The Australian new car market has defied continued stock shortages and delays to deliver more than 1 million vehicles for the second consecutive year, as the industry continues to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A total of 1,081,429 vehicles were reported as sold across Australia in 2022 according to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), the highest figure since 2018, and up 3.0 per cent on 2021’s figure.

As has been the case for the previous 19 years, Toyota stood atop the sales charts at year-end, recording its best sales result in 14 years on its way to 231,050 deliveries. This represents a market share of 21.4 per cent.

The result was led by the ever-popular Hilux model, which was named the highest-selling model for the seventh year in a row, with 64,391 units sold (up 22 per cent on 2021). Despite continuing to deal with long wait lists, the RAV4 model also recorded strong sales numbers with 34,845 sold, only bettered by the Hilux and the Ford Ranger (47,479 units sold).

Finishing behind Toyota for the year was Mazda, with 95,718 vehicles delivered, while Kia finished the year with more sales than its sister brand Hyundai for the first time, finishing third with 78,330 sales.

In the electric vehicle (EV) space, Tesla was once again the stand-out. In its first year of reporting figures to the FCAI, Tesla recorded 19,592 vehicles delivered, with EVs making up 33,410, or 3.1 per cent, of the total sales figure.

With low-emission vehicle technologies continuing to become more popular with consumers, FCAI Chief Executive Tony Weber said they would continue to push for fuel efficiency standards to ensure Australia would receive the latest vehicle technologies while ensuring consumers could continue to drive the vehicles they need.

“While 2022 has been a year of resilience and recovery, 2023 is shaping up as one of the most significant in recent history, particularly in terms of the development of policies that set the direction for the future decarbonization of the light vehicle fleet,” said Mr Weber.

“As the peak representative body for vehicle distributors, FCAI has advocated for a fuel efficiency standard for many years. We are optimistic that the Federal Government will take action in 2023 and introduce a standard that achieves the policy outcomes that lead to emission reductions while enabling Australians to drive the vehicles that they need and want.

“The FCAI and its members will do all it can to promote the development of sound policy, based on solid data and in the context of the unique nature of the Australian market.”

“We need to use the full range of low-emission technologies that are available and affordable for the majority of Australians, not just those who can afford premium vehicles.”

Top 5 brands, 2022:

1. Toyota – 231,050 (up 3.3% on 2021)
2. Mazda – 95,718 ( down 5.3%)
3. Kia – 78,330 (up 15.3%)
4. Mitsubishi – 76,991 (up 13.7%)
5. Hyundai – 73,345 (up 0.6%)

Top 5 models, 2022:

1. Toyota Hilux – 64,391 (up 22%)
2. Ford Ranger – 47,479 (up 11.8%)
3. Toyota RAV4 – 34,845 (down 2.5%)
4. Mitsubishi Triton – 27,436 (up 42.7%)
5. Mazda CX-5 – 27,062 (up 8.4%)

Source: Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries

5 January 2023