Diesel is Still King as Hybrids Takes Petrol

With the end of the financial year behind us, it is encouraging to see strong new vehicle sales in South Australia continue, standing 11.5 per cent higher than at the same time as last year.

A total of 632,412 new vehicles were sold in Australia in the first half of 2024, up 8.7 per cent year to date and surpassing the previous record of 605,522 sales set in the opening six months of 2018. However, sales in June were down 4.2 per cent when compared with June 2023, though it was still the second-highest result in the month since 2019.

A total of 119,659 vehicles were sold throughout June 2024, with sales down in every state and territory bar the Australian Capital Territory. An increase in government sales weren’t enough to offset declines across private, corporate and rental fleet buyers.

Growing hybrid sales are starting to bite into their petrol only equivalents which are down 6.1 per cent year to date. Interestingly however, diesel vehicle sales are 9.4 per cent higher than at the same time last year reflecting our local appetite for utes and 4X4s.

Credit: By Chanokchon - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1...

Top 5 selling new cars in SA YTD 2024 (Commercial and Private Buyers)

1. Ford Ranger 4x4 – 1,958 units

2. Toyota RAV4 – 1,862 units

3. Toyota Hilux 4x4 – 1,757 units

4. Mitsubishi Outlander – 1,293 units

5. Toyota Camry – 1,101 units

Credit: By Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz) - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7...

Zero and low emission vehicles sold in SA YTD 2024 (Commercial and Private Buyers)

1. Electric vehicles make up 7.2 per cent of all new cars sold

2. Hybrid vehicles make up 14.6 per cent of all new cars sold

3. Plug in hybrid vehicles make up 1.3 per cent of all new cars sold

Credit: By order_242 from Chile - Used car dealer, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3...

Last month, there were 296,542 used vehicles listed for sale, an increase of 7.2 per cent over April. Of those vehicles listed, 191,625 were sold (for a clearance rate of 64.6 per cent). The average time to sell a used car is 45.5 days.

The AADA says 64.7 per cent of used cars sold were traded privately with the remaining 35.3 per cent traded through a dealership. Used car listings grew in every state and territory with South Australia experiencing the highest increase (up 8.5 per cent) and Tasmania the lowest (up 2.0 per cent).

Buy a used car with confidence with our pre-purchase car inspections. Pre-purchase vehicle inspections make sure that the vehicle is safe, roadworthy and worth your investment. Don't get caught with a vehicle that has been poorly repaired, has hidden faults or generally a lemon. We inspect cars, vans, trucks, EV (electric vehicles), caravans, and motorhomes.