A decisive victory for the Ford Ranger as Toyota’s supply woes continue, but additional supply of key vehicles helped to grow the market
The new vehicle supply chain is showing signs of correcting itself, with new car sales in February 2023 the highest in four years.
Healthy stocks of popular cars in key demographics helped push the February 2023 VFACTS total sales number to 86,878 for the month, a 2,000-vehicle lift over January and a 1.8 per cent jump over the same month last year.
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And these strong figures come despite February being the shortest month of the year, with just 24 selling days available to retailers.
The Ford Ranger was again the best-selling model with 4,473 sales reported, while Toyota’s HiLux trailed home its American rival with 3,939.
Tesla’s Model 3 was third with 2,671 followed by Mazda’s resurgent CX-5 (2,600) and Mitsubishi’s Outlander (2,166).
The restocking of key mid-sized SUVs helped the segment post a 19 per cent improvement over January 2023.
Spikes in other categories – the Kia Carnival, for example, posted a 150 per cent improvement with 1,136 sales for the month in People Movers – helped to lift all boats in February.
Toyota’s turndown
It wasn’t smooth sailing for everyone, though; not only did Toyota cede the top spot for a second month in a row to Ford, it suffered a 31 per cent drop in sales month to month and a 23 per cent fall over the same month last year.
HiLux 4×4 sales softened as Ranger 4×4 sales lifted which, despite Toyota claiming honours with its 4×2 model range, saw the Blue Oval reign supreme for the second month in a row.
The HiLux downturn was offset by an increase of 67 per cent in LandCruiser 300 sales for the month, but both Prado and Fortuner pulled the side down.
MORE: VFACTS 2022 – the winners and losers
The RAV4 also posted a 52 per cent downturn in sales over its February 2022 result, as its well-publicised supply issues continue.
Hyundai’s Tucson and the Mitsubishi Outlander enjoyed better results in February, with the Tucson lifting 112 per cent month on month.
Skoda and Volkswagen, too, showed signs of renewed life in February, with the Kamiq and T-Roc working well in the small SUV segment, and VW’s Tiguan adding 442 sales in the medium segment in February.
From a brand perspective, Audi (at long last) posted a stellar month (1680), some 98 per cent up on its February 2022 result, while Skoda’s 645 tally is a 75 per cent lift year on year and VW’s 2930 sales a 66 per cent jump.
Korean minnow SsangYong defied its detractors, too, with a big gain month to month, while a renewed supply of Subaru’s Outback helped the Japanese brand to a 30 per cent improvement.
EVs up top
New energy vehicles represented almost 14 per cent of all sales in February, with battery-electric vehicles responsible for 6.8 per cent of sales.
This was highlighted by another sharp sales result for the Tesla brand, with the Model 3 the third best-selling car in Australia.
And if you think the current economic conditions have much of an effect on the top end of town, consider that Bentley sold 45 cars in February, including 20 Bentayga SUVs. Ferrari, meanwhile, moved 22 cars and Lamborghini 15.
Toyota led the market with a total of 14,332 vehicles sold. Mazda was second (7,667), followed by Ford (6,022), Kia (6,000) and Hyundai (5,504).
Top ten vehicles sales, February 2023
- Ford Ranger 4473
- Toyota Hi-Lux 3939
- Tesla Model 3 2671
- Mazda CX-5 2600 1265
- Mitsubishi Outlander 2166
- Toyota RAV4 2115
- MG ZS 2047 1953
- Isuzu Ute D-Max 1931
- Toyota Landcruiser 1783
- Subaru Forester 1709
[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://editorial.csnstatic.com/editors/tim-robson-author.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Tim Robson[/author_info] [/author]
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