Toyota leads way for new vehicles

Increase for overall market in October helps push sector’s year-to-date total ahead of where it was at the same stage of 2021.

Toyota has extended its lead for new vehicles registered so far this year after selling 24,091 units over the past 10 months for a market share of 18 per cent.

The marque’s share of activity was up one per cent from the end of September after one in every five new vehicles sold in October was a Toyota.

New figures from the Motor Industry Association (MIA) show Mitsubishi is second in the year-to-date standings on 20,980 units and a 15 per cent share and Ford is third with 11,649 and eight per cent.

Mark Stockdale, MIA’s principal technical adviser, says the totals come after there were 14,736 registrations of new vehicles last month, up 5.1 per cent compared with the same month last year.

“Overall, the market year to date is 0.3 per cent up on the first 10 months of 2021,” he adds.

“Registrations of 10,771 passenger cars and SUVs were up 16.5 per cent, or 1,525 units, on the same month last year and is ahead of 2021 year to date by 3.6 per cent [up 3,397 units].

“October registrations benefited from strong deliveries of back orders for vehicles with electrification in their drive train.”

There were 1,083 BEV passenger vehicles, 42 BEV light commercial vehicles, 25 BEV heavy vehicles, 919 PHEVs and 2,281 petrol hybrid vehicles sold last month.

Stockdale, pictured, says last month’s 3,965 new commercial vehicle sales were down 16.9 per cent, or 808 units, from October last year.

Year-to-date sales of commercial vehicles are down 6.7 per cent, or 2,922 units, compared with the same stage a year ago.

Market leaders

Ford’s Ranger was the top model last month with 1,491 registrations, followed by the Mitsubishi Outlander on 1,030 units and the Toyota RAV4 with 746.

This saw the Ranger regain top spot for the year-to-date ladder with 8,939 units. Toyota’s Hilux is second on 8,256 registrations and the Outlander third on 8,169.

Toyota was the overall market leader in October with a 2,969 units and a 20 per cent market share, with Mitsubishi next on 2,019 units and 14 per cent. Ford completed the top three after selling 1,972 vehicles for a 13 per cent share.

The BYD Atto 3 triumphed in the battle of the BEVS after clocking 206 registrations, with the MG ZS next on 169 units and the Tesla Model Y on 167.

“Registrations of plug-in hybrids were strong with 919 units registered for the month,” adds Stockdale. “The top selling models were the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross on 409 units, followed by the Mitsubishi Outlander with 313 units and then the MG HS on 83 units.”

There were 2,281 hybrids registered in October, with Toyota’s RAV4 and Yaris Cross taking out the top two spots on 599 and 237 units respectively. Honda’s Jazz was third on 231 units.

Toyota came tops for passenger cars and SUV registrations with 2,226 units and a 21 per cent market share but Mitsubishi still lead the sector year-to-date with 14,970 sales and a 15 per cent chunk of the action.

Commercials ‘strengthen’

The Ford Ranger was the top light commercial vehicle in October with 1,491 units and a 38 per cent share. Toyota’s Hilux recorded 638 sales and a 16 per cent share, with Mitsubishi’s Triton next on 230 and six per cent.

Stockdale notes: “The market for light commercial vehicles has strengthened over recent months but is still running behind 2021 year to date.

“Ford regained the commercial vehicle sector lead with 39 per cent market share, or 1,541 units, followed by Toyota with 19 per cent, or 743 units.”

As for segments, medium-sized SUVs clinched a 25 per cent market last month, followed by compact SUVs on 23 per cent and the pick-up/chassis 4×4 segment with 15 per cent.

“Year to date, small to medium segments comprise 59 per cent of the total market,” adds Stockdale.