VFACTS: October sales remain steady

Year-to-date VFACTS sales numbers stand at 1,014,027 at the end of October, down 1.1 per cent on last year, with EVC showing a 24 per cent YTD decline (to 25,591 units) in the Tesla and Polestar sales it tracks, providing another indicator that 2025 sales may not set another record. 

VFACTS data shows hybrid and plug-in hybrid sales are trending ahead of other motive power types across October. Hybrid vehicle sales represented 17.8 per cent of overall new vehicle sales and plug-in hybrid vehicles 4.7 per cent. 

The numbers represent a 25 per cent uptick in the number of hybrid vehicles sold and a 95 per cent rise in the number of plug-in hybrid vehicles sold when compared with the same month in 2024. 

Battery electric vehicle sales from all sources represent 7.3 per cent of the overall motive power range, remaining stable against last year’s figures. 

Petrol sales topped the list in October with 36,807 units sales, ahead of diesel with 30,073, hybrid with 17,751, electric with 7361, and plug-in hybrid with 4724. 

Electric vehicle sales recorded by the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) include 916 from Tesla (down 37.4 per cent) and 154 from Polestar (up 18.5 per cent). 

SUV sales dominated the October market, accounting for 61.7 per cent of total sales. Medium segment SUVs alone accounted for 25 per cent of all vehicles sold, making it the most popular segment nationally. 

Passenger vehicle sales made up just 12.2 per cent of the overall tally. 

The FCAI noted a strengthened position of Chinese-made vehicles in the overall mix, with China placing third as the preferred country of origin for vehicles sold in Australia – and rising 40 per cent year-on-year. 

Japan still leads the ranks in terms of preferred country of origin with 27,716 unit sales (down 2.9 per cent YoY), ahead of Thailand with 20,811 units (down 5.5 per cent), China with 20,405 units (up 32.5 per cent), South Korea with 12,455 units (down 9.1 per cent), and Germany with 4928 units (down 1.8 per cent). 

Four Chinese brands again feature in the top 10 brand list for the month. 

Toyota continues to lead the Australian new car market in October with 19,726 recorded sales, followed by Ford with 7570 units, Mazda with 7140, Kia with 6610, and Hyundai with 6403. 

Toyota’s ageing HiLux returned to top spot in October with 4444 examples delivered, leading the Ford Ranger with 4404 units, the Toyota RAV4 with 4401, Ford Everest with 2435 and Toyota LandCruiser with 2090. 

Across the states and territories, positive figures were recorded in all regions bar Western Australia (down 3.1 per cent to 11,177 units) and Queensland (down five per cent to 20,487 units). 

Sales in the Australian Capital Territory were up four per cent on October 2024 to 1350 units; New South Wales up 3.7 per cent (30,079); Northern Territory up 6.7 per cent (910); South Australia up 6.7 per cent (6623); Tasmania up 6.1 per cent (1691); and Victoria up 3.6 per cent (27,721).