Get your automotive data ad-free: become a premium member today!

2020 Overall Australia / Oceania Auto Industry Sales

Country-level sales figures for total passenger cars in Australia / Oceania

Australia / Oceania Passenger Car Sales for 2020

Overall, 2020 was a challenging year for car sales in Australia and Oceania due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Lockdown measures, economic uncertainties, and reduced consumer spending significantly impacted the industry. Car sales declined in both Australia and New Zealand, with various segments affected. Factors such as pandemic-related restrictions, economic conditions, and specific market dynamics influenced the car sales trends in each country.

Car sales in Australia in 2020 experienced a notable decline compared to the previous year. A total of only 916,968 new vehicles were sold, marking a decrease of approximately 13.7% compared to 2019. The decline in sales was primarily attributed to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to lockdowns, economic uncertainty, and reduced consumer spending. Various segments were affected by the pandemic, with passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles experiencing significant declines. Toyota remained the top-selling brand in Australia, followed by Mazda and Ford. The Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger, and Toyota Corolla were among the popular models. Passenger car sales dropped more than 15% year on year, down to 677k units.

In New Zealand, car sales experienced a decline in 2020. The total new vehicle registrations reached 131,896, marking a decrease of approximately 24.8% compared to the previous year. The decline was largely attributed to the impact of the pandemic, which resulted in lockdowns and reduced economic activity. Toyota remained the top-selling brand, followed by Ford and Mitsubishi. The Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux were among the popular models. Passenger cars fell by a whopping 23%.

The indicator estimates the number of new passenger car registrations and sales that took place within a country in a year. Passenger cars are road motor vehicles, other than a motor cycle, intended for the carriage of passengers and designed to seat no more than nine persons (including the driver).

List of Australia / Oceania Countries by Motor Vehicle Production for 2020

Countries Sales Units Rank Growth
Australia 676,804 1 -15.32
New Zealand 80,433 2 -22.37

2020 Australia / Oceania Region Passenger Car Sales Chart

This visual tree-chart shows the relative size of the car market and how each country fairs in terms of market share size. Obviously Australia is an outsized participant in this part of the world.

Top Australia / Oceania Car Markets Ranked for 2020

Source: OICA