Queensland new-vehicle sales edge higher in September as electrified vehicles and SUVs dominate the mix

Queensland returns to growth as private buyers lift the market

Queensland's new-vehicle market returned to growth in September, with 22,153 vehicles sold across the state, a one per cent increase on the corresponding month last year, according to Motor Trades Association of Queensland figures reported by Paint & Panel. Sales to private buyers rose 5.5 per cent, which the association identified as a key driver of the improvement. ¹

The Queensland figure is consistent with the VFACTS state breakdown reported by GoAuto and CarSauce, which both record Queensland on 22,153 deliveries, up 1.0 per cent for the month. New South Wales remained the largest state market by volume on 31,038 sales, down 0.8 per cent, while Victoria rose 3.5 per cent to 27,529. ³⁴

Not every segment shared in the growth. MTA Queensland reported that the state's light commercial vehicle market declined 12 per cent compared with September 2025, a pattern echoed nationally, where light commercial sales fell 13.2 per cent to 20,627 in the VFACTS count. ¹³

SUVs and electrified vehicles reshape the state's fleet

SUVs accounted for almost 60 per cent of Queensland's September sales, with medium SUVs the standout performer at 35.6 per cent year-on-year growth, according to the MTA Queensland figures reported by Paint & Panel. Battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and conventional hybrids together represented 42 per cent of the state's September sales. ¹

"Queensland motorists are increasingly looking for vehicles that offer value, practicality and lower running costs, and those priorities are clearly reflected in the September sales data," MTA Queensland chief executive Rod Camm said, adding that the growth in SUVs and electrified vehicles was "not a short-term shift" but was changing the composition of the fleet Queensland automotive businesses will service for years to come. ¹

Toyota's HiLux remained Queensland's best-selling vehicle year to date with 10,437 sales, followed by the Ford Ranger on 8,061 and the Toyota RAV4 on 6,011, according to the association's figures. ¹

Nationally, battery electric vehicles outsell petrol for a second month

Nationally, VFACTS recorded 102,924 new-vehicle sales in September, up 0.9 per cent on September 2025, according to figures reported by CarSauce and GoAuto. Adding the 5,854 Tesla and Polestar registrations reported separately to the Electric Vehicle Council lifts the broader September market to 108,778 vehicles, a total CarExpert cites with a 1.8 per cent year-on-year increase. GoAuto notes the reporting distinction matters because neither Tesla nor Polestar is included in the FCAI's VFACTS figures. ³⁴⁶

On an all-sources basis, battery electric vehicles took 24.2 per cent of the September market, more than double the 11.3 per cent share of September 2025, according to FCAI figures reported by GoAuto and CarSauce. That placed EVs ahead of petrol by 269 sales, according to CarExpert, which records petrol at 23.9 per cent share and diesel at 23.1 per cent for the month. ³⁴⁶

The Electric Vehicle Council's own media release frames the result differently, stating 26,287 battery electric sales represented 24.9 per cent of new car sales ahead of petrol at 24.7 per cent, and that combined EV sales of 36,359 were up 119 per cent year on year. AAP, citing the chamber's report, put the battery electric share at 24.1 per cent. The differing percentages reflect the different totals and denominators each source applied to the same underlying deliveries. ²⁵

The council's release also reports that combined battery electric and plug-in hybrid sales accounted for 34.5 per cent of the September market, more than double the 16.1 per cent recorded in September last year, underpinning its claim that more than one in three new cars sold was electric. Its six-month rolling average for combined EV market share reached a record 32.5 per cent, up from 30.6 per cent in August. ²

Plug-in hybrid sales rose 122.7 per cent year on year to 10,072 units and conventional hybrids rose 20.7 per cent to 17,843, while petrol sales fell 36.2 per cent and diesel fell 18.4 per cent, according to FCAI figures reported by CarExpert, GoAuto and AutoTalk. Year to date, battery electric vehicles hold 18.9 per cent of the market, up from 8.1 per cent at the same point in 2025. ³⁴⁶⁷

"Australian motorists are embracing a broader range of powertrains, following greater model choice offered by manufacturers and growing competition," FCAI acting chief executive Dianne O'Hara said. "Many consumers are making practical decisions and selecting from the range of available technologies that best meet their needs." ³⁴⁵

Electric Vehicle Council chief executive Julie Delvecchio attributed much of the switch to running costs, saying households had adopted electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles that could cut fuel costs by up to $3000 a year, though she cautioned that whether the pace of growth continues is difficult to predict. ⁵

Chinese brands take half the national top 10

Chinese-built vehicles continued their advance nationally, with China the largest source country at 35.5 per cent of VFACTS sales in September, ahead of Japan on 22.5 per cent, Thailand on 17.3 per cent and South Korea on 9.6 per cent, according to figures reported by GoAuto, CarSauce and AutoTalk. AutoTalk notes Chinese brands occupied half of the top 10 places on the brand ladder, and every one of them grew while every established brand in that group declined. ³⁴⁷

Toyota led the combined brand ranking with 17,682 sales, down 3.5 per cent, ahead of BYD on 8191, up 61.1 per cent, and Ford on 7592, down 8.5 per cent, according to figures reported by CarExpert and AutoTalk. CarExpert observes that BYD's year-to-date lead over Ford should see it finish second for a full calendar year for the first time. Geely's 4473 sales, up 870.3 per cent, reflect a line-up that barely existed a year ago, AutoTalk reports. ⁶⁷

In Queensland, the MTA figures reported by Paint & Panel show BYD up 75.8 per cent and Chery up 54.8 per cent year to date, with Geely, Omoda Jaecoo and Zeekr also recording substantial percentage increases. Chinese-manufactured vehicles took 35.4 per cent of the state's September sales. ¹

Model rankings and the commercial vehicle slump

The Ford Ranger regained its place at the top of the national model rankings with 5062 sales, followed by the Toyota RAV4 on 4624, according to VFACTS figures reported by GoAuto. Once EVC data is included, the Tesla Model Y moves into third on 4476 sales, up 14.0 per cent year on year, narrowly ahead of the Toyota HiLux on 4455. GoAuto notes the Ranger's result is a substantial rebound from August, when just 2440 were registered and the Model Y topped the market on 6414. ³⁴

The BYD Sealion 7 followed on 2687 sales, ahead of the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro on 2059 and GWM Haval Jolion on 2018, with the Geely EX5 on 2008 completing a strong Chinese presence in the top 10, according to the combined rankings reported by CarSauce. CarExpert notes not a single passenger car finished in the national top 20, which comprised 16 SUVs and four utes, including nine Chinese-built vehicles. ³⁶

Light commercial demand remained under pressure nationally, falling 13.2 per cent to 20,627 sales, while heavy commercials fell 12.6 per cent to 3385, according to VFACTS data reported by CarSauce and AutoTalk. AutoTalk adds that the light commercial decline was sharpest among private buyers, down 21.6 per cent, and that four-wheel drive ute registrations fell 13.1 per cent to 16,045. ³⁷

Service sector warned to prepare for a changing fleet

MTA Queensland warned that changing consumer preferences would create challenges for automotive service and repair businesses in the state. "As the mix of vehicles changes, our industry needs to make sure businesses have access to the technical information, specialist equipment, diagnostic capability, parts and skilled people required to work safely and effectively across an increasingly diverse fleet," Camm said, according to Paint & Panel. ¹

The association emphasised continued investment in technical training, specialist equipment and workforce development, with Camm saying the industry needed to prepare for future servicing requirements rather than simply responding to vehicles already entering workshops, Paint & Panel reports. ¹