China beats Japan as primary seller for vehicle imports in Australia, while Toyota sales slump for second month in a row

In honest two months of sales for 2026, the Australian contemporary car market has marked a important milestone, with Japan losing its title of lead car importer for basically the most considerable time in 28 years.

China will preserve the title of Australia’s lead car provide by volume for February, on my own contributing 25,781 contemporary car sales, ahead of Japan (21,671) and Thailand (19,493). These figures symbolize contemporary vehicles assembled of their respective worldwide locations.

Total, contemporary car sales for the month of February totalled 94,131 devices, down 2.7 p.c yr-on-yr (YOY) when combining details silent from each the Federal Chamber of Automobile Industries and Electric Automobile Council.

Australia’s accepted car for the month of February used to be the Ford Ranger, 2025’s total winner. It managed 4325 deliveries final month (up 7.1 p.c on February ’25), ahead of the unique-faced Toyota Hilux (3625), Tesla Mannequin Y (2791), Chery Tiggo 4 (2315), and Mazda CX-5 (2099).

The Chery’s great 116.8-p.c make yr-on-yr from February 2025 (1068 devices) contributed in no miniature piece to the dominance of Chinese language-sourced car sales for the month.

While Chinese language automakers can also no longer snag moderately a number of prestigious titles reminiscent of Australia’s most in sort imprint, – Toyota – or car, – the aforementioned Ranger – an increasing selection of carve-price Chinese language vehicles reminiscent of the Chery Tiggo 4, BYD Sealion 5, and Geely EX5 beget quietly contributed to China’s colossal main-importer get.

For occasion, ninth-residing Haval Jolion (1804) loved 38.1-p.c increased volume than this time final yr.

An uptake in Chinese language car manufacturing has additionally helped the nation dethrone Japan. World producers treasure Tesla, Polestar, and Volvo exclusively market Chinese language-assembled vehicles in Australia, final month contributing 3274, 145, and 630 sales respectively.

Furthermore, devices from moderately a number of Asian producers reminiscent of Hyundai’s Elexio, Mazda’s 6e, and Kia’s EV5 are sourced from China in affirm to optimise price and affordability.

Despite a shift in buyer attitudes, Japan-owned and predominantly assembled Toyota remained Australia’s main car retailer, final month contributing 13,606 car sales to on my own comprise 14.5 p.c of the contemporary car market.

Toyota’s spectacular consequence comes despite a colossal 5226-unit sales lower yr-on-yr (down 27.8 p.c).

The Japanese automaker attributed this downturn to ‘traders transitioning to contemporary devices‘, referencing the contemporary-release Toyota Hilux and forthcoming sixth-generation RAV4. These vehicles lead a Toyota contemporary-model product offensive which encapsulates the upcoming Toyota Hilux BEV, CH-R electrical, and later, a modular-platformed Corolla.

Toyota Australia executives are tranquil assured the emblem will register better than 200,000 contemporary vehicles by the stop of 2026.

Japan’s Mazda positioned 2nd in February contemporary car sales, transferring 7042 devices (down 19.9 p.c YOY), with Ford nipping on the heels to take third residing with 6907 devices (up 9.0 p.c).

Both Kia and Hyundai all straight away closed the gap on the podium final month, narrowly lacking out on a market-accepted shake-up. Kia took fourth-residing total with 6710 devices (factual 197 devices shy of Ford), and Hyundai snagged fifth with 6266 devices.

Over 60.3 p.c of all vehicles provided final month were SUVs. Gentle commercials (reminiscent of utes) took 2nd residing, comprising a extra 22.5 p.c of the market, leaving heavy commercial and passenger vehicles to dart over a closing 17.2 p.c.

Pure petrol and diesel continue to be Australia’s accepted gasoline kinds for 2026, contributing 33,309 and 26,963 sales respectively at some stage in the month of February. Plugless-hybrid took third for the month with 13,868 sales, and devoted EV fourth with 11,134 sales. PHEVs numbered factual 5854 examples.