Feebates scheme impacts sales

Overall registrations of new vehicles climbed by 4.6 per cent – or by 443 units – to 10,177 last month when compared to April last year.

There were 7,060 passenger vehicles and SUVs registered last month for a year-on-year increase of 17.1 per cent and 1,454 units, while commercial vehicles jumped by 155.5 per cent and 1,897 units over the same timescale.

The Motor Industry Association says light-commercial registrations in April 2022 were lower than usual because it was the first month of the clean car discount (CCD) when charges started being imposed on such vehicles.

Aimee Wiley, chief executive officer, says: “Apart from April 2020, which was impacted by Covid lockdowns, April 2022’s light-commercial vehicle sales were the weakest since the GFC and have since struggled to regain strong performance.”

She adds they are expected to take “another hit” from July 1. This is because of the recent CCD announcement made by Michael Wood, Minister of Transport, which included increased fees from that date on light commercials.

There were 1,058 light passenger battery electric vehicles (BEVs), and 27 light commercial plus two heavy BEVs, registered in April. The top model was the BYD Atto 3, pictured, with 184 units. It was followed by Tesla’s Model Y on 127 units and the MG ZS with 112. 

There were 565 plug-in hybrids sold last month. The top models were the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross with 284 units, Kia’s Sorento on 84 and Ford’s Escape with 56.

Registrations of hybrids came in at 1,783. Toyota took out the top three models with the RAV4 on 493, Highlander with 157 and Corolla on 143.

As for market segments last month, compact and medium-sized SUVs shared top spot with market shares of 22 per cent, followed by the pick-up/chassis four-by-four segment on 15 per cent. The small to medium segments comprised 59 per cent of the overall registrations.

Toyota retained the lead for sales of all new vehicles in April with a market share of 22 per cent and 2,261 units. Ford was second with 13 per cent and 1,320 units, and Mitsubishi next on nine per cent and 933 units.