New car sales hit July record, electric vehicles jump
New vehicle sales in Australia hit a monthly record in July as the supply of new cars accelerated after pandemic backlogs and buyers of electric vehicles injected fresh impetus.
There was a 14.7 per cent increase in new vehicle sales in July to 96,589, compared with the same month a year ago, Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries figures showed. It eclipsed the record 92,754 vehicles in July 2017.
The Tesla Model Y is the No.4 selling vehicle in Australia of any type across the market (electric, petrol or diesel).
The backlog of orders was increasingly being filled by car manufacturers steadily increasing production at overseas plants as the effects of COVID-19 shutdowns, microprocessor shortages and bottlenecks at shipping ports dissipated, the chamber said.
Chief executive Tony Weber said supply pressures were easing, prompting a “return to more stable market conditions”.
Full-battery electric vehicles accounted for 7 per cent of total sales. Including hybrid and plug-in hybrid models, the zero- or low-emission segment amounts to 17.9 per cent of all sales.
The Tesla Model Y vehicle was the fourth-largest-selling vehicle in the market in July with 3330 sales, outstripping many petrol and diesel models. The No.1 selling vehicle was the Ford Ranger ute with 5143 sales, followed by the Toyota Hi-Lux ute with 4670 and the MG ZS at 3852.
Buyers are clamouring for SUV models, which now make up 59 per cent of all new vehicle sales. Luxury car brand Maserati is tapping into that demand.
Maserati’s global chief executive, Davide Grasso, said a new, more mainstream SUV model called the Grecale had been a big hit with buyers, including in Australia.
Maserati’s Grecale SUV has been popular, helping the car maker build
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