Australian new-car sales in January 2025: Toyota RAV4 leads another VFACTS decline
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New-vehicle deliveries have opened 2025 in the red – influenced by a slowdown in customer demand, and port strikes – as the market braces for a year tipped to fall short of 2024’s record result.
Sales of new motor vehicles have commenced 2025 with the sixth decline in the past seven months, as the car industry prepares for a decline in deliveries after a record 2024.
Data published by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) shows 87,625 new vehicles were reported as sold in January 2025.
It is down 2.4 per cent on the same month a year prior – the all-time January record – though it is up on the 84,873 deliveries reported this time in 2023.
MORE: Australian new-car sales to decline in 2025 after record 2024 – Toyota
Contributing to the decline was a strike at key ports around Australia, which saw tens of thousands of cars stranded offshore for much of the first half of the month as stevedores called for increased pay.
It is the first stumbling block in what is expected to be a slower 2025 for the new-car market, which despite a wave of new, predominantly-Chinese brands arriving this calendar year, is expected to post a decline.
Industry analysts have forecast about 1.18 million new-vehicle sales in 2025, compared to 2024’s record 1.24 million.
MORE: New-car delivery delays to continue after end of Australian port strikes
January 2025 was the sixth decline in the past seven months – after a one-off uptick in December 2024 – as the cost-of-living crisis sees Australians tighten their purse strings and hold off on buying new cars.
Deliveries to private buyers were down 7.4 per cent, according to FCAI data, while the only buyer type posting growth was business customers (up 4.6 per cent).
Yet many of the top brands reported sales growth, with Toyota – still the top-selling manufacturer – posting 18,424 deliveries, up 2.9 per cent, fresh off a record 2024 when it sold 241,296 cars for its 23rd year in a row on top.
It was followed by Mazda in its previously-held second-placed position – with 8322 sales, up 1.9 per cent – ahead of Ford (6830 sales, up 3.1 per cent), Kia (5720, up 0.2 per cent) and Mitsubishi (5681, down 3.9 per cent).
Hyundai reported the largest decline of the Top 10 sellers – down 11.1 per cent to 5478 cars, in sixth place – while Chery sales were up 152 per cent to 1837 sales, landing it 13th place.
Contributing to the market decline were brands such as Tesla (down 33 per cent), BYD (down 48.5 per cent), LDV (down 34.2 per cent), Isuzu Ute (down 23.6 per cent) and Hyundai.
The Toyota RAV4 was Australia’s top-selling new car last month, up 129.6 per cent year-on-year to 5076 sales – ahead of the Ford Ranger (4254, down 10.4 per cent).
Toyota also held third and fourth positions with the HiLux ute (3302, down 19.3 per cent) and Prado 4WD (2847, up 63.1 per cent) respectively, followed by the Mitsubishi Outlander (2090, up 0.6 per cent).
No traditional ‘passenger cars’ finished in the Top 10, with the Toyota Corolla just missing out on the honour with an 11th-placed result, less than 30 sales behind the Mazda CX-3 SUV (1583 vs 1608).
Tesla recorded its worst month for deliveries since July 2022 – when its Shanghai factory was coming out of a COVID-19 lockdown – down 33 per cent, while sales of electric cars from all other brands were down 18.3 per cent.
In total, just 3832 electric vehicles were reported as sold last month, down 21.7 per cent year-on-year.
Demand for ‘plug-less’ hybrids continued to grow, up 51.5 per cent to 14,836 deliveries, while plug-in hybrid sales continued to grow (up 88.5 per cent, to 1908 vehicles) as the end of lucrative tax breaks in April looms.
Data below supplied by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and Electric Vehicle Council (EVC).
TOP 10 CARS IN January 2025
| Rank | Model | Volume January 2025 | Change year-on-year |
| 1 | Toyota RAV4 | 5076 | up 129.6 per cent |
| 2 | Ford Ranger | 4254 | down 10.4 per cent |
| 3 | Toyota HiLux | 3302 | down 19.3 per cent |
| 4 | Toyota Prado | 2847 | up 63.1 per cent |
| 5 | Mitsubishi Outlander | 2090 | up 0.6 per cent |
| 6 | Isuzu D-Max | 2086 | down 17.9 per cent |
| 7 | Mazda CX-5 | 1872 | up 8.8 per cent |
| 8 | Kia Sportage | 1826 | up 9.7 per cent |
| 9 | Ford Everest | 1679 | up 42.8 per cent |
| 10 | Mazda CX-3 | 1608 | up 5.5 per cent |
TOP 10 CAR BRANDS IN January 2025
| Rank | Brand | Volume January 2025 | Change year-on-year |
| 1 | Toyota | 18,424 | up 2.9 per cent |
| 2 | Mazda | 8322 | up 1.9 per cent |
| 3 | Ford | 6830 | up 3.1 per cent |
| 4 | Kia | 5720 | up 0.2 per cent |
| 5 | Mitsubishi | 5681 | down 3.9 per cent |
| 6 | Hyundai | 5478 | down 11.1 per cent |
| 7 | MG | 3740 | down 6.6 per cent |
| 8 | GWM | 3433 | up 9.9 per cent |
| 9 | Nissan | 3035 | up 12.4 per cent |
| 10 | Subaru | 2924 | down 4.7 per cent |
Passenger cars: Top Three in each segment in January 2025
| Micro | Kia Picanto (616) | Fiat/Abarth 500 (30) | |
| Light < $30k | MG 3 (1151) | Mazda 2 (524) | Suzuki Swift (345) |
| Light > $30k | Mini Cooper (134) | Volkswagen Polo, Hyundai i20 (86) | Mini Aceman (49) |
| Small < $40k | Toyota Corolla (1583) | Mazda 6 (1026) | Hyundai i30 (849) |
| Small > $40k | MG 4 (440) | Volkswagen Golf (293) | BMW 1 Series (227) |
| Medium < $60k | Toyota Camry (488) | Mazda 6 (136) | Skoda Octavia (57) |
| Medium > $60k | Tesla Model 3 (274) | BMW i4 (108) | Mercedes-Benz C-Class (103) |
| Large < $70k | Skoda Superb (9) | Citroen C5 X (0) | |
| Large > $70k | BMW 5 Series (64) | Mercedes-Benz E-Class (28) | Porsche Taycan (14) |
| Upper Large > $100k | Mercedes-Benz S-Class (10) | Porsche Panamera (6) | BMW 7 Series (5) |
| People Movers | Kia Carnival (589) | Hyundai Staria (88) | Ford Tourneo (35) |
| Sports < $80k | Ford Mustang (266) | Subaru BRZ (73) | Toyota GR86 (68) |
| Sports > $80k | Mercedes-Benz CLE (47) | BMW 2 Series, BMW 4 Series coupes/convertibles (45) | Chevrolet Corvette Stingray (31) |
| Sports > $200k | Porsche 911 (22) | Lamborghini sports cars (14) | Mercedes-AMG GT (10) |
SUVs: Top Three in each segment in January 2025
| Light SUV | Mazda CX-3 (1608) | Toyota Yaris Cross (849) | Suzuki Jimny (712) |
| Small SUV < $45k | Mitsubishi ASX (1304) | Hyundai Kona (1301) | GWM Haval Jolion (1286) |
| Small SUV > $45k | Volkswagen T-Roc (497) | Audi Q3 (279) | Volvo XC40 (237) |
| Medium SUV < $60k | Toyota RAV4 (5076) | Mitsubishi Outlander (2090) | Mazda CX-5 (1872) |
| Medium SUV > $60k | Tesla Model Y (465) | Mazda CX-60 (408) | Lexus NX (387) |
| Large SUV < $80k | Toyota Prado (2847) | Ford Everest (1679) | Isuzu MU-X (786) |
| Large SUV > $80k | Land Rover Defender (164) | BMW X5 (147) | Lexus RX (116) |
| Upper Large SUV < $120k | Nissan Patrol wagon (621) | Toyota LandCruiser wagon (413) | Land Rover Discovery (23) |
| Upper Large SUV > $120k | Lexus GX (95) | BMW X7 (66) | Lexus LX (49) |
Utes and vans: Top Three in each segment in January 2025
| Vans < 2.5t | Volkswagen Caddy (47) | Peugeot Partner (43) | Renault Kangoo (14) |
| Vans 2.5t-3.5t | Toyota HiAce van (810) | Hyundai Staria Load (217) | Ford Transit Custom (192) |
| 4×2 Utes | Toyota HiLux (508) | Isuzu D-Max (409) | Ford Ranger (261) |
| 4×4 Utes < $100k | Ford Ranger (3993) | Toyota HiLux (2794) | Isuzu D-Max (1677) |
| Utes > $100k | Ford F-150 (230) | Ram 1500 (212) | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (171) |
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