Australians are now buying more cars made in China than South Korea with a Tesla from Shanghai outselling every SUV on the market – and the ever-popular Toyota Corolla missing the top 10 of cars sold.
In February, 13,625 cars manufactured in China left the showroom, making it the third most common country of origin for new vehicles behind Japan and Thailand.
By comparison, 24,805 cars last month came from Japan, compared with 18,557 from Thailand and 12,246 from Korea, new Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries data showed.
For the second month running, no traditional, petrol-powered passenger car was in the top 10, with the Toyota Corolla absent for both months of 2023 so far.
Intriguingly, no Korean cars were on the top 10 list, with the Hyundai Tucson absent in both January and February.
The fully-electric Tesla Model 3, made in the Chinese city of Shanghai, was Australia’s third most popular vehicle in February with 2,671 sold, putting it ahead of every SUV on the market (pictured is an example in South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula)
The fully-electric Tesla Model 3, made in the Chinese city of Shanghai, was Australia’s third most popular vehicle in February with 2,671 sold, putting it ahead of every SUV on the market.
It made up 45 per cent of the 5,932 electric cars sold in Australia in February, with EVs having a small but growing 6.8 per cent market share.
Only the new generation Thai-built Ford Ranger ute with 4,473 sales and the Toyota HiLux, with 3,939 sales, beat the Tesla.
Chinese-made cars had two spots on the top 10 list with the MG ZS SUV managing 2,047 sales, with a fully-electric model in the range.
The only fully-electric cars in the top 10 list came from China.
The Thai-built Mitsubishi Outlander, with 2,166 sales, had a plug-in hybrid EV version.
Vehicles from Thailand had four spots on the top 10 list, with the Isuzu D-Max ute managing 1,931 sales.
Japanese-built SUVs and four-wheel drives had four spots with the Mazda CX-5 having 2,600 sales, compared with 2,115 for the Toyota RAV4 which is available as a hybrid, 1,783 for the Toyota LandCruiser and 1,709 for the Subaru Forester.
Australia’s overall vehicle sales of 86,878 last month represented the best February result since 2019, which Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive Tony Weber said was remarkable.
‘It is particularly pleasing given global and domestic supply constraints,’ he said.
Fully-electric battery, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles had a 13.9 per cent market share, with 12,102 sold.
More charging stations are expected to boost EV sales.
‘Growing sales of electric vehicles proves that where a battery electric product exists which suits the driving habits, needs and finances of Australian motorists, they will purchase these vehicles,’ Mr Weber said.
Intriguingly, no Korean cars were on the top 10 list, with the Hyundai Tucson absent in both January and February (pictured is a plug-in hybrid version in Chicago that is being considered for Australia)