Get ready for an exciting dive into the world of automotive trends! The October 2025 VFACTS report reveals a thrilling race in Australia's new car market. It's a battle of brands, with an electrifying twist!
The Top Contenders: A Tight Race
In a thrilling finish, the Ford Ranger and Toyota RAV4 were neck and neck, separated by just one sale! But the Toyota HiLux emerged as the ultimate winner, claiming the top spot.
A total of 100,658 new vehicles hit the roads in October, a slight increase of 0.7% compared to the previous year. And the data, provided by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and the Electric Vehicle Council, shows an interesting shift in consumer preferences.
Toyota: The Undisputed Leader
Toyota dominates the market with a massive 19.6% share. It's a testament to their popularity and growth, even when many other major brands are experiencing significant declines.
The Rise of Electrification
Here's where it gets controversial: Australia's new-car market is undergoing an electric revolution! Hybrids, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), and electric vehicles (EVs) now account for nearly 30% of the market.
Hybrids, a Toyota specialty, lead the charge with a 17.6% market share, an impressive 25.2% increase from October 2024. EVs are also gaining ground, with a 14.8% increase in sales, while PHEVs saw a massive 95% surge!
Tony Weber, FCAI executive, sums it up: "Australians are increasingly choosing hybrid and PHEV models as a practical path towards lower emissions."
The Chinese Invasion
China is making its mark on Australia's car market. With 20,405 Chinese-built vehicles sold in October, they're hot on Thailand's heels as the second-largest supplier. Japanese brands still lead with 27,716 sales, but Chinese brands are gaining momentum, with a 32.5% increase compared to last October.
SUVs Rule the Roads
Mid-size SUVs, led by the Toyota RAV4, make up around a quarter of the market. But it's the larger SUVs that truly dominate, holding over 60% of the market share - a staggering five times more than passenger cars!
Brand Spotlight
Four Chinese brands - GWM, BYD, MG, and Chery - secured their place in the top 10 again. They're closely followed by Isuzu Ute, with Chery delivering just 196 more vehicles.
Toyota maintains its top position with 19,726 deliveries, a 6.8% increase thanks to popular models like the Camry, Fortuner, and Yaris. Ford takes second place with 7570 deliveries, but faces challenges with a 95.5% drop in Mustang sales and no F-150s delivered due to a stop-sale.
Mazda rounds out the top three with 7140 deliveries, a 6.7% decline. Kia and Hyundai follow, with Kia's sales remaining steady and Hyundai experiencing a 10% drop.
The Declining Giants
October saw major declines for some big names. MG, despite a growing model range, saw a 31.7% drop in sales. Nissan, Volkswagen, Suzuki, Tesla, and Jeep also experienced significant declines.
Model Breakdown
The Toyota HiLux takes the top spot with 4444 deliveries, followed closely by the Ford Ranger and Toyota RAV4. The Ford Everest outsold the Toyota Prado by almost 1000 units, and the Hyundai Kona retains its title as the best-selling small SUV.
Segment Analysis
The SUV segment dominates with a 61.9% market share. Light commercial vehicles follow with 21.9%, and passenger cars trail with 12.3%.
Regional Sales
New South Wales leads with 30,079 sales, followed by Victoria and Queensland. Western Australia is the only state with a slight increase in sales.
Buyer Types
Private buyers dominate with 48,365 sales, but business buyers are catching up with 38,034 sales. Rental and government buyers make up the rest.
Fuel Types
Petrol and diesel still lead, but hybrids and EVs are gaining ground. PHEVs also saw a significant increase.
Country of Origin
Japan remains the top supplier, but China is catching up with a massive 32.5% increase in sales. Thailand and Korea follow, but experienced declines.
The October 2025 VFACTS report reveals an exciting shift towards electrification and the rising influence of Chinese brands. It's a fascinating glimpse into the future of the automotive industry.
What do you think? Are you ready to embrace the electric revolution? Or do you prefer the traditional combustion engine? Share your thoughts in the comments!
