VFACTS: Chinese cars top February sales

CHINA has become Australia’s largest source of new vehicles for the first time in a single month, according to figures released today by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI).

In February, some 22,362 new vehicles sourced from China were sold in Australia, surpassing Japan (21,671), Thailand (19,493), and South Korea (11,913). Japan had been Australia’s leading source of new vehicles since 1998.

“After 28 years, Japan has been overtaken by China as the largest source of vehicles for the Australian market,” said FCAI chief executive Tony Weber.

Mr Weber noted that nine of the 10 new brands to enter the Australian market since 2020 are Chinese, with Chinese-made cars now accounting for three of the top 10 most popular vehicle brands sold Down Under.

“The Australian (new car) market is one of the most open and competitive in the world,” he continued.

“New brands can enter, establish dealer networks, and compete on price, technology, and design.

“Consumers are the beneficiaries of that competition.”

Australia’s new vehicle market recorded 94,131 sales in February, a decrease of 2.7 per cent on the same time last year.

Toyota remains the market leader in February with 13,606 new vehicle sales (down 27.8 per cent YoY), followed by Mazda (7042, down 19.9 per cent), Ford (6907, up 9.0 per cent), Kia (6710, unchanged), and Hyundai (6266, up 4.5 per cent).

The top-selling vehicle models for the month were the Ford Ranger (4325, up 7.1 per cent), Toyota HiLux (3625, up 0.2 per cent), Chery Tiggo 4 (2315, up 117.0 per cent), Mazda CX-5 (2099, up 8.6 per cent), and Isuzu D-Max (2092, up 3.5 per cent).

The pecking order has shifted significantly for vehicles made by Australia’s number one importer, Toyota.

Speaking with GoAuto this week, a Toyota Australia spokesperson said sales of the RAV4 are down 83.6 per cent (to 723 units) as the importer makes way for an all-new model, while constrained supplies of the 250-Series LandCruiser Prado have caused a lower result for that model in February, down 53.3 per cent (to 1273 units).

The spokesperson also suggested sales of the HiLux light commercial utility will be supported by new body styles and the imminent arrival of a battery electric model.

Indeed, battery electric vehicles accounted for 11.8 per cent of total sales from all sources in February, representing a record high monthly share. A total of 11,134 battery electric vehicles were sold across the month, a rise of 95.9 per cent on January 2026, buoyed in no small part to the sale of 3274 new Teslas.

While petrol- (33,309 unit sales) and diesel (26,963) sales remained the strongest sellers by volume, February results show solid sales of hybrid- (13,868) and plug-in hybrid (5854) vehicle sales, underscoring the diversity of Australia’s rapidly shifting new car market.

Looking across the jurisdictions in February we note declines in all states and territories bar Victora, which grew slightly with 24,732 unit sales for the month (up 3.0 per cent).

Elsewhere, the Australian Capital Territory fell 18.7 per cent to 1187 units; New South Wales 7.6 per cent to 27,524 units; the Northern Territory 15.8 per cent to 727 units; Queensland 2.8 per cent to 19,644 units; South Australia 8.7 per cent to 5673 units; Tasmania 6.4 per cent to 1384 units; and Western Australia 3.9 per cent to 9841 units.

Top 10 vehicle sales by make (February 2026)*:

Top 10 vehicle sales by model (February 2026)*:

State-by-state sales (February 2026)*:

*All sales data is supplied courtesy of the FCAI and the Electric Vehicle Council.