VFACTS: New Car Sales Insights March 2026

Read our monthly update on VFACTS new car sales results.



New Car Sales

  • March 2026 recorded 105,058 new car sales in Australia, as reported by VFACTS.
  • New car sales slightly decreased by -3.3% compared to March 2025.
  • Sales fell across most states, with NT experiencing the largest drop at -17% YoY.
  • Electric sales saw a sharp rise by +116% YoY in March 2026.
  • Petrol sales plummeted by -18% YoY, while PHEV vehicle sales surged by +40% YoY in March 2026.






New Car Sales Trends

The top 5 models with the greatest increases so far in 2026 are:

  • BYD Sealion 7 (+3,738 units)
  • Chery Tiggo 4 Pro (+3,469 units)
  • GWM Cannon/Cannon Alpha 4X4 (+2,912 units)
  • Kia K4 (+1,958 units)
  • Toyota Landcruiser Wagon (+1,953 units)

The bottom 5 models with the greatest decreases so far in 2026 are:

  • Toyota RAV4 (-9,960 units)
  • Toyota Prado (-3,926 units)
  • Mitsubishi ASX (-3,031 units)
  • Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross (-2,041 units)
  • GWM Ute 4X4 (-1,619 units)

The top segment increases so far in 2026 compared to 2025 are:

  • Light Buses => 20 Seats (+64%)
  • Medium < $60K (+60%)
  • SUV Upper Large < $120K (+50%)
  • Sports > $200K (+42%)
  • People Movers > $70K (+39%)

Conversely, some of the largest decreases are:

  • Light < $30K (-100%)
  • Light > $30K (-100%)
  • SUV Medium < $60K (-100%)
  • SUV Medium > $60K (-100%)
  • Light Buses < 20 Seats (-76%)





Sales by Import Country

  • Sales of imported vehicles from China continue to rise with an increase of 24,195 units compared to 2025
  • Sales of imported vehicles from South Africa have made quite an impression in March 2026 with an increase of 1,361 units compared to 2025
  • Sales of imported vehicles from Japan seeing the largest decrease of 24,323 units compared to 2025
  • Sales of imported European vehicles continue to see declines



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Tanim Ahmed

By Tanim Ahmed, Head of Product at Datium Insights

Tanim is a Macquarie University alumni with degrees in Finance and Economics. He has spent a decade in the Leasing and Finance industry, specializing in Residual Value risk.

Please contact Datium Insights for further analytical support and advisory services.

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