Australia New Vehicle Sales Rise 3.8% in October 2026

Australia recorded 103,325 new vehicle registrations in October 2026, representing a 3.8% increase compared with the 2025 corresponding month, according to figures announced by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) on November 5. Cumulative new vehicle sales reached 1,017,637 units during the first ten months of 2026, marking a 0.4% year-on-year (YoY) increase. The October performance indicates continued growth in monthly registrations, while the year-to-date figure reflects a comparatively modest improvement in the overall Australian automotive market.

Passenger cars recorded sales of 14,478 units in October, increasing 18.9% compared with the same month in 2025. Sports utility vehicles (SUVs) remained the largest vehicle category, with 64,163 units sold, representing 4.5% growth. In contrast, light commercial vehicle (LCV) sales declined 2.6% to 21,469 units, while medium and heavy commercial vehicle (MHCV) sales decreased 18.4% to 3,215 units. These results highlight differing performance across Australia's passenger vehicle and commercial vehicle segments.

FCAI Chief Executive Tony Weber said consumers were benefiting from stronger competition across brands, models and technologies. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for 23.1% of sales from all sources in October, compared with 7.3% a year earlier, representing almost three times their previous market share. Weber also noted that new vehicle demand remained resilient despite continuing household budget pressures and higher borrowing costs in 2026.

Among leading manufacturers, Toyota increased its October sales by 4.7% to 20,649 units, while BYD recorded substantial growth of 153.2% to 10,025 units. Ford sales declined 3.4% to 7,310 units, while Kia and Mazda recorded decreases of 12.2% and 19.7%, respectively, with sales of 5,801 and 5,730 units. The results illustrate contrasting performances among major automotive brands.

China was the largest source of vehicles sold in Australia during October, accounting for 36.3% of the market. Japan contributed 23.3%, followed by Thailand at 17.9% and South Korea at 9.2%. The three best-selling vehicles for the month, ranked by popularity, were the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger and Toyota RAV4.

Industry Impact & Outlook

Australia's October 2026 vehicle sales results highlight the importance of growing competition, changing powertrain preferences and differences in demand across vehicle segments. The 23.1% BEV sales share, compared with 7.3% a year earlier, demonstrates a substantial increase in electric vehicle representation within the market. Strong growth in Toyota and BYD sales also contrasts with declining results for several other established manufacturers. Meanwhile, China's 36.3% contribution to vehicle supply underlines its leading position among Australia's vehicle source countries. Although monthly registrations increased, the relatively modest 0.4% year-to-date growth indicates that the overall market's improvement remained limited during the first ten months.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many new vehicles were sold in Australia in October 2026?
Australia recorded 103,325 new vehicle registrations in October 2026, representing a 3.8% increase compared with October 2025. The figures were announced by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries on November 5, 2026. Cumulative registrations reached 1,017,637 units during the first ten months of the year, an increase of 0.4% compared with the corresponding period in 2025. These figures cover the reported new vehicle market across the different vehicle categories.

Which vehicle category recorded the highest sales in October 2026?
SUVs recorded the highest sales among the reported vehicle categories in Australia, reaching 64,163 units in October 2026. This represented a 4.5% increase compared with October 2025. Passenger car registrations totalled 14,478 units, increasing 18.9%, while LCV sales reached 21,469 units, declining 2.6%. MHCV registrations decreased 18.4% to 3,215 units. The figures demonstrate that passenger-oriented vehicle categories recorded growth, while both reported commercial vehicle categories experienced declines.

What was the battery electric vehicle market share in Australia?
Battery electric vehicles accounted for 23.1% of Australian new vehicle sales from all sources in October 2026, compared with 7.3% in the same month a year earlier. According to FCAI Chief Executive Tony Weber, this represented almost three times the previous year's market share. He attributed the changing consumer environment to stronger competition across brands, models and technologies. The reported figures highlight the substantial increase in BEV representation within Australia's new vehicle market over the twelve-month comparison period.

Which automotive brands recorded the highest sales growth in October 2026?
BYD recorded the strongest percentage growth among the five reported leading brands, increasing sales by 153.2% to 10,025 units in October 2026. Toyota also recorded growth, with sales rising 4.7% to 20,649 units. In comparison, Ford sales declined 3.4% to 7,310 units, Kia decreased 12.2% to 5,801 units and Mazda fell 19.7% to 5,730 units. Toyota recorded the highest sales volume among these five manufacturers, while BYD delivered the strongest percentage increase.

Which countries supplied the most vehicles to Australia in October 2026?
China was Australia's largest source of vehicles sold in October 2026, accounting for 36.3% of the market. Japan ranked second with a 23.3% share, followed by Thailand at 17.9% and South Korea at 9.2%. These figures identify the leading vehicle source countries in the reported October market. China's contribution was substantially higher than that of the other three countries, establishing it as the largest individual source of vehicles sold in Australia during the month.

What were Australia's three best-selling vehicles in October 2026?
The Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger and Toyota RAV4 were Australia's three best-selling vehicles in October 2026, in that order of popularity. The Toyota HiLux secured the leading position, followed by the Ford Ranger and Toyota RAV4. The reported ranking identifies the most popular individual vehicle models in the October market. These results provide a snapshot of leading model performance alongside the broader registration figures, which showed growth in passenger cars and SUVs during the month.