New Car Sales Still Sliding

New car sales for 2024 continued on the downward slide in June with the economy on a go-slow. Sales were the lowest for that month in over a decade. Moreover, it is the fourth consecutive month of declining registrations.

With just 9423 registrations, the total was 60 per cent lower than in June 2023. However, that was the highest month ever recorded as changes to the Clean Car Discount came into effect in July. The figure is still 22 per cent lower than in June 2022. Year-to-date, the 2024 new car total is 26 per cent down on 2023 (22,235 units).

Toyota led with 20.8 per cent of market share, followed by Ford on 14 per cent and Mitsubishi on 12 per cent.

Battery electrics continued their poor showing with just 5.8 per cent of market share versus 70 per cent for ICE vehicles. Top sellers were Model 3 (67), Kona (62) and Atto 3 (47). 

Plug-In Hybrids were also poorly represented on 2.4 per cent while mild hybrids had another strong showing on 22.4 per cent. The best selling mild hybrids were RAV4 (556), Highlander (153) and Swift (135). 

The top three segments were the usuals, with the Utes on 25 per cent, SUV mediums on 22 per cent and compact SUVs on 19 per cent. Small and medium SUVs comprised 78 per cent of the light passenger sales. Just over 6000 light passenger vehicles were sold in June, almost 70 per cent lower than in June 2023. Year-to-date, light passenger vehicles fell by just over 34 per cent compared with the first half a year ago. The best selling light passenger models were RAV4 (556), Outlander (255) and ASX (252).

Light commercial registrations of 2762 were roughly half of the June 2023 total. Year-to-date, registrations are 8.5 per cent lower than for the first half of last year. 

Most light commercials were sold to businesses (79 per cent). Once again, Ford Ranger topped the sector with 889 sales, followed by Hilux on 591 and Triton on 436 units.

Two-thirds of ute sales were 4x4s.