Plug-in hybrids gain momentum
There were 97,037 new vehicles registered in Australia last month, a 2.1 per cent decrease from 99,091 in November 2024.
Toyota’s RAV4 was the top model with 6,390 sales, followed by the Ford Ranger on 4,673 and Toyota Hilux with 3,418.
Chery’s Tiggo 4 Pro and Isuzu Ute D-Max completed the top five with 2,287 and 2,119 registrations, respectively.
The leading marque in November was Toyota after it completed 19,787 sales. Next was Ford on 7,407, Mazda with 6,979, Hyundai on 6,707 and Kia with 6,510.
The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) notes the latest data shows shifting buyer preferences, including rapid growth for plug-in hybrids (PHEVs).
There were 4,768 PHEV sales across the passenger, SUV and light commercial segments last month, which was up 83.3 per cent from a year ago.
PHEV registrations year to date have also increased by 130.6 per cent to 47,565 units.
At the same time, sales of petrol vehicles continue their downward trajectory and fell 18.1 per cent in November and 9.5 per cent year to date.
Tony Weber, FCAI chief executive, says the results point to a sustained shift in buyer priorities.
“Plug-in hybrids continue to gain momentum because they give drivers the benefit of electric travel for daily use while removing range concerns,” he adds.
“Consumers are looking for flexible, low-emission choices and brands are meeting that demand.
“Petrol’s decline is part of a long-term global market transition. We are seeing strong interest in hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles, and this trend will only accelerate as more models arrive.”
Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for 9.1 per cent of November’s sales, up from 6.5 per cent in 2024.
They now represent 8.2 per cent of the market year to date, compared with 7.4 per cent for the same period last year.
Demand for passenger cars contracted to 11.8 per cent of the market in November, a drop of 15.7 per cent from the same month in 2024 and shifting the year-to-date total 23.2 per cent lower.
In comparison, SUVs have grown 5.4 per cent over the year and account for more than 60.5 per cent of the market.
