Hybrids feel rebate heat

Sales of petrol hybrids were “soft” in March with some consumers delaying purchases until April 1 to take advantage of the rebates such models now attract under the clean car discount. 

That said, the overall new-vehicle market notched up high registration numbers “as anticipated”, reports the Motor Industry Association (MIA), in the lead-up to the feebate scheme launching.

There were 21,044 new vehicles registered for “the strongest for any month of the year ever – a massive 4,374 over the previous strongest in October 2018’s 16,607 units”, says chief executive David Crawford.

There were 1,761 light and 16 heavy BEVs registered in March. The top models were the Tesla Model 3 on 949 units. It was also the month’s best-selling car. Next up were MG’s ZS with 129 units and the Polestar 2 on 105.

There were 431 PHEVs registered last month. Leading the way were the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross with 144, Mitsubishi’s Outlander on 121 and MG’s HS with 69.

March saw 496 hybrids registered. The top model was Toyota’s RAV4, pictured, with 84 units. Honda’s Jazz was second with 42 and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class third on 33.

Registrations across the whole new-vehicle market of 21,044 were up by 35.8 per cent, or 5,546 units, when compared to March 2021. Year to date, the market is up by 12.5 per cent, or 5,230 units, compared to the first three months of last year.

Utes lead the way

Registrations in March were dominated by the largest monthly numbers for light commercials – 9,841 units, including heavy vehicles – as buyers rushed to avoid fees for high CO2-emitting vehicles from the start of April.

The total was up by 82.7 per cent and 4,456 units when compared to commercial sales in the same month of 2021.

Last month’s top three models across the whole new-vehicle market were utes – the Mitsubishi Triton on 2,266 units for a market share of 23 per cent, the Ford Ranger with 1,933 and 21 per cent, and Toyota’s Hilux on 1,580 for 19 per cent.

Mitsubishi was the best-selling commercial brand with a 24 per cent market share and 2,329 units. Next up were Ford with 21 per cent and 2,050 units, with Toyota third on 19 per cent and 1,905 units.

When it comes to year-to-date market share, the Triton has 22 per cent, the Ranger 21 per cent and Hilux 15 per cent.

Electric car top

The 11,203 passenger vehicles and SUVs registered last month were up by 10.8 per cent, or by 1,090 units, on March 2021. 

Mitsubishi retained the market lead with an 11 per cent market share and 1,237 units. It was followed by Tesla with eight per cent and 949 units. Toyota was also on eight per cent but 862 units.

The top-selling models were the Model 3 with 949, Mitsubishi’s Outlander on 625 and Toyota’s RAV4 with 496.

As for market share year to date, Mitsubishi has 18 per cent, Toyota is on 13 per cent and Ford has 11 per cent. 

Segments of market

With the strong sales of utes last month, unsurprisingly March’s top segment was pick-up/chassis 4x4s segment with 28 per cent. 

Next up were medium SUVs with 17 per cent and compact SUVs on 13 per cent market share. The pick-up/chassis cab 4x2 segment was fourth with nine per cent. 

Crawford says: “Year to date, there has been a reduction in the overall share of the market for small vehicles – down from 56 per cent for most of 2021 to 48 per cent for March. This reflects the strong sales of light commercials ahead of April 1 feebate scheme taking effect.”