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May marks historic milestone in new car sales

Each month, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries releases a report detailing the top-selling vehicles across Australia. Pickles’ monthly vehicle report presents the top 10 vehicles from this list and recounts industry news and trends as they affect the Australian market.

Market snapshot

The new vehicle market is showing no signs of slowing, with May 2024 marking another consecutive month of record breaking results. Over 111,000 new cars were sold in May, which surpassed results for the same month in 2023 by more than 5%. The year-to-date results are up 12% compared to last year, meaning 2024 will likely be a consecutive record breaking year for the industry. These results show the growing resilience and appetite of Australian consumers, with record breaking sales persisting in the midst of general economic downturn. 

There was a marked jump in the sale of hybrid and EV-model vehicles, with 15.8% of sales for the month falling into either category, which is almost double the result of May 2023 (7.9%). After several months of hiatus from the top selling list, Tesla jumped back up with a big increase in sales of the Model 3. This growth in sales may well be due to Tesla dropping the price of some of its models as the company works to maintain consistent sales in the Australian market. Of the ICE vehicles, Toyota was the clear market leader with over 22,000 vehicles sold in May for the brand and accounting for over 20% of the share for the month. 

Most popular vehicles | May 2024

  1. Ford Ranger - 5,912 units sold in May

The Ford Ranger jumped to the top of the list in May, with over 5,900 units sold. The Ford Ranger is well known for its workhorse features while maintaining a stylish exterior and is a popular choice amidst Australian consumers. 

  1. Toyota HiLux - 5,702 units sold in May

With consistent sales throughout 2024, the Toyota HiLux sold over 4,600 units throughout May. The Hilux is a versatile and powerful Australian favourite, popular with both private and business buyers. Check out all of the quality used HiLux models available at Pickles. 

  1. Toyota RAV4 - 5,517 units sold in May

The Toyota RAV4 slipped down the list this month, with a drop in sales resulting in 5,517 units sold throughout May. Given the RAV4 is always in high demand, keeping up to date with Pickles’ sales is the best way to purchase a quality used model. 

  1. Isuzu UTE D-MAX - 2,612 units sold in May

D-MAX sales have been sturdy and consistent so far in 2024, with just over 2,600 units sold in May. For car buyers looking for the practicality of a work vehicle along with the versatility of a family car, the D-MAX is a popular car choice.

  1. Mitsubishi Outlander - 2,500 units sold in May

Sales of Mitsubishi Outlander units were huge compared MoM, with an even 2,500 units sold in May. As a staple of the Australian car market, buyers are lucky to have access to a wide variety of used Outlander models featured in Pickles’ sales.

  1. Toyota Camry - 2,468 units sold in May

Another surprising addition to the list, Toyota’s Camry model had a big month of sales with just shy of 2,500 units bought in May. Compact and stylish, the Camry is a top choice for city drivers or for small families.

  1. Toyota Corolla - 2,439 units sold in May

The compact Toyota Corolla is the brand’s fourth ranking model on the top selling list in May, with only a handful less sales than the Camry. The affordable Corolla sold over 2,400 units in May and is known for its serious reliability and cheap maintenance costs, making it a good pick in 2024’s economic conditions.

  1. Ford Everest - 2,110 units sold in May

Dipping slightly compared to the first few months of the year, the Ford Everest had a solid month of sales with over 2,100 units purchased. The Everest is a spacious family vehicle, popular for being a reliable option for large families. 

  1. Mazda CX-5 - 2,108 units sold in May

The stylish and compact Mazda CX-5 sold just over 2,100 units in May and jumped back onto the top sellers list after months-long hiatus. The SUV is a Japanese-made model and is popular thanks to its affordability in comparison to its competitors. Because the CX-5 has been on the Australian market for a few years, there are many used models available.

  1. Tesla Model 3 - 1,958 units sold in May

Another model that jumped back onto the list in May, the fully electric Tesla Model 3 sold just shy of 2,000 units for the month. This return to the list may have been due to Tesla’s recent price drop amidst issues of a lack of sales. 

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13 Jun