New battery electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle sales climb while petrol and diesel vehicle sales drop.
The continuing Australia vehicle market trend is again illustrated in VFACTs January sales figures released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), now extending into 22 months of a decline in sales of new internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
Private passenger electric/PHEV sales have risen 54.5% in January 2020 and 2019 comparisons, from 22 to 34, while non-private passenger electric/PHEV sales have rocketed 180.8% from 26 in January 2019 to 73 last month.
In the popular SUV sector, private electric/PHEV sales have risen 218% (16 to 51) and non-private sales have gone up 34.5% (29 to 39).
Electrics and PHEVs also account for a doubling of sales from two in January 2019 to four in January 2020.
And it should be noted that VFACTS figures don’t include Tesla, which doesn’t report its sales yet accounts for a good proportion of the new EV market in Australia. The Tesla Model 3 has been selling well in Australia and the Model Y is expected later this year.
Hybrids are also packing a heavy sales punch, particularly in the SUV category – 963% up (54 to 574) in the non-private area and more than 999% (54 to 902) in the private sector in the January comparisons.
A more modest rise for hybrids is recorded in the private passenger category – up 41.4% (603 to 853) and the non-private market – 1.6% (1054 to 1071).
The ICE market has dived, recording drops of anywhere from 7% to 38.1%, the only increases a measly 1.4% for petrol non-private SUVs and 12.3% for petrol light commercial private vehicles.
Yet EVs don’t rate a mention in FCAI chief executive Tony Weber’s comment on the sales result.
“Given the broad range of environmental, financial, international and political issues facing Australia during January, it is no surprise to see the new vehicle market has reported a conservative start to the year,” he says.
Toyota was the market leader in January with 14,809 sales and 20.6% market share.
The Toyota Hilux, with 2968 sales, again claimed the title of Australia’s best-selling vehicle, closely followed by the Ford Ranger with 2624 sales.
Australia’s third favourite vehicle during January was the Toyota Corolla with 2370 sales, followed by the Toyota RAV4 with 2290 sales and the Mitsubishi Triton with 2075 sales.
