Ashleigh Sykes, Author at AADA

February Automotive Insights

Posted on 10th March, 202610th March, 2026 by Ashleigh Sykes

The Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA), in partnership with AutoGrab, has released the February 2026 Automotive Insights Report (AIR), providing a national snapshot of used car sales and listings each month.

February continued the year’s steady momentum, with used car sales holding firm following January’s strong rebound. Listings tightened further, reinforcing ongoing supply constraints across the market.

February recorded 213,856 used cars sold, down 4.3 per cent from January. Active listings declined a further 6.9 per cent, continuing the supply squeeze that has characterised the past several months.

“Sales have remained solid following January’s lift, and while the days to sell eased slightly for the first time since September 2025, consumers are still taking their time when making purchasing decisions. It’s a more rational market than the peak periods we saw in recent years and speaks to the economic tensions Australia is facing,” said AADA CEO James Voortman.

The Ford Ranger once again topped the models leader board, maintaining its long‑standing position as Australia’s best‑selling used vehicle.

Key insights from the February 2026 AIR include:

Stable demand: National used car sales declined to 213,856 vehicles, down 4.3 per cent month on month.
Listings tighten: Active listings fell to 321,602, down 6.9 per cent from January.
Selling times: Average days to sell decreased to 46.6, bucking the gradual upward trend seen since September.
Top model: The Ford Ranger remained Australia’s best selling used vehicle.

Important updates to AIR methodology and coverage:

To improve the accuracy and representativeness of the Automotive Insights Report, several significant enhancements have been introduced in the February edition:

Vehicle volume coverage has been expanded to include vehicles up to 20 years of age, providing a more complete view of Australia’s used car market.
Demo vehicles are now included in the reporting, capturing a segment that plays an increasingly important role in consumer purchasing behaviour.
A major classification improvement has been implemented to more accurately distinguish plug‑in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) from conventional hybrids. This refinement results in lower reported hybrid volumes and higher PHEV volumes, better reflecting the true composition of the national fleet.

These updates represent one of the most impactful methodological improvements since AIR was first released, and the AADA is committed to communicating these changes clearly and transparently to ensure media and industry stakeholders understand their significance.

January Automotive Insights: Used Car Sales Up

Posted on 11th February, 202610th February, 2026 by Ashleigh Sykes

The Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA), in partnership with AutoGrab, has released the January 2026 Automotive Insights Report (AIR), a national snapshot of used car sales and listings each month.

The new year has begun with stronger activity in the used car market, with sales increasing month on month while listings continued to tighten. At the same time, vehicles are still taking longer to sell compared with a spring low point, pointing to a more balanced market and more cautious buyer behaviour.

January recorded 188,421 used cars sold, up 9.7 per cent from December. On the supply side, vehicle listings declined by 5.4 per cent month on month.

“A solid lift in sales to start the year suggests buyers have returned to the market after the typical December slowdown, but conditions remain more balanced than the highs we saw in previous years,” said AADA CEO James Voortman.

“Even with stronger volumes, days to sell have continued trending higher since the lows recorded in September, which tells us consumers are taking their time and shopping carefully.”

Alternative powertrains again stood out and led the way with increases. Hybrid and electric vehicle sales both increased month on month, with hybrids up 15.3 per cent and EVs up 20.1 per cent, reflecting steady growth in demand for lower-emission options across the used market.

The Ford Ranger maintained its long-held position as Australia’s top-selling used vehicle, continuing its consistent run at the head of the models leaderboard.

Key insights from the January 2026 AIR include:

Sales rebound: National used car sales increased to 188,421 vehicles, up 9.7 per cent month on month.
Listings ease: Active listings declined to 291,666, tightening 5.4 per cent from December.
Slower turnover: Average days to sell rose to 49.4 days, continuing the gradual increase since September’s low.
Alternative growth: Hybrid sales lifted 15.3 per cent and EV sales climbed 20.1 per cent month on month.
Top model: Ford Ranger retained its position as the nation’s best-selling used vehicle.

View the full January 2026 AIR below.

New Vehicle Sales January 2026

Posted on 4th February, 20264th February, 2026 by Ashleigh Sykes

New vehicle sales opened 2026 on a steady footing, with 87,753 vehicles delivered nationwide in January, broadly in line with market performance at the same time last year.

New South Wales recorded the highest volume with 26,557 sales, followed by Victoria (24,401) and Queensland (18,869).

SUVs continue to dominate buyer preferences, accounting for 61 per cent of year-to-date sales. Light commercial vehicles represent 20 per cent of the market, passenger vehicles 16 per cent, and heavy commercials 3 per cent.

Electrified vehicles remain a growing part of the mix. Hybrid models lead the transition with 17 per cent of sales, followed by battery electric vehicles at 8 per cent and plug-in hybrids at 6 per cent, reflecting continued consumer interest in these power trains.

Toyota leads the market year-to-date with 14,310 sales and a 16.31 per cent share, ahead of Mazda (7,692) and Kia (6,600).

At a model level, the Ford Ranger remains Australia’s top-selling vehicle so far this year with 3,403 sales, followed by the Toyota Hilux (2,800) and Mazda CX-5 (2,289). Popular SUVs and utes continue to feature prominently across the top 10.

The AADA has assessed VFACTS and EVC Top 10 Makes and Models year-to-date, ranking them by volume, and continues to analyse new vehicle sales by state, fuel type and market segment to track trends shaping the Australian market.

Used Car Market Stabilises as Dealers Play a Greater Role

Posted on 28th January, 202628th January, 2026 by Ashleigh Sykes

The Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA), in partnership with AutoGrab, has released the Annual 2025 Automotive Insights Report (AIR), providing a comprehensive overview of Australia’s used car market over the past calendar year.

National used car sales totalled 2.32 million vehicles in 2025, down 0.37 per cent compared to 2024, highlighting a broadly stable market year on year. After several years of disruption, the used car market settled into a more sustainable operating environment in 2025, with conditions improving for both buyers and sellers and less extreme movement in prices and stock availability.

A notable shift during the year was the growing share of dealer-led transactions. Dealer sales accounted for 48.6 per cent of the used car market in 2025, up from 39.1 per cent in 2024, reflecting stronger consumer confidence in the dealer channel and improved availability of dealer stock.

“The increase in dealer market share reflects growing consumer confidence in what purchasing through a dealer provides,” said AADA CEO James Voortman. “Dealers are playing a more prominent role as consumers seek greater certainty around pricing, vehicle quality and after-sales support in a more balanced market environment.”

Vehicle preferences continued to evolve throughout 2025, with SUVs further strengthening their dominance of the used car market, while passenger vehicles continued to lose share. At the same time, electrified vehicles including hybrids, electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles continued to grow their presence in market share.

“The Annual 2025 Automotive Insights Report confirms the used car market has moved beyond the distortions of recent years and into a more stable, sustainable phase. What we’re seeing now is a structurally healthier market, where disciplined pricing, better stock availability and data-led decision-making are once again central to dealer performance,” said AutoGrab COO Saxon Odgers. “With supply chains normalising and transparency improving, the 2025 results provide a constructive foundation for 2026. Dealers and OEMs now have a clearer line of sight to pricing, risk and inventory planning than at any point in the last five years.”

Key insights from the Annual 2025 Automotive Insights Report include:

Stable annual sales: National used car sales declined by just 0.37 per cent compared to 2024.
Dealer share rises: Dealer transactions increased to 48.6 per cent of total sales, up from 39.1 per cent in 2024.
Electrification gains ground: Hybrid, EV and PHEV vehicles all increased their share of the used car market.

EV Purchase Intentions Steady

Posted on 23rd January, 202622nd January, 2026 by Ashleigh Sykes

Over the past 3 years, Australian’s intentions to purchase an electric vehicle has flatlined despite new EV brands coming into the market at cheaper prices with declines found in regional Australia.

The Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA) has surveyed Australian drivers annually since 2022 to understand their intention to purchase an EV, helping new car dealers respond to changing consumer demand.

The latest survey shows that, despite three consecutive years of growth in the overall new car market, intention to purchase an electric vehicle as a main car has remained unchanged. This is despite the entry of new EV brands at lower price points and the introduction of government incentives designed to accelerate EV uptake.

The consumer survey also found that there has been a national decline in intention to purchase an electric vehicle in regional and rural Australia. This is a significant finding backing up direct evidence from new car dealers of the reluctance of regional drivers to make the transition to electric vehicles.

“Our members are committed to supporting Australia’s transition to lower-emissions vehicles and want to meet Australian driver’s needs,” said AADA CEO James Voortman. “However new car dealers are not yet seeing a significant increase in the number of consumers intending to purchase an EV at the scale required.”

In 2025 the Government released the Climate Change Authority’s modelling for Australia to meet its 2035 emissions targets. A significant part of that modelling was the reliance of Australians buying electric vehicles, with 50 per cent of all new car sales every year to 2035 needing to be electric. Based upon the results from the fourth edition of this survey, this will be challenging.

However, there are positive indicators where there is an increase in consumers’ intention to purchase a hybrid or plug in hybrid electric vehicle which is also demonstrated in recent sales data.

“What we are seeing is the automotive transition is happening but at the pace of the consumers choosing,” said Mr Voortman.

December 2025 AIR

Posted on 13th January, 202612th January, 2026 by Ashleigh Sykes

The Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA), in partnership with AutoGrab, has released the December 2025 Automotive Insights Report (AIR), providing a national snapshot of used car sales and listings.

The latest figures show further softening in the used car market to close out the year, with December recording the lowest monthly sales result since January 2025, alongside the lowest level of active listings for the year. At the same time, vehicles are taking longer to sell, reinforcing the gradual cooling that has emerged over recent months.

National used car sales fell to 171,837 vehicles, down 11.1 per cent from November, while total active listings declined 1.7 per cent to 308,315, marking the lowest listing volume recorded in 2025.

“December capped off a year where momentum in the used car market steadily eased, with listings falling to their lowest point of 2025,” said AADA CEO James Voortman.

“Longer days to sell are now a clear trend, reflecting more price sensitivity among buyers and a more balanced market environment compared to the heightened conditions of recent years,” he said.

Despite the overall slowdown, alternative powertrains continued to gain ground. Hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles all increased their share of the used car market compared to December 2024, highlighting ongoing consumer interest in lower-emission options, even as total sales volumes declined.

Key insights from the December 2025 AIR include:

Sales decrease: National used car sales fell to 171,837 vehicles, the lowest monthly result since January 2025.
Listings tighten: Total listings for the month declined to 308,315, the lowest level recorded since August 2024.
Slower turnover: Average days to sell rose to 47.0 days, increasing for the third month in a row.
Broad-based decline: Sales eased across all states and major vehicle segments, consistent with a softer end-of-year market.

View the full December 2025 AIR below.

The AADA and AutoGrab will release the ‘2025 Year That Was’ Automotive Insights Report in the coming weeks, providing a comprehensive overview of used car market trends across the full calendar year.

New Vehicle Sales 2025

Posted on 7th January, 20267th January, 2026 by Ashleigh Sykes

New vehicle sales for December 2025 and the full calendar year were released this week by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries and the Electric Vehicle Council.

New car sales in 2025 edged higher than the previous year, reaching 1,241,037 vehicles sold, representing a 0.3 per cent increase year-on-year.

While December sales were broadly consistent with the same period last year, 2025 still recorded a new annual sales record, defying earlier forecasts of a slowdown amid ongoing cost pressures and intense market competition.

Toyota retained its position as Australia’s leading automotive brand in 2025, recording 239,863 sales and a market share of 19.3 per cent. Ford and Mazda followed in second and third positions, while Kia and Hyundai rounded out the top five. Notably, Chinese-manufactured brands continued to strengthen their presence, with GWM, BYD and MG all featuring in the top ten, highlighting the growing influence of Chinese OEMs in the Australian market.

In terms of fuel types, consumers increasingly turned to electrified options. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) sales more than doubled year-on-year, seeing a 130 per cent increase and making PHEVs one of the fastest growing segments from 2025. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) also increased their share, reaching approximately 9 per cent of the market in 2025, while hybrid vehicle sales continued their upward trend, growing from 172,699 in 2024 to 199,133 vehicles in 2025. This reflects a gradual shift in buyer behaviour as more electrified models become available across a wider range of price points and segments.

SUVs and light commercial vehicles continued to dominate consumer preferences, together accounting for almost 74 per cent of total new vehicle sales for the year.

As the industry adjusts to evolving emissions policy settings and intensifying competition, particularly from new market entrants, 2026 is expected to remain a challenging year for dealers and manufacturers alike.

Record Increase of Imported Car Brands Coming to Australia

Posted on 5th January, 20265th January, 2026 by Ashleigh Sykes

New data released shows that Australia will have 67 brands selling vehicles in Australia in 2026 and 75 brands in 2031 making it one of the most competitive markets in the world.

The Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA) commissioned respected automotive data and modelling agency Blue Flag to detail the number of brands projected to come to Australia so that franchised new car dealers fully understand the market wave that is coming their way.

“We are currently seeing an overflooding of the Australian market with new brands coming thick and fast,” said AADA CEO James Voortman.

The new data details that in 2026 there will be a record number of brands with 8 new entrants stating their intentions to set up in Australia from last year and an increase of 28 new brands by the year 2031, a 92 per cent rise in the number of brands in Australia in 10 years from 2021.

“These new brands see Australia as having very attractive policy settings that are geared for the supply of electric vehicles where they can test their product in a western market with low upfront investment when compared to other western countries.”

“What is obvious is not all these new, and even established brands will be able to compete long term. Australian drivers will always be attracted to value-based products that offer a quality experience but more so, a quality after sales experience with reliable and timely servicing and repair work. Brands that cannot compete on that level will struggle.”

However, in the race to supply vehicles to Australia, the AADA is asking the Government to move at pace to protect Australian franchised new car dealers with their election commitment before we start to see market consolidation and departures.

“After recent the recent Federal Court decision involving Australian new car dealers and Mercedes-Benz AG, we have seen that franchising laws will not protect against franchisors using their power imbalances to increase their profits at the expense of Australian businesses.”

“The Albanese Government must move to legislate on their election commitment to introduce an Unfair Trading Practices regime to protect franchised new car dealers which will give them confidence to invest in the transition to electric vehicles.”

AADA Holiday Closure Notice

Posted on 22nd December, 202518th December, 2025 by Ashleigh Sykes

The AADA team wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year. We’re grateful for our member’s continued support throughout what has been a busy and productive year, and we look forward to what 2026 has to bring.

Please note that our offices will be closed from lunchtime Wednesday 24 December 2025, and will reopen on Monday 5 January 2026.

During this period, AADA staff will remain on standby should any urgent matters arise for members.

November 2025 AIR

Posted on 9th December, 20258th December, 2025 by Ashleigh Sykes

The Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA), in partnership with AutoGrab, has released the November 2025 Automotive Insights Report (AIR). The report provides a national snapshot of used car sales and listings, with the figures revealing a broad softening across the used car market as both sales and listings decline.

National used car sales fell to 193,266 vehicles, down 6.4 per cent from October, while total active listings eased 3.5 per cent to 313,781. The slowdown was consistent across all major states and segments, signalling a cooling phase following a long period of heightened activity.

“November saw a clear softening across the board, with fewer buyers active in the market and a gradual reduction in stock levels,” said AADA CEO James Voortman.

“This softer activity is something many dealers will recognise on the ground, fewer leads, longer days to sell, and a shift toward more deliberate consumer purchasing behaviour,” he said.

Key insights from the November 2025 AIR include:

Sales soften: National used car sales declined 6.4 per cent to 193,266 vehicles, with decreases across every state and territory.
Market cooling: Average days to sell increased to 46.7 days, indicating slower turnover.
Listings ease: Total used car listings dropped 3.5 per cent to 313,781, with most states showing reduced supply.
Fuel types ease evenly: Sales across all fuel types declined at a broadly similar rate, reflecting the overall softening in the market.
SUVs remain strong: SUVs accounted for over 43 per cent of all used car sales despite month-on-month declines.

View the full November 2025 AIR below.

DOWNLOAD NOVEMBER 2025 AIR