per cent)
5. Toyota Corolla – 2,605 (up 19.8 per cent)

Source: Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries

5 July 2022