Rentals and EVs dominate sales
The Motor Industry Association reports that registrations of new electric vehicles (EVs) and rentals helped set a record September with last month’s coming in 4.2 per cent higher than September 2018. There were 500 sales of pure EVs during the month, while 105 plug-in hybrids were registered.
However, overall year-to-date sales have dropped by four per cent on the first nine months of 2018 – about 4,800 units less so far in 2019.
“September continues the up-and-down pattern in the 2019 market,” says David Crawford, chief executive officer. “In addition to strong sales of EVs, some distributors had a good month with Holden rocketing up the charts and Toyota enjoying a massive September mainly off the back of rentals.”
Overall during September, 14,525 new vehicles were sold – up by 4.4 per cent, or 615 units, on the same month in 2018. For the first time, registrations of a pure EV broke into the top three for passenger cars and SUVs with 359 Tesla Model 3s sold in the month. Year to date, 1,406 new pure EVs have been registered compared to 768 units for the whole of 2018.
The market overall to the end of September was down four per cent – or by 5,803 units – on the first nine months of 2018. The registration of 10,322 passenger cars and SUVs last month climbed by 9.4 per cent, or by 890 units, on 2018 volumes, while commercial-vehicle sales of 4,203 were down by 6.1 per cent and 275 units compared to September 2018.
Last month’s top-three models were the Toyota Corolla on 1,011 units, the Ford Ranger with 814 units and Toyota’s Hilux on 603 units. Toyota was September’s top overall marque with a 21 per cent market share thanks to 3,007 registrations. It was followed by Holden with nine per cent and 1,333 units. Ford slipped to third spot with nine per cent and 1,291 sales.
Toyota also topped the ladder for passenger car and SUV registrations with a market share of 22 per cent thanks to 2,226 sales. It was followed by Holden on eight per cent with 877 units. Hyundai came third with seven per cent and 721 registrations.
The top-selling model in this part of the market was the Corolla on 1,011 units, of which 736 were rentals. It was followed by Toyota’s Yaris on 432 units and Tesla’s Model 3 on 359.
As for sales of commercials, Ford regained the market lead with 21 per cent market share with 892 units. Second was Toyota with 19 per cent and 781 units, with Holden third on 11 per cent and 456.
Ford’s Ranger retained the top spot in this part of the market with a 19 per cent share thanks to 814 registrations. Next up was Toyota’s Hilux with 14 per cent share and 603 units. Holden’s Colorado came in third with 11 per cent and 449 units.
The top three segments during September were medium SUVs with an 18 per cent market share, followed by compact SUVs on 14 per cent and small passenger vehicles in third with 12 per cent. It was the first month in several years that sales in the pick-up/chassis 4x4 segment have failed to make the top three segments.
As for the market for rentals, September’s top four were all Toyotas – the Corolla with 1,877 units, the RAV4 with 555, Yaris with 494 units and Land Cruiser Prado with 383.
