Archives: Dealer Bulletins

From 7 June 2024, WA motor vehicle Dealers must have been disclosing to prospective buyers whether a used vehicle is listed on a written-off vehicle register. Dealers are required to advise a prospective purchaser of a vehicles written- off status in writing.

AADA previously reminded WA Dealers of this requirement in April and May 2024.

The WA Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety has reminded Dealers to comply with the prescribed wording mandated under Regulation 5 (1)(c) of the Motor Vehicle Dealers (Sales) Regulations 1974 WA.

Dealers must indicate whether a used vehicle is classified as a repairable write-off (RWO) by ticking ‘YES’ or ‘NO’ on Form 4 (also known as the ‘Vehicle Particulars’ form). Form 4 is required under Section 33 of the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act 1974 (WA) and must be displayed in the window of every used vehicle for sale.

All required forms under the Act can be found here.

Dealers are advised that the Department have forewarned of a focus on Dealer compliance with regards to the Form 4 in the upcoming weeks. The Department may take punitive action against Dealers who use incorrect, incomplete, or inaccurate forms. Penalties can include:

• Fines of up to $2,000 per instance of non-compliance with Regulation 5 (1)(c).
• Penalties of up to $5,000 for false or misleading statements on the form.
• Breach of Australian Consumer Law for failure to disclose the vehicle’s true history.

If you have not already done so, it is recommended that Dealers implement a system to check a vehicle’s written-off status before acquisition or disposal. The most complete method is through the Personal Properties Security Register (PPSR), which costs $2 per search.

Dealers should also work with their DMS providers to ensure that the system generated forms have been altered to reflect the requirement. It is AADA’s advice that your used vehicle contract of sale is also amended to reflect the law.

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The Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA), with data provided by AutoGrab, has released the 2024 Year That Was Automotive Insights Report (AIR), providing a comprehensive analysis of the Australian used car market. While the market experienced strong growth for most of 2024, momentum slowed in the final months, signalling a more measured outlook for 2025.

This is the second annual release of the Year That Was AIR. According to the report, total used car sales in 2024 reached 2,324,805 units, a 12.1 per cent increase compared to 2023. Sales peaked in July, with sustained demand throughout much of the year before easing towards the end. Listings, on the other hand, peaked in November, highlighting a softening in consumer demand relative to supply.

While demand remained healthy, there were signs of cooling, particularly in the latter months, as affordability pressures and economic factors come into play. Profit margins tightened, and days to sell increased by 15 per cent for listings between August and October, further indicating that slowdown.

Toyota remained the top-selling brand, with 390,298 used vehicles sold, followed by Mazda and Ford. Among individual models, the Ford Ranger led with 82,448 sales, ahead of the Toyota Hilux and Toyota Corolla.

Dealers seeking more granular and local data can contact AutoGrab directly for a tailored solution.

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AADA is proud to release the 2025 edition of the DealerNomics Automotive Statistics booklet.

DealerNomics 2025 remains an essential resource, offering key insights into the latest automotive industry trends. This year’s edition continues to provide a comprehensive summary of the most relevant data, helping members stay informed in an ever-evolving market.

For 2025, we’ve expanded our coverage to include:

• Analysis of the new vehicle market, combining sales data from multiple sources for a comprehensive view
• For the first time, truck Dealer network performance and economic data
• Used vehicle sales trends
• Australia’s in-service vehicle fleet
• The economic contribution of dealerships
• Dealer network sales performance
• Highlights from our latest consumer sentiment survey on EV adoption
• Motor industry benchmarking insights

Download the DealerNomics Automotive Statistics 2025 booklet below.

If you are a member and would like hard copies of the booklet, please contact the below AADA secretariat member and we’d be more than happy to send some out.

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The Tasmanian Government will be providing grants to small businesses that purchase new battery electric delivery vans.

Applications for the Tasmanian Government’s Deliver-e Small Business Grant Program will open on Thursday 6 February 2025 at 10am.

Deliver-e supports small businesses to purchase new battery electric delivery vans for short to medium length delivery of goods and services. The program encourages Tasmanian businesses to reduce their transport emissions by replacing internal combustion engine delivery vans with electric alternatives.

Eligible Tasmanian small businesses can access grants of $20,000 for new battery electric delivery vans. Total funding of $300,000 is available. Applications will close when the funding is fully allocated.

It is important for Dealers to note that:

• Dealers are not required to process applications or provide a rebate; the application is made to the Department of State Growth.
• Small businesses must complete an online application form and provide a quotation for the battery electric delivery van on their application.
• To be eligible the vehicles must be new BEV delivery vans.
• If the application is approved, the business must provide proof of a deposit of at least 10 per cent for the van.
• This proof will need to be provided before the grant can be paid to the small business’s bank account.

Please see the attached factsheet for a brief overview of the program and for contact information at ReCFIT.

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The Dealership and Repairer Initiative for Vehicle Electrification Nationally (DRIVEN) Program is
now open, and rebates are now available for automotive dealerships and EV repairers who
meet the qualification requirements.

The DRIVEN program provides eligible dealerships and repairers a rebate to assist in the
funding of purchasing and installing smart EV chargers on their sites including those in remote
and regional areas.

To be eligible for a rebate, you must have purchased and installed at least one eligible smart EV
charger at an eligible site (listed in section 4.2 of the grant opportunity Guidelines) on or after 26
March 2024.

To be considered eligible, your project must have a minimum expenditure of $2,000.

If you have any questions regarding eligibility criteria, the application process or program dates
please contact Business Grants on 13 28 46.

Details regarding the program and how to apply can be accessed on the Government website.

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The December edition of the Automotive Insight Report (AIR) shows that the used car market observed a 3.8% drop in supply after months of oversupply, with listings falling to 322,532. Despite this, the market remains buyer friendly as sales experienced a significant drop of 8.1% to 181,724 units, offering consumers plenty of opportunities to secure a good deal during the festive season.

The average days to sell have risen to 48.7, the highest since October, indicating that sellers are dealing with slower-moving stock. This trend is expected to persist into 2025 as the increasing oversupply of new vehicles continues to impact the used car market.

Across the states, all but Northern Territory and Western Australia experienced a fall in used car listings.

Retained values remain on the downward trajectory, with almost every vehicle segment across every age category experiencing a drop in value for the month, except LCV-Utes in the 2-5 year age categories. Oversupply of new vehicles is negatively impacting retained values for used EVs as well, potentially prompting sellers to hold on to their vehicles for shorter periods of time.

The average days to sell a used EV have returned to August levels, with Western Australia and South Australia experiencing increased demand, reflected in a 19.8% and 10.7% rise in EV sales, respectively.

In the passenger segment, the Ford Mustang holds value best at 97.0% in the 2-4 year age category while the Toyota Yaris maintains top spot at 97.5% in the 5-7 year age category. In the SUV category, the Suzuki Jimny continues to hold top spot at 110.7% in the 2-4 year but is replaced by the Toyota Landcruiser in the 5-7 year old category at 87.9%.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE AIR FOR DECEMBER

• 181,724 vehicles were sold in December, a decline of 8.1% compared to the previous month.
• Northern Territory and Western Australia were the only two states experiencing a jump in listings by 7.5% and 0.5% respectively.
• 322,532 used cars were listed for sale in December, a decline of 3.8% from the previous month.
• All but Western Australia and South Australia experienced a decline in used EV sales.
• Average time to sell a used car has gone up to 48.7 days.
• Every vehicle segment across every age category experienced a drop in retained value for the month, with the exception of LCV-Utes in the 2-5 year age categories.
• The Ford Ranger remains Australia’s best-selling used car, followed by the Toyota Hilux.
• In EVs, MG MG4 regained its position as the best-selling vehicle.

Dealers seeking more granular and local data can contact AutoGrab directly for a tailored solution.

If you are a Dealer of a contributing brand and would like access to the monthly report please email Policy and Communications Officer Urmika Deb on udeb@aada.asn.au.

VFACTS for December 2024 and the full calendar year were released this week by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries.

New vehicle sales in 2024 surpassed the previous record set in 2023, observing a 0.3% increase to 1,220,607 sales. While there was a 2.7% drop in December 2024 sales compared to the same time last year, the overall growth for the year could be attributed to the influx of more affordable Chinese vehicles into the market.

Toyota retained its top spot for 2024, selling 241,296 cars. Despite the arrival of new makes, Toyota remains the most popular car brand for the year, increasing its market share from 17.7% in 2023 to 19.8% in 2024. The top four brands remained unchanged, with Ford (100,170), Mazda (95,987), and Kia (81,787) following Toyota’s lead. Meanwhile, Hyundai was replaced by Mitsubishi in fifth place with 74,547 sales.

While Battery Electric Vehicles (excluding Tesla and Polestar sales from July 2024) recorded a decline in sales by 14.5% compared to 2023, consumers are increasingly opting for fuel efficient vehicles with sale of hybrid vehicles rising by 76% to 172,696 units sold in 2024.

Across vehicle types, consumers continue to hold a strong preference for SUV and light commercial vehicles, collectively representing around 79% of total sales.

With the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) commencing this month, 2025 is expected to be a challenging year for the industry as Dealers and OEMs respond to the changing policy environment while continuing to maintain business viability.

The AADA has assessed VFACTs Top 10 Makes & Models YTD, ranking them by volume. The AADA has also analysed new vehicle sales figures by state for both the month of December and YTD, as well as fuel types and market segments.

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The Australian Government is supporting the automotive sector to sell, service and repair more electric vehicles by providing rebates for EV chargers.

This program provides eligible applicants, including Dealers who meet the eligibility criteria, with rebates for EV charging equipment purchased on or after 26 March 2024.

The Rebate Stream guidelines for the Dealership and Repairer Initiative for Vehicle Electrification Nationally (DRIVEN) Program, are now available for automotive dealerships and EV repairers to view.
 
The Rebate Stream will open on 22 January 2025.

The rebate is capped at $20,000 per eligible dealership site. You can apply to receive this rebate for any number of plugs, up to the cap. However, you can only receive a rebate under the program once, per each eligible site.

You can receive up to $20,000 for each of the automotive manufacturers you sell from the eligible site (i.e. for each of the franchise agreements that apply to your showroom) and a separate application will need to be made for each.

Please note that the Business Grants Hub contact centre will be unattended from 25/12/2024 – 01/01/2025 inclusive.

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In anticipation of the commencement of the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard, the AADA has produced a fact sheet for members to understand key dates, how the NVES will work and dealer obligations.

 

 

 

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The November edition of the Automotive Insight Report (AIR) indicates an ongoing cooling demand for used cars, with sales experiencing a decline of 2.3% to 197,652 compared to last month. In contrast, used car listings continue to grow, rising by 5.4% to 335,148 in November.

This trend is expected to persist as the introduction of more affordable new vehicles encourages buyers to upgrade earlier, increasing the supply of used cars and influencing price sensitivity.

The Northern Territory stands out among the states, with a tight market reflected by a 30.5% increase in sales and a 12.3% decline in listings.

Sales have declined across all fuel categories, with EVs experiencing the largest drop (down 8.3%), followed by PHEVs (down 7.4%). This could be attributed to the growing supply of cheaper new BEV and PHEV vehicles entering the market, expanding used-car inventory and driving up holding costs.

Retained values continue to steadily decline, with almost every vehicle segment across every age category experiencing a drop in value for the month, with the exception of passenger vehicles in 3-4 year old category. On the other hand, retained values of used EVs in the 5-year-old category have dropped to 48.5% (down 4.7% from last month) in November, reflecting the slowing demand for used EVs.

In the passenger segment, Audi RS3 retains value the most at 97.4% in the 2-4 year old category while the Toyota Yaris continues to lead at 95.3% in the 5-7 year-old category. In the SUV category, the Suzuki Jimny retains top spot in both the 2-4 year and 5-7 year old category at 111.3% and 110.1% respectively.

The average time to sell a used EV has decreased to 61.6 days, down from 67.3 days in the previous month. However, this remains considerably higher than earlier in the year when the days to sell ranged between the low to mid-50s. This can be linked to the rising supply of used EVs, as observed across all states but the Northern Territory, where supply is significantly outpacing demand, presenting consumers with more options.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE AIR FOR NOVEMBER

• 197,652 vehicles were sold in November, a decline of 2.3% compared to the previous month.
• Northern Territory and Tasmania were the only two states experiencing a jump in sales by 30.5% and 2% respectively.
• 335,148 used cars were listed for sale in November, an increase of 5.4% from the previous month.
• All but ACT and Northern Territory experienced a decline in used EV sales.
• Average time to sell a used car has dropped to 47 days.
• Every vehicle segment across every age category experienced a drop in retained value for the month, with the exception of passenger vehicles in 3-4 year old category.
• The Ford Ranger remains Australia’s best-selling used car, followed by the Toyota Hilux.
• In EVs, Tesla Model 3 overtook MG MG4 as the best-selling vehicle.

Dealers seeking more granular and local data can contact AutoGrab directly for a tailored solution.

If you are a Dealer of a contributing brand and would like access to the monthly report please email Policy and Communications Officer Urmika Deb on udeb@aada.asn.au.