VFACTS: February sales fall 9.6pc

AUSTRALIA recorded 94,993 new vehicle sales across February’s 24 selling days, a decrease of 9.6 per cent (or 10,030 units) on the same month last year – but an improvement of 8189 units over January 2025.

Citing cost-of-living pressures, the FCAI noted passenger vehicle sales down 34.8 per cent to 6823 units when viewed against the same period in 2024, the SUV market down 0.6 per cent (or 352 units), the LCV market down 10.2 per cent (or 2432 units), and the HCV market down 10.9 per cent (or 423 units).

Overall February sales were formed mainly by SUV sales (60.4 per cent) ahead of LCV (22.5 per cent), passenger cars (13.5 per cent), and others.

Petrol-powered vehicles remained the strongest sellers in February with 40,496 unit sales (or 42.6 per cent), ahead of diesel vehicles (26,863 / 28.3 per cent), hybrid electric vehicles (15,348 / 16.2 per cent), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (4871 / 5.1 per cent), and battery electric vehicles (3978 / 4.2 per cent).

The remaining 3.6 per cent of sales were from the heavy commercial vehicle sector, (3448 units) which predominantly comprises diesel-powered vehicles.

Speaking on the matter, FCAI chief executive Tony Weber said the slowing rate of battery electric vehicle take-up was of “increasing concern”, noting a 3.7 per cent downshift in BEV sales when compared with the same time last year.

“We are now two months into the government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard, and while the supply of battery electric vehicles has risen dramatically, consumer demand has fallen by 37 per cent this year compared with the first two months of 2024,” he noted.

“We knew the supply of EVs would increase and there are now 88 models supplied to the Australian market.

“However, our grave concern has always been the rate of EV adoption and what assumptions the Government had made in its modelling around consumer demand for EVs in the NVES.

“This modelling remains secret. The easy part is to set aspirational targets but without consumers demanding EVs, the NVES will not succeed.

“It is time for the government to consider the realities faced by consumers,” he emphasised.

Indeed, Mr Weber’s comments are supported by this month’s Electric Vehicle Council report which notes sales of Tesla models falling to a second monthly low.

Compared with the same time last year, Tesla sales are down 71.9 per cent with just 1592 vehicles delivered for February.

Polestar, which also reports its sales figures to the EVC, is up 11.6 per cent over the same time frame.

It is important to note that not all brands yet report to either body, Deepal, Ineos, Mahindra, Xpeng, and Zeekr without representation at this point in time – potentially skewing BEV sales figures to a small degree.

Away from BEV sales, the FCAI notes Japanese importer Toyota as the market leader in February with sales of 18,832 units – or a 19.8 per cent share of the overall market. Mazda placed second with 8798 unit sales (9.3 per cent) ahead of Kia (6707 / 7.1per cent), Ford (6337 / 6.7 per cent), and Mitsubishi (6119 / 6.4 per cent).

The Toyota RAV4 was again Australia’s top-selling vehicle with 4405 units registered in February, leading the Ford Ranger (4040), Toyota HiLux (3616), Toyota LandCruiser Prado (2723), and Mitsubishi Outlander (2385).

Private sales won out over all other types, accounting for 53.5 per cent of the overall mix. Business sales tracked in second with 38.9 per cent (or 35,662 units), ahead of rental fleet sales (4.7 per cent or 4273 units), and government fleet sales (2.9 per cent or 2652 units).

Heavy vehicle sales made up the balance with 3448 unit sales.

Across the country, we find sales in all states and territories down against February 2024. Tasmania fell furthest, down 18.6 per cent (to 1479 units), ahead of the Australian Capital Territory (down 16.2 per cent to 1460 units), Victoria (down 13.0 per cent to 24,733 units), Queensland (down 10.1 per cent to 20,202 units), Western Australia (down 9.5 per cent to 10,240 units), New South Wales (down 6.7 per cent to 29,801 units), South Australia (down 3.7 per cent to 6215 units), and the Northern Territory (down 0.9 per cent to 863 units).

Top 10 vehicle sales by make (February 2025):

Top 10 vehicle sales by model (February 2025):

State by state (February 2025):

*All data supplied courtesy of the FCAI.