Thanks to intense competition and lower interest rates, 2017 was a bumper year for vehicle sales. Surpassing 2016’s record by 0.9%, 2017 saw a staggering 1,189,116 new cars, SUVS and commercial vehicles registered across our great wide land. Here’s a quick review of the motoring year that was.
The year of the SUV
With a 39.2% market share, SUVs remain top of the pops for Australian drivers. Outselling all other passenger vehicles combined for the first time in a calendar year, 2017’s sales figures are proof our love affair with big cars shows no signs of waning. Kudos go to the Mazda CX-5 and Hyundai Tucson in particular, with sales growth of 5.2% and 18.4% respectively.
Light commercial vehicles in the spotlight
With a 19.9% piece of the market (or one in five vehicles sold), 2017 saw ute sales soar into double digits. The Toyota HiLux took out the spot for top selling vehicle for the second year in a row with 10.5% growth, while the Ford Ranger revved up by 13.7% to win second place. Also making the top ten was the Mitsubishi Triton, with 23,605 vehicles sold.
Top brands of 2017
With an 18.2% market share, Toyota was by far and away the shining star of 2017. Smashing Mazda, Hyundai, Holden and Mitsubishi, Ford, Volkswagen, Nissan, Kia and Subaru (phew!), its sales figures have the rare distinction of growing faster than the market average. Honourable mentions go to Mitsubishi, Kia, Subaru, Honda and Isuzu Ute up 10, 28, 12, 15 and 10 % respectively.
Underperformers
Thanks to ageing product, lacklustre marketing and reputation issues, Nissan, BMW and Audi didn’t have the greatest year. Hyundai, Holden and Ford were also down with sales dropping by around 4%, while Fiat, Jaguar and Volvo Car are also glad to call 2017 the year that was with sales reduced by 17, 17.5 and 20%.
The nitty gritty
Want a serious breakdown? Find the 2018 sales figures you need to know below.
TOP 10 BRANDS
Toyota 216,566
Mazda 116,349
Hyundai 97,013
Holden 90,306
Mitsubishi 80,654
Ford 78,161
Volkswagen 58,004
Nissan 56,594
Kia 54,737
Subaru 52,511
TOP 10 MODELS 2017
Toyota Hi-Lux 47,093
Ford Ranger 42,728
Toyota Corolla, 37,353
Mazda3 32,690
Hyundai i30 28,780
Mazda CX-5 25,831
Hyundai Tucson 23,828
Holden Commodore 23,676
Toyota Camry 23,620
Mitsubishi Triton 23,604
