Toyota, Chinese cars the big winners as annual sales announced
It was the year that Holden died and new-car sales plummeted but some brands defied the odds. These are the winners and losers, with some surprises.
Last year was one the car industry would prefer to forget. We said goodbye to Holden and sales across the board were down by 14 per cent. In Victoria, the new-car market was down by close to 25 per cent as dealerships were forced to shut their doors during lockdown.
Some brands and nameplates weathered the storm better than others, though.
Here’s a list of what was hot — and what was not — in 2020.
Toyota’s RAV4 Hybrid proved a huge hit. Picture: Thomas Wielecki.Source:Supplied
HOT
Toyota
The Japanese brand’s dominance of the new-car market is mind-boggling. It has been our number one brand for the past 18 years and has the best-selling ute, car and SUV. HiLux was the best-selling vehicle in the country for the fifth year in a row, while overall sales dipped by just 0.5 per cent despite the pandemic. More than one in five new-car buyers choose a Toyota and it owns five of the top ten selling cars. The RAV4 was the number one SUV and the Corolla was the best-selling car. Sales of Toyota hybrids surged — they accounted for 54,335 of Toyota’s 204,801 total sales.
The RAM 1500 pick-up sold like hot cakes. Picture: Supplied.Source:Supplied
Pick-up trucks
They’re oversized, overpriced and over here. Pick-up trucks are as American as apple pie but it seems that Aussies have developed quite a taste for them, despite the exorbitant price tags, huge fuel bills and lack of safety gear. Converted from left-hand drive in Melbourne, V8-powered RAM trucks are flying out the door. Sales were up by more than 15 per cent last year, despite a starting price of roughly $80,000 plus on-roads. In contrast, sales of smaller Japanese one-tonne utes were down by more than 10 per cent.
Sales of Chinese cars were up by more than 70 per cent last year. Picture: Supplied.Source:Supplied
Chinese cars
It seems Aussie car buyers have very little interest in the current trade war between China and Australia. Sales of Chinese-made cars rose by more than 70 per cent last year. In the process China overtook England as our sixth biggest source of new cars behind Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Germany and the United States. Ironically, the once-British brand MG is leading the charge. Sales were up by more than 80 per cent to 15,253. The smaller Haval brand saw sales grow by 93 per cent, while Great Wall was up 38 per cent and LDV jumped 44 per cent.
The Holden Acadia had a shot life as GM axed the brand. Picture: Thomas Wielecki.Source:Supplied
LOSERS
Holden
Sadly, only 28 Australians bought a Holden in December. Of those, 27 were Colorado utes and the other was a lone Commodore. Ultimately the brand, which was axed by American giant General Motors early this year, couldn’t cope with the flood of high-quality imported SUVs. The brand ended 2020 with almost 17,000 sales and rivals will be eyeing those customers in coming years. Long-time arch rival Ford is still kicking, largely on the back of the success of the Australian-designed Ranger ute…
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