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Today β€” 4 February 2026Main stream

Australia January 2026: Chinese (+62.9%) pull market up, Toyota (-22.3%) at lowest in 3 years

βœ‡Best Selling Cars Blog
By:Matt Gasnier
4 February 2026 at 09:50

BYD sales are up 640.9% year-on-year in January.

New vehicle sales in Australia start the year in a timid way with a tiny +0.1% increase to 87,753 units. This is a counter performance as January 2025 sales were negatively impacted by a shipping port strike and biosecurity delays. Private sales edge up 0.5% to 44,150 while business sales drop -2.9% to 32,851 and short term rentals surge +47% to 5,258, denoting an artificial overall market growth. Government sales are off -11.7% to 2,364. Note this excludes Polestar, Tesla and heavy commercials. Excluding heavy commercials again, petrol sales are down -14.7% to 33,144, diesel is down a measured -3.7% to 24,439, HEV is up a shy 2% to 15,131 and we’ll see why shortly, BEVs shoot up 93.3% to 7,409 and 8.4% share (this is till below the 9.5% reached in January 2023. Finally PHEVs soar 170.5% to 5,161.Β 

SUVs edge up 0.7% to 53,666 and 61.2% share vs. 60.8% in January 2025 and 55.5% two years ago, light commercials fall -2.5% to 17,0995 and 20.5% share vs. 21.1% last year and 22.9% in 2024, passenger cars bounce back up slightly at +4.2% to 13,623 and 15.5% share vs. 14.9% in January 2025 and 18.3% two years ago. Heavy commercials are up 2.8% to 2,469. Looking at sales by State and Territories (excluding Tesla and Polestar), three are in positive: Victoria up 6.3% to 24,222, New South Wales at +2.3% to 26,305 and Australian Capital Territory at +2% to 1,160. The rest suffer, with Northern Territory hit the hardest at -18.1% to 628, Western Australia off -12.7% to 8,952, South Australia down -3% to 5,619, Tasmania down -0.8% to 1,424 and Queensland off -0.7% to 18,782. As for country of origin, Japan is down -24.6% to 22,943, China up a tremendous 62.9% to 20,921 and 23.8% share vs. 14.7% a year ago (impacted by biosecurity delays in Australian ports), Thailand is down 7.7% to 17,072, South Korea up 3.6% to 11,277 and Germany up 20.5% to 4,346.

The Mazda CX-5 is on the Australian podium for the first time in four years.

It’s a month to forget for Toyota at -22.3% year-on-year to 14.1% share, its lowest in almost three years: since March 2023 (13.6%) which was affected by stock shortages and quarantine-related issues. Mazda (-7.6%) is traditionally stronger in January, but not this year: it holds 7.6% of the market, just above the 7.4% it commanded over the Full Year 2025. Kia (+15.4%) posts a splendid score and climbs to #3, a ranking it last reached last September. Ford (-10.5%) is relegated to 4th place while Hyundai (+6.9%) is solid and rounds out the Top 5. BYD (+640.9%) surges (year-ago volumes impacted by shipping issues) to #6 and #1 Chinese brand like last month. Fellow Chinese GWM (+31.3%) also impresses but Chery (+105.8%) hits a record monthly volume for the 12th consecutive time! It is also at its best ever share (3.7%). Geely (#22) and Omoda Jaecoo (#23) both hit record rankings. We welcome Chinese van-maker Farizon at #52 with its first 7 sales.

Over in the models charts, the Ford Ranger (-20%) reclaims the top spot despite a harsh year-on-year fall, it distances the Toyota Hilux (-15.2%) also hit hard as the new generation trickles into dealerships. The Mazda CX-5 (+22.3%) is the surprise of the month: although due to be renewed later this year, it delivers a record third place (also hit in August 2020 and January 2022) and #1 SUV, a spot it held for many years before being toppled by the Toyota RAV4. Talking of which, the RAV4 (-65.4%) collapses to #10 as stock of the outgoing generation is dwindling in the wake of the new model hitting dealerships in March. The RAV4 will surely fall further down over the next few months as there won’t be any additional shipments of the old gen. Meanwhile the Chery Tiggo 4 (+119.4%) is back to an all-time high #4 also hit last November, and the Mitsubishi Outlander (-5.5%) is back up six spots on last month to #5 despite a YoY loss. At #6, the Ford Everest (+13.9%) once again outsells its archenemy the Toyota Prado (-51.1%) down to #14. The Hyundai Kona (+41.4%) is back up to an outstanding #7, with the GWM Haval Jolion (+39.1%) also very strong at #9.

Previous post: Australia Full Year 2025: Record market, Ford Ranger threepeats at #1, BYD up to #4 in December

One year ago: Australia January 2025: Toyota RAV4 secures 7th win in a row in negative market

Full January 2026 Top 58 All brands and Top 20 models below.

Australia January 2026 – brands:

PosBrandJan-26%/25Dec
1ToyotaΒ Β 14,31014.1%– 22.3%1
2MazdaΒ Β 7,6927.6%– 7.6%3
3KiaΒ Β 6,6006.5%+ 15.4%5
4FordΒ Β 6,1166.0%– 10.5%2
5HyundaiΒ Β 5,8565.8%+ 6.9%6
6BYD5,0014.9%+ 640.9%4
7GWM4,5094.4%+ 31.3%7
8Mitsubishi4,3474.3%– 23.5%8
9Chery3,7803.7%+ 105.8%9
10MG3,1233.1%– 16.5%13
11Isuzu Ute2,9292.9%+ 2.0%10
12SubaruΒ Β 2,3362.3%– 20.1%11
13BMW2,1542.1%+ 53.7%14
14Mercedes2,1492.1%+ 22.4%15
15Volkswagen1,8861.9%– 18.5%16
16Nissan1,8711.8%– 38.4%17
17HondaΒ Β 1,2221.2%– 3.0%20
18LDV9600.9%– 19.5%21
19SuzukiΒ Β 9080.9%– 36.5%22
20Audi8560.8%– 15.6%18
21Lexus8550.8%– 11.8%19
22Geely7200.7%new31
23Omoda Jaecoo6910.7%new25
24Tesla5010.5%– 32.2%12
25Zeekr4690.5%new30
26Volvo4160.4%– 25.7%24
27Porsche3970.4%– 15.2%32
28Mini3950.4%+ 13.2%28
29Skoda3420.3%+ 4.0%26
30Land Rover3360.3%– 17.0%23
31Renault3000.3%– 28.4%29
32Ram2770.3%+ 12.6%34
33Chevrolet2590.3%– 19.6%27
34KGM2080.2%– 33.3%33
35Cupra2000.2%+ 7.0%36
36Polestar1600.2%+ 95.1%37
37Foton1200.1%new41
38Genesis1190.1%+ 13.3%38
39JAC1180.1%– 42.2%39
40Deepal990.1%new42
41Fiat970.1%– 47.0%35
42Jeep660.1%– 54.5%43
43Peugeot650.1%– 39.3%40
44Leapmotor610.1%+ 177.3%44
45GMC390.0%new46
46Alfa Romeo340.0%+ 0.0%45
47Maserati200.0%– 16.7%52
48Ferrari180.0%+ 500.0%51
49Lamborghini120.0%– 52.0%48
50Bentley120.0%+ 140.0%49
51Aston Martin70.0%+ 0.0%50
52Farizon70.0%new –
53Rolls-Royce60.0%+ 20.0%55
54McLaren40.0%+ 100.0%54
55Jaguar30.0%– 92.5%47
56Lotus10.0%– 80.0%53
57Denza00.0%new56
58Citroen00.0%– 100.0% –

Australia January 2026 – models:

PosModelJan-26%/25Dec
1Ford Ranger3,4033.9%– 20.0%2
2Toyota Hilux2,8003.2%– 15.2%3
3Mazda CX-52,2892.6%+ 22.3%8
4Chery Tiggo 42,2342.5%+ 119.4%9
5Mitsubishi Outlander1,9752.3%– 5.5%11
6Ford Everest1,9132.2%+ 13.9%5
7Hyundai Kona1,8392.1%+ 41.4%12
8Isuzu D-Max1,7982.0%– 13.8%6
9GWM Haval Jolion1,7892.0%+ 39.1%7
10Toyota RAV41,7572.0%– 65.4%1
11Toyota Corolla1,7352.0%+ 9.6%15
12Hyundai Tucson1,7292.0%+ 20.7%16
13Mitsubishi Triton1,6651.9%+ 36.1%14
14Toyota Prado1,3921.6%– 51.1%21
15Kia Carnival1,3211.5%+ 124.3%29
16Isuzu MU-X1,3111.5%+ 66.8%18
17MG ZS1,2671.4%+ 4.5%27
18Kia Sportage1,2651.4%– 30.7%20
19Mazda CX-31,2181.4%– 24.3%22
20BYD Sealion 71,1711.3%new4

Yesterday β€” 3 February 2026Main stream
Before yesterdayMain stream

Explore: The cars of Morocco

βœ‡Best Selling Cars Blog
By:Matt Gasnier
30 January 2026 at 11:06

Dacia Logan taxi in Chefchaouen, Morocco

In December and January I was lucky enough to visit Fès and Chefchaouen in Morocco. This was a great opportunity to observe the local car landscape and confirm the 2025 sales ranking is reflected in the streets of the country.

Dacia Sandero 2 and 3 red taxis

The first striking element when arriving in FΓ¨s is the omnipresence of red taxis, absolutely everywhere. They are almost exclusively composed of Dacia Logan 2 and Sandero 2 and have for sure contributed to the two nameplates’ high national volumes each year. The Logan and Sandero 3 are also seen but much less often.

Dacia Sandero 2 and 3 red taxis

Other much rarer red taxis include the Fiat Punto, Citroen C3, Citroen C-ElysΓ©e, Peugeot 208, Fiat Palio and Albea.

Dacia Logan 2 and Sandero 2 taxis in Chefchaouen

Taxis are blue in Chefchaouen, the blue city with its houses painted in striking blue colours.

Taxis are yellow in Ouazzane, halfway between Fès and Chefchaouen.

Dacia Logan 3, 2 and 1

Outside of taxis, the Logan and Sandero also very numerous in the streets, reflecting the models ranking for the country. I noticed a slight advantage for the Logan in terms of private car numbers, illustrating 2025’s new sales ranking. The Logan 1 is relatively rare, compared to the 2 and 3.

Dacia Sandero 3 in Chefchaouen

Another observation is the quasi absence of Sandero Stepway variants, even though this is the favourite across Europe. There are also almost no Sandero 1 in the Moroccan streets.

#1 in the country from 2018 to 2020, the Dacia Dokker is indeed frequent in Fès streets, potentially the third most frequent model in the country alongside the Dacia Duster (almost no last gen though for the Duster).

The renewal of the β€œwhite taxis” fleet pushed the Dacia Lodgy up to #5 overall in 2020. White taxis are longer distance taxis, travelling on trips such as centre town to airport. Other taxis in FΓ¨s were tiny Suzuki Minivans (see above).

I could only see a handful of Dacia Jogger during the trip.

The Renault Kardian is an instant blockbuster in Morocco, already ranking #6 for its first full year in the charts and already seen often, even in small towns like Chefchaouen.

Reassuringly, the rest of the 2025 Top 10 is well represented in Moroccan streets: the Renault Clio, Express, Peugeot 208, Dacia Duster, Hyundai Tucson, Opel Corsa and VW Tiguan are all seen often.

Hyundai CretaCitroen C4Hyundai Grand i10Kia Sportage Toyota Corolla

As expected, pickup trucks are more popular in the countryside, where the Toyota Hilux is present but the Mitsubishi L200 almost holds a monopoly on this segment. As for vans, the Peugeot Partner, Citroen Berlingo, Renault Kangoo and Fiat Doblo are very successful there, with some towns completely devoid of any other type of vehicle.

The Chinese are here, but still very discreet. I only saw a couple of BYD SUVs, the Jaecoo pictured above and the Dongfeng Pickup above. To be fair, the best-selling Chinese carmaker in Morocco, BYD, ranked at a lowly #15 in December, followed by MG (#16) and Geely (#17). One thing is for sure, the Chinese invasion hasn’t started quite yet in Morocco.

Citroen C15Fiat Uno 2, Citroen C5Peugeot 309Renault 19

As for the general car landscape, it is very French, with old Renault, Peugeot and Citroen models flooding the streets. There is also a big heritage of Fiat Uno 2 and Palio.

That’s all for our visit to Morocco! Next stop Qatar.

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