VFACTS: Sales solidify in September

NEW CAR sales for the month of September show an increase of 5.1 per cent (4972 units) on the same month last year, with a total of 101,992 units sold across 24.6 selling days.

Although the market is down slightly overall (-1.4 per cent to 914,439 units YTD), key segments are up considerably with light commercial sales growing 10.1 per cent and SUV sales up 8.8 per cent.

The passenger vehicle market continues to deteriorate, down 10.4 per cent YOY.

Strong September sales saw the Toyota HiLux return to the top of the ladder, selling 5047 units over the second-place Ford Ranger (4867) and third-place Tesla Model Y (3927).

Toyota is again Australia’s top selling car brand with 18,318 unit sales – a gain of 1.1 per cent – ahead of second-place Ford with 8300 sales and third-place Kia with 7330 sales.

Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) data shows China’s rise as a source of new cars continuing in September, becoming the second-largest country of origin for new vehicles behind Thailand.

In addition, China accounts for 77.5 per cent of all battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales this year.

BEVs from all sources make up 11.3 per cent of all new vehicle sales in September, lifting the YTD share to 8.1 per cent.

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) recorded 4491 unit sales – or 4.4 per cent of the market in September – lifting their YTD share to 4.2 per cent, according to FCAI data.

“There is no shortage of battery electric vehicles on the market in Australia,” said FCAI chief executive Tony Weber.

“With more than 100 BEVs and more than 50 PHEVs available, manufacturers have worked hard to provide Australians with high-quality electric vehicles.

“What is needed now is a stronger focus on encouraging demand, in particular public recharging infrastructure.

“More needs to be done to give mainstream buyers the confidence to consider EVs in the future.

“We need to move EV ownership beyond early adopters to mainstream Australians if we are to deliver the ambitious transition that the government is seeking.

“The industry welcomes the federal government’s recent $40 million commitment to public charging infrastructure. This is an important first step towards boosting both public and private investment.

“If the transition is to gain greater momentum, more support will be needed.”

Across the regions we find New South Wales up 4.5 per cent (31,293 units), the Northern Territory up 3.5 per cent (942 units), Queensland up 2.1 per cent (21,929 units), South Australia up 3.3 per cent (6634 units), Tasmania up 0.5 per cent, Victoria up 8.3 per cent (26,603 units), and Western Australia up 8.9 per cent (11,489 units).

The Australian Capital Territory was down 3.5 per cent to 1340 units.

Top 10 vehicle sales by make (September 2025)*:

Top 10 vehicle sales by model (September 2025)*:

State by state (September 2025)*:

*Sales data supplied courtesy of the FCAI and the Electric Vehicle Council.