Second strongest September

The number of new vehicles registered last month made for the second strongest September on record.

That said, the total of 14,879 was down by 9.9 per cent when compared to the same month of 2021. 

“Overall, the year-to-date market is 0.2 per cent [and 244 units] down on the first nine months of 2021,” says Mark Stockdale, pictured, of the Motor Industry Association (MIA).  

“Like August, September’s registrations benefited from strong deliveries of back orders for pure electric vehicles [BEVs] with 2,418 units going to new owners.” 

As for those BEVs, 2,355 were passenger vehicles, 45 were light commercials and 18 were heavy vehicles. In addition, 491 plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and 1,674 petrol hybrids were sold last month.

The top-selling electric models were the Tesla Model Y with 1,502 units. It was also the overall most popular car. It was followed by BYD’s Atto 3 with 221 units and MG’s ZS on 178. 

As for PHEVs, Mitsubishi completed a one-two with the Eclipse Cross on 167 units and the Outlander with 138. Third spot went to the Hyundai Ioniq with 41 units. 

Toyota came first and second in the chart for traditional hybrids with the RAV4 notching up 246 sales. The Yaris Cross sold 184 units and the Ioniq 150. 

Looking at the overall new-vehicle market, Toyota took out top spot in September with an 18 per cent market share and 2,668 units. Mitsubishi was second on 14 per cent and 2,094, while Tesla claimed third with 10 per cent and 1,554 units. 

As for the year to date, Toyota leads with a market share of 17 per cent and 21,131 units, with Mitsubishi on 15 per cent and 18,964. Next up is Ford with eight per cent and 9,679 sales.

So far this year, the top three models are the Toyota Hilux on 7,621 units, Ford’s Ranger on 7,450 units and the Mitsubishi Outlander with 7,139 units. 

Last month, there were 10,601 passenger cars and SUVs sold. The MIA reports this was down by 10.7 per cent and 1,273 units compared to September 2021, while commercials came in at 4,278 – down 7.9 per cent and 366 units. Registrations of heavy vehicles remained strong with 746 units for the month. 

As for segments, medium-sized SUVs came top in September with a market share of 21 per cent, followed by compact SUVs with the same rounded percentage. Third spot was claimed by the pick-up/chassis 4x4 segment with 14 per cent.

Stockdale notes: “Year to date, small to medium segments comprise 59 per cent of the total market.”