Australia’s new vehicle market stayed largely steady in October, with 99,588 cars sold - a modest 1.2% increase compared with the same month last year. 

The most notable trend, however, was the strong performance of hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs).

Hybrids now make up 17.8% of new car sales, with PHEVs adding another 4.7% - jumps of 25% and 95% compared with last year. Meanwhile, fully electric vehicles (BEVs) stayed steady at 7.3%. 

On a year-to-date basis, hybrid sales have risen 12%, with PHEVs skyrocketing by 137.4%. 

According to Tony Weber, CEO of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, more Australians are turning to electrified vehicles that offer flexibility for different driving needs.

“The October results confirm that Australians are increasingly choosing hybrid and PHEV models as a practical path towards lower emissions,” Mr Weber said.

“Hybrids are delivering strong growth right across the market, while PHEVs are also gaining momentum. Petrol-only vehicles, on the other hand, continue to lose ground. These shifts underline the pace of change in consumer preferences.”

While hybrid sales are climbing, overall vehicle sales for the year sit at 1,014,027, a small 1.1% dip compared with last year.

Top 10 car brands in October 2025

Brand

Volume 

Share

1. Toyota

201,535

19.9%

2. Ford

78,451

7.7%

3. Mazda

77,382

7.6%

4. Kia

69,494

6.9%

5. Hyundai

64,861

6.4%

6. Mitsubishi

52,364

5.2%

7. GWM

43,774

4.3%

8. BYD

41,882

4.1%

9. MG

36,176

3.6%

10. Isuzu Ute

35,114

3.5%

Toyota remained Australia’s top-selling brand in October, outpacing Ford by 12,156 vehicles and holding a 12.2-point lead in market share.

Chinese-built cars also continued to gain ground, with sales rising 40% year-on-year, making China the third-largest source market. Four Chinese brands also featured among the month’s top ten sellers, highlighting their growing presence in the Australian market.

Top 10 most popular cars in October 2025

  1. Toyota Hilux - 4,444
  2. Ford Ranger - 4,402
  3. Toyota RAV4 - 4,401
  4. Ford Everest - 2,435
  5. Toyota Land Cruiser - 2,090
  6. Hyundai Kona - 2,057
  7. Cherry Tiggo 4 Pro - 1,975
  8. Isuzu Ute D-Max - 1,896
  9. Mazda CX-5 - 1,813
  10. Mitsubishi Triton - 1,770

SUVs continued to lead the market, making up 61.7% of all new vehicle sales. Medium SUVs were the standout segment, representing one in every four cars sold nationwide. In contrast, traditional passenger vehicles accounted for just 12.2% of sales.