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News - Market Insight - Market Insight 2025Market Insight: Sportscar sales slumpCost of living pressures hammer sportscar sales, US-sourced models buck the trend24 Apr 2025 By MATT BROGAN FALLING sales of motorcycles, jet skis, and sportscars are usually the first indicators of tougher economic times.
Indeed, it doesn’t take much more than a cursory glance of the latest new-car sales figures to understand how poorly sportscar sales are tracking, with deliveries of almost every model down by considerable percentage.
Oddly, American-made Chevrolet Corvette and Ford Mustang models are the only beacons of hope in what is otherwise a destitute sportscar sales scene.
While sportscar sales in the sub-$90K part of the segment are up – based on the revised Mustang’s success alone – sales of sportscars in the over $90K category are down 15.2 per cent on this time last year, and those in the over $200K category down 17.3 per cent.
Interestingly, Ford sold more Mustang units in the first quarter of 2025 than all entrants in the over $90K and over $200K categories combined.
The Mustang achieved 1203 sales to the end of March 2025 against a combined 1199 units elsewhere. It also sold 574 more examples than the combined total of the five other entrants in its own segment (sportscars under $90K).
To the end of March, the Sports under $90K category amassed a total of 1832 sales to account for 0.6 per cent of the overall new car market.
The Ford Mustang accounted for 1203 of those sales, leading the Subaru BRZ with 210 units (down 24.7 per cent) and related Toyota GR86 with 186 units (down 14.3 per cent), Mazda MX-5 with 146 units (down 0.7 per cent), Nissan Z with 53 units (down 51.8 per cent), and Mini Cabrio with 34 units (down 65.7 per cent).
In the sportscars over $90K category, the recently introduced Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class (replacing coupe and convertible versions of both the C-Class and E-Class) is leading with 231 sales ahead of the BMW 2 Series with 171 sales (down 53.3 per cent), BMW 4 Series with 157 sales (down 26.6 per cent), Chevrolet Corvette with 82 sales (up 50 per cent), and Porsche Cayman with 61 sales (down 3.2 per cent as it enters runout).
All other entrants in the category managed fewer than 60 sales units (<20 units/month) across the first quarter.
In the prestigious sportscars over $200K segment, only the Porsche 911 achieved more than 60 sales across the first quarter of 2025, the perennial German favourite amassing 122 registrations – or 52.9 per cent fewer than the same time last year as the facelifted model comes on stream.
Again, all other entrants in the category managed fewer than 60 sales units (<20 units/month) across the first quarter.
Speaking on the sales success of the Ford Mustang in the first quarter of 2025, Ford Australia director of customer experience John Hatzimanolis told GoAuto that the Mustang’s choice of turbocharged or V8 engines are part of its appeal for Australian buyers.
“We’re pleased that so many Australian customers continue to choose the iconic Mustang, with the newly introduced seventh generation ’Stang chalking up 1203 deliveries and close to 40 per cent share of the entire sportscar segment in the first quarter of 2025,” he said.
“For over 60 years, Mustang has thrilled motorists, with the newest iteration combining the latest in safety and convenience technology with thrilling driving dynamics and the choice of either V8 or turbo-charged power.
“For the purists, Mustang remains as the last V8-powered sportscar available in Australia with a six-speed manual transmission driving the rear wheels. The success of the Mustang is a testament to the appetite that Aussie motorists have for accessible, high-performance and soul-stirring sportscars.”
Those sentiments were echoed by red-corner rival GM, with Australia and New Zealand director of sales and operations, Greg Rowe, telling GoAuto the Corvette has hit the mark with Aussie buyers.
“Corvette has seen a noticeable shift toward a broader sportscar buyer audience,” he said.
“The Corvette Stingray, with its blend of on-road prowess, supercar performance, and everyday comfort, is clearly resonating with driving enthusiasts seeking both thrill and practicality.”
Australian sportscar sales Q1 2025*:
*Sales data supplied courtesy of VFACTS. Includes only those vehicles with quarterly sales of 60 units or more  Read more21st of April 2025  Market Insight: MG Motor eyes top 3 positionNew and updated models hoped to drive MG Motor from seventh to third place by 203014th of April 2025  Market Insight: Mini celebrates Aus sales recordRecord first-quarter sales see Mini sales tower 91pc over the same time last year8th of April 2025  Market Insight: Will FBT nuke PHEV sales?PHEV sales boom may tank after FBT break ends but long-term data shows solid growth |
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