The new car Aussies can't get enough of
Aussies are increasingly favouring one particular type of vehicle as the new car market undergoes significant change
According to the latest VFACTS data, 103,097 new vehicles were delivered last month – the strongest July result on record ever.
New Toyota RAV4 Hybrid around the corner
One of Australia's best-selling cars is set for a massive shake-up, as David McCowen reports.
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New Toyota RAV4 Hybrid around the corner
more set... more for a massive shake-up, as David McCowen reports.
One of Australia's best-selling cars is... ... more
And a new type of car has exploded in popularity on our roads as a result of the record figures.
Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive Tony Weber said the result highlights strong demand and a positive outlook among new car buyers.
'We are now seeing confidence return to the market, supported by a recent interest rate reduction and anticipation of further easing,' Mr Weber said.
'Consumers are responding with interest across most segments, particularly utes and SUVs.'
While utes and SUVs continue to dominate the market, plug-in hybrids experienced a surge in growth.
Total Vehicle Sales this year. Source: Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries
MORE: Car giant's brutal truth: 'We're terrible'
CAR THAT AUSSIE CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF
According to the latest figures, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles or PHEVs have exploded in popularity in 2025, with sales skyrocketing by 183 per cent year-to-date when compared to last year.
In July along that growth was 81.1 per cent on June.
There are currently more than 50 PHEV models available on the market, and plug-in hybrids are emerging as a significant option for drivers who are limited by EV infrastructure.
As Mr Weber explains, PHEVs provide 'the ability to drive short distances on electric power while retaining the flexibility and range of a conventional engine'.
2025 Ford Ranger Wildtrak PHEV. Picture: Supplied
MORE: Musk threat to leave Tesla, gets $42 billion
Range anxiety and concerns about charging infrastructure still linger for many potential EV owners, particularly in regional Australia, where charging facilities are limited.
CHINA ON THE RISE
China-made vehicles continued their rapid rise, with 18,850 units sold in July, resulting in a massive 53 per cent increase compared to July 2024.
So far this year, 121,788 new Chinese vehicles have been on Australian roads, marking an impressive 11.4 per cent increase.
BYD is making a big impression. Picture: Mark Bean
Interestingly, the BYD Shark did not make it into the top 10 list, while the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro secured seventh place with 2,065 new sales in Australia.
Despite this, BYD continues to lead the charge with impressive growth figures. The company reported 4,607 units sold, resulting in a remarkable 158 per cent increase from July 2024 (1,786 units).
Other Chinese brands, such as Chery, GWM, and Geely, are also gaining significant traction as Aussies seek affordable alternatives to Japanese and European car brands.
Top 10 Models (by sales volume) Rank Vehicle Jul-25 Jul-24 1 Toyota HiLux 4676 4747 2 Toyota RAV4 4415 5933 3 Ford Ranger 3930 4915 4 Ford Everest 2425 2162 5 Isuzu Ute D-Max 2351 2369 6 Toyota Prado 2339 21 7 Toyota Landcruiser 2322 2464 8 Chery Tiggo 4 Pro 2065 0 9 Toyota Corolla 1963 2688 10 Hyundai Tucson 1914 1622
Source: Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries
AUSSIES STILL LOVE THEIR SUVS AND UTES
SUVs and utes continue to dominate the Australian new car market. SUVs accounted for 63,079 units of the 103,097 new vehicles sold in Australia last month. Or a whopping 62 per cent of all vehicles sold.
The long-term trend for SUVs over the passenger vehicle segment continues, with the passenger sales down 27 per cent year to date.
A major shake-up in the sales leaderboard saw Toyota reclaim dominance, with the HiLux and RAV4 outperforming the Ford Ranger, which dropped to third place.
Toyota was the market leader with sales of 21,722.
July 2025 Sale Results Rank Vehicle Make Jul-25 Jul-24 1 Toyota 142,700 144,006 2 Mazda 56,394 57,023 3 Ford 54,579 57,371 4 Kia 48,152 47,920 5 Hyundai 45,635 42,103 6 Mitsubishi 38,362 45,352 7 GWM 29,910 24,843 8 BYD 27,962 11,334 9 Isuzu Ute 25,869 29,724 10 MG 24,682 28,694
Source: Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries
'For every two passenger vehicles sold so far in 2025, about nine SUVs have been sold. In July, there was only one sedan in the top 20 models, the Toyota Corolla,' Mr Weber said.
Toyota was the market leader with sales of 21,722 during July, followed by Mazda (7,452), Kia (7,402), Ford (7,279) and Hyundai (6,687).
Originally published as The new car Aussies can't get enough of
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