‘Outstanding’ year for new vehicles

The new-vehicle industry is celebrating a strong year for sales, which was driven in part by a 77 per cent increase in vehicles with some form of electrification.

New figures from the Motor Industry Association (MIA) show the number of registrations for passenger and SUV vehicles reached a record 116,445 last year, up 3.8 per cent or 4,302 units from the 2021’s total.

Overall, the new-vehicle market came in at 0.3 per cent, or 490, units below 2021 and was the second highest year on record.

David Crawford, chief executive, says: “It is an outstanding result given rising interest rates, a challenging business environment and inflationary pressures dampening economic activity. 

“The outlook for 2023 is for a somewhat softer outcome, with businesses and private buyers tightening their belts.” 

He notes sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) “strongly exceeded expectations” in 2022 and are rapidly closing the gap on monthly sales of hybrids.

The MIA reports last year ended with 11,840 sales of new vehicles in December, which was the second-best December figures on record. There were 8,505 passenger and 3,335 commercial vehicles registered last month, which was were down 4.3 per cent, or 706 units, compared with December 2021. 

Electric surge

A breakdown of registration data shows there were 16,223 BEVs, 7,259 plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and 17,621 hybrid vehicles registered last year. These totals compared with 6,897 BEVs, 2,482 PHEVs and 13,794 Hybrids in 2021. 

“The total vehicles retailed with some form of electrification in their drivetrain grew from 23,173 units in 2021 to 41,103 units in 2022, an increase of 77 per cent or 17,930 units,” explains Crawford, pictured.

The top-selling BEV for the year was the Tesla Model Y with 4,226 units, followed by the Tesla Model 3 on 2,781 units and BYD’s Atto 3 with 1,685 units. Both the Model Y and Atto 3 were introduced in the second half of 2022. 

Mitsubishi’s Eclipse Cross led the way for PHEVs with 2,705 registrations last year, with its bigger sibling the Outlander next on 2,243 units and the MG HS third with 647 sales.

For hybrids, Toyota’s RAV4 was the best-seller on 3,841 units, followed by the Honda Jazz and Toyota Corolla on with 1,893  and 1,640 respectively. 

The MIA reports there were 2,289 light vehicle and six heavy vehicle BEVs registered in December, along with 388 PHEVs and 1,286 hybrids. 

Market leaders

Toyota claimed a 17 per cent share of the overall new-vehicle market thanks to 28,727 registrations.

It was followed by Mitsubishi with 14 per cent and 23,886 units. Ford came third with nine per cent and 15,212, which its Ranger accounted for 11,577.

Ford’s ute was the top model of last year and took out seven per cent of the market, and both snaring six per cent was Toyota’s Hilux in second on 9,787 units and the Mitsubishi Outlander third with 9,104.

The Outlander’s success made it number one in the passenger and SUV sector for 2022, followed by the Toyota RAV4 on 5,863 units and the Model Y with 4,226 units – the first time a BEV has made it to the top three for the year.

In the commercial market, Ford retained top spot with 12,041 units for a 25 per cent share. Next was Toyota on 11,735 registrations and 24 per cent and Mitsubishi with 6,630 and 14 per cent. 

For overall new-vehicle sales in December alone, Toyota was the leader with 1,944 units and a 16 per cent market share, followed by Ford with 1,606 and 14 per cent, with Tesla third on 1,281 and 11 per cent.

The Ranger was the top model last month on 1,114 units, with the Model Y next with 868 registrations, the Hilux on 615 and the Model 3 fourth with 413.