Australian new-car sales: Slowest-selling cars in 2024 (to date)

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We dive into the sales data to find the automotive equivalent of the wooden spoon so far in 2024.

A full year might have yet to run to completion, but VFACTS data paints a pretty clear picture of the strongest-selling (and weakest) car models on the market around Australia for 2024.

We focus a lot of our attention on the nation's best-selling models throughout the year and while the full-year sales wrap will undoubtedly be filled with models such as the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux, Toyota RAV4, Isuzu D-Max, and Tesla Model Y, we thought we'd do a call out to the cars that are selling in the smallest numbers.

We scanned the FCAI’s VFACTS data to the end of November 2024 to analyse the cars where total sales are the lowest.

There are exceptions in this list – we've discounted models that have launched recently and those that have not had a full 11 months' worth of time in showrooms, leaving only the models that have had a good chance to move stock.

The list is only made up of models that were either current throughout 2024, or were recently removed from sale.

Rolls-Royce sedans – 9 sales

According to the FCAI VFACTS data, all Rolls-Royce sedan models are rolled into one. But that still wasn't enough for the brand to escape selling the least (of a single type of model) to date.  

The ‘entry-level’ Rolls-Royce Ghost is between updates with a new facelifted version to arrive in 2025, but the Phantom flagship is relatively fresh.

The slow sales are likely due to the Rolls-Royce Phantom starting at a cool $965,000 before on-road costs. Here's hoping we'll see more Rolls-Royces on the road in 2025 with the advent of the new Ghost.

Audi A8 – 10 sales

The market for luxurious full-size sedans is thin in Australia, as you'll see throughout this list. This is why Audi's flagship sedan, the A8, has sold so few examples in 2025.

Drive reported the regular Audi A8 sedan was discontinued in 2023, leaving only the sporty S8 sedan on the market priced from $287,600 before on-road costs.

It's likely that round sales number of 10 is a combination of existing regular A8 stock and new examples of the Audi S8.

Lexus LS – 11 sales

The Lexus LS competes in the same class as the Audi A8 – at the pinnacle of the brand's technical and mechanical capability.

Considering Australia's love for the hybrid powertrain, it's surprising to see the hybrid Lexus LS500h not get more runs on the board. However, at $196,279 before on-road costs, it remains unattainable for ordinary Australians.

Mercedes-AMG GT Four door – 11 sales

In equal third place with the Lexus LS is the Mercedes-AMG GT63 S E Performance. Mercedes-Benz dropped the non-hybrid version from sale last year leaving only one single variant to carry the nameplate forward in 2024 – and it's priced from $405,300 plus on-road costs.

Mercedes-Benz EQV – 12 sales

Another Mercedes-Benz in the list of the slowest-selling models of 2024 to date, the electrified Mercedes-Benz EQV people mover has notched up 12 sales to the end of November.

In fairness, the Mercedes-Benz EQV is between updates which is likely part of the reason for the slow sales. But with the arrival of the VW ID.Buzz, it'll be hard for the updated Mercedes-Benz EQV to compete in 2025.

LDV Mifa 9 – 15 sales

The LDV Mifa 9 is also a people mover with a similarly lofty price over the $100,000 barrier.

However, it's a niche product from a relatively new brand, which likely goes some of the way to explaining the lack of sales success so far in 2024.

Maserati Ghibli – 17 sales

The Maserati Ghibli is on the way out in Australia and this run of 17 sales is likely made up of last-batch existing stock.

In the future the Ghibli nameplate will no longer exist, with the Maserati Quattroporte and Ghibli models merging into one car, to be unveiled in 2025.

Bentley Flying Spur – 19 sales

Bentley's new Flying Spur was facelifted in September 2024 with a new plug-in hybrid V8 powertrain replacing the discontinued twin-turbo W12.

Though the new versions will arrive in 2025, the deliveries of the existing Bentley Flying Spur only amounted to 19 units to the end of November 2024. As Bentley's flagship product, it's likely to stay the same in 2025 – but never say never.

Mercedes-Benz EQS – 20 sales

Sales of the Mercedes-Benz ultra-luxury EQS electric sedan only totalled 20 units so far this year.

Once again depicting the relative popularity of SUVs over sedans, the EQS SUV equivalent managed to sell more than six times as many for a total of 129 units.

Citroen C3 – 22 sales

Slow sales of the Citroen C3 light hatchback are part of the blame for the demise of the French carmaker in Australia. Citroen exited the Australian market in November 2024 and it's sad to see such a historic marque put out to pasture.

But, with more than 60 brands offered locally, there are only so many sales to fight over in a market that traditionally sells just over the one-million mark.

The post Australian new-car sales: Slowest-selling cars in 2024 (to date) appeared first on Drive.

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