VFACTSPage 15

The market grows for two months in succession, as a strong December gives grounds for optimism.

While petrol and diesel sales were down almost entirely across the board, Australians bought more hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles in 2020 than the year before.

Sales recoveries in the final quarter weren't enough to stop 2020 being the worst year for new vehicle sales in Australia since 2003. Toyota was dominant, the Chinese brands are booming, and utes topped the charts once again.

The budget-friendly MG ZS line-up had a record month in November, placing third in the fastest-growing new vehicle segment for the first time.

After a shocking, COVID-stricken 2020, sales are on the uptick. It's been more than two and a half years since we've seen a month of positive results like November. No brand did better than Toyota, with four of the top-five sellers.

Vehicles with varying degrees of electrification are all gaining market share – though there's a long way to go if Australia is to match Europe or China for green-vehicle sales

Showrooms were closed in Melbourne for most of October for public health reasons, but if you take out the state of Victoria, the rest of Australia had a pretty positive October in new-car sales terms. It bodes well for the rest of 2020.

October was a month of rebound for the Australian new car market, with compact crossovers and SUVs accounting for more sales than small passenger cars.

Australia's new car market showing signs of recovery. SUVs take half the market total, while HiLux and Ranger top the charts. And watch out establishment, Chinese brands are booming.

From the Mazda CX-3 to the Mitsubishi ASX and Audi Q3, let's take a look at the Light and Small SUV sales race during 2020 so far.

Budget challenger brands MG, Haval, LDV, SsangYong, and Great Wall are among the small group of car makers to grow their Australian sales during a troubled 2020.

New car sales were down 22 per cent in September, with Victoria the site of predominant reductions. Ranger and HiLux topped the charts again, but annual overall sales are at their lowest point since 2002.

The market tumbles again, down 29 per cent to the worst August tally in 23 years. If the 'Toyota RAV4' was a standalone brand, it would've outsold Hyundai, Kia and Ford.

Which vehicles dominate their respective market segments? All of the cars in this list have market share of at least 40 per cent.

Hybrid and PHEV cars and SUVs owned more than 12 per cent market share in July, thanks in large part to Toyota.

After a promising June, the premium brands struggled during the month of July – though there were a handful of exceptions.