Whereas gross sales for some manufacturers like Toyota, Ford and Nissan are up by over 30 per cent to this point this 12 months, others aren’t doing as nicely.
For some manufacturers, 2024 is a transition 12 months as new product rolls out or waits within the wings. For others, sluggish gross sales are the results of an absence of contemporary product, whereas some have posted declines as their gross sales proceed on a downward trajectory in Australia.
Beneath, we’ve detailed the ten manufacturers with the biggest proportion decline in gross sales within the first half of 2024 in contrast with the primary half of 2023.
Jeep – 1282 gross sales, down 52 per cent
There’s no getting round it: Jeep is having a fully rotten 2024.
After notching greater than 30,000 gross sales in 2014, Jeep gross sales have been on a downward spiral. In just one 12 months since then, 2021, did Jeep gross sales enhance 12 months over 12 months.
Wanting on the gross sales charts this 12 months, there are double-digit declines throughout the board.
Even in ute-mad Australia, Gladiator gross sales are sagging – within the first half of 2024, they’re down 63.8 per cent in comparison with the primary half of 2023, to only 169 gross sales.
Compass gross sales are down 59.3 per cent to 351 examples bought, although this mannequin has just lately switched from Indian to Italian sourcing, whereas the Grand Cherokee is down 52.3 per cent (spurring main value cuts just lately) to 349 gross sales and the Wrangler is down 30.2 per cent to 413 gross sales.
Not serving to Jeep is its lack of an entrant into the mid-sized SUV phase, Australia’s largest by quantity, following the axing of the Cherokee in 2022.
Additionally hindering Jeep are vital value will increase over the previous few years on fashions just like the Wrangler, in addition to the swap to a petrol- and plug-in hybrid-only lineup with the most recent Grand Cherokee.
It’s unclear when Jeep will be capable of flip issues round. The Wrangler simply obtained an replace, which introduced a diminished base value, however the newest technology of the long-lasting off-roader nonetheless begins at over $20,000 greater than it did at launch in 2018.
The Compass has additionally simply obtained an replace however its base value has climbed, making it even much less palatable to price-conscious patrons. It’s a far cry from the times of sub-$30k Compass and Patriot crossovers.
Ram – 2044 gross sales, down 50.8 per cent
The Ram 1500 helped spur Ford, GM and Toyota to enter the full-sized pickup truck market in Australia with their very own remanufactured right-hand drive fashions, and now it appears to be feeling the impacts of this elevated competitors.
Its gross sales are down 53.7 per cent year-to-date to 1710 gross sales, a a lot sharper drop than that skilled by the phase general (down 11.4 per cent).
The 2500 can be down 29.6 per cent to 298 gross sales, whereas Ram bought the identical variety of 3500s (36) within the first half of 2024 because it did within the first half of 2023.
Ram’s native distributor Ateco has but to substantiate when the up to date six-cylinder 1500 revealed within the US will make its approach to Australia.
Maserati – 200 gross sales, down 37.3 per cent
Maserati’s new Grecale is probably the most reasonably priced mannequin from the model in a while, however its gross sales have already slumped. They’re down 28.2 per cent on the primary half of 2023 to 168 gross sales.
The moribund Ghibli (down 42.9 per cent to eight gross sales) and Levante (down 67.2 per cent to 19 gross sales) haven’t been capable of offset this and, whereas there’s a brand new GranTurismo and GranCabrio coming, these play in a a lot lower-volume phase.
Citroen – 74 gross sales, down 36.2 per cent
With simply 74 gross sales year-to-date, Citroen is being outsold by Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari and Lotus, although it’s doing higher than McLaren and Rolls-Royce.
Being neck-and-neck within the gross sales race with unique, high-end automobile manufacturers can be high-quality if Citroen was one among them, but it surely’s not. As an alternative, it sells comparatively reasonably priced mild, small and huge passenger automobiles, plus a mid-sized SUV – Australia’s favorite sort of auto.
All are down by double digits this 12 months. The C3, a substitute for which has been launched abroad, is down 55.6 per cent to 12 gross sales.
The C5 X is down 29.7 per cent, however sits in a phase that’s all however useless. Surprisingly, it’s at the moment Citroen’s greatest vendor, accounting for 26 of its gross sales year-to-date.
Extra disappointing are the figures for the C4, launched late in 2021, and the C5 Aircross, a facelifted model of which arrived right here in 2023. These fashions are down 42.3 per cent and 19.2 per cent to fifteen gross sales and 21 gross sales respectively, regardless of sitting in two of Australia’s hottest car segments.
Renault – 2969 gross sales, down 32.9 per cent
Renault’s gross sales outcomes are a story of two lineups.
On the business car entrance, it’s doing higher this 12 months. A brand new Kangoo has lastly arrived, no less than in electrical guise, whereas the Grasp is up 137.6 per cent to 993 gross sales and the Trafic by 20.8 per cent to 801 gross sales.
However with regards to SUVs, Renault is struggling. The ageing Koleos is down 68.7 per cent to 601 gross sales, and a substitute nonetheless has but to be confirmed for our market.
The Arkana is down 71.4 per cent to 201 gross sales, although a facelift is due within the second half of this 12 months, whereas the Captur is down 80 per cent to 137 gross sales and launch timing for a facelifted mannequin has but to be locked in.
Renault has revealed a raft of contemporary product in Europe over the previous few years, predominantly SUVs, which incorporates the Scenic, Symbioz, Austral and Rafale.
None of those have been locked in for our market but, leaving a fairly small vary of SUVs in a market hungry for one of these car.
Cupra – 1150 gross sales, down 27.5 per cent
The Volkswagen Group’s latest model arrived right here in 2022, but it surely’s working the chance of getting a worse gross sales 12 months this 12 months it had in 2023.
Cupra gross sales are down 27.5 per cent year-to-date, with solely the electrical Born posting a rise (up 48.9 per cent to 259 gross sales).
The Ateca is down 49.4 per cent to 121 gross sales, the Formentor down 36.1 per cent to 606 gross sales, and the Leon down 26.8 per cent to 164 gross sales.
Issues look brighter for the fledgling model in 2025, when it plans to launch a bunch of latest product.
This consists of the brand new mid-sized Terramar and Tavascan SUVs, plus a facelifted Leon and Formentor.
Earlier than the brand new 12 months, nevertheless, it has only one launch deliberate: an entry-level model of the Ateca.
“It is a consolidation 12 months for each [Cupra and Skoda], with a give attention to key parts that can put each manufacturers in nice form for 2025,” stated a spokesperson for Volkswagen Group Australia.
The spokesperson famous Cupra can be nonetheless increasing its retail community.
Mini – 1576 gross sales, down 26.2 per cent
It’s arguably no shock to see Mini gross sales down a lot, because the model is totally overhauling its lineup.
Mini has already began rolling out its new Countryman vary, and is launching the brand new Aceman crossover and new generations of its three- and five-door hatchback fashions this 12 months.
Within the meantime, solely two fashions have posted a gross sales enhance: the Cabriolet (up 30.9 per cent to 182 gross sales), of which a brand new technology has but to be revealed; and the Clubman (up 60.2 per cent to 173 gross sales), which has been discontinued.
The Countryman vary is down 50.9 per cent to 445 gross sales on account of the changeover between generations, whereas the mixed hatchback vary is down 21.0 per cent to 776 gross sales.
Skoda – 2946 gross sales, down 25.7 per cent
Each Skoda mannequin has posted a gross sales decline to this point this 12 months, with the smallest for the Kodiaq (705 gross sales, down 8.1 per cent) and the biggest for the Karoq (474 gross sales, down 40.9 per cent).
Skoda Australia has known as this 12 months a “consolidation 12 months” for the model, forward of “new value-led product” coming.
Up to date variations of the Kamiq, Scala and Octavia are due this 12 months, as is the model’s first electrical car (EV) in Australia, the Enyaq. A brand new technology of the Kodiaq may additionally squeeze in earlier than new 12 months’s.
Volvo – 4741 gross sales, down 24.6 per cent
Volvo’s new EX30 electrical crossover has already rocketed up the gross sales charts, with its 1001 gross sales year-to-date already pushing it previous a swag of different small premium SUVs.
It’s a vibrant spot for the model, which is in any other case down. Positive, the S60 is up 21.4 per cent year-to-date, but it surely’s a distinct segment product with simply 85 examples bought.
Extra regarding for Volvo are gross sales figures for the favored XC40 (1696 gross sales, down 46.9 per cent), C40 (291 gross sales, down 57.5 per cent), XC60 (1144 gross sales, down 24.5 per cent) and XC90 (442 gross sales, down 39.9 per cent).
A Volvo Automobile Australia spokesperson stated the just lately launched EX30 has been receiving a better focus, and this has had an affect on different car traces right here because it has in different world markets.
Volvo Automobile Australia has additionally been letting inventory rundown of the C40 and XC40 with the changeover to a brand new mannequin 12 months, and CarExpert understands there might be a renewed give attention to these fashions with the MY25 vary due later this 12 months.
LDV – 8796 gross sales, down 21.8 per cent
Gross sales are down throughout a lot of the LDV vary other than a few of its individuals movers.
The Ship 9 Bus, for instance, is up 139.6 per cent to 266 gross sales, whereas the MIFA is up 90.2 per cent – although at 253 gross sales, it’s nonetheless a way off from difficult the Kia Carnival (4572 gross sales).
Gross sales of the ageing G10 are down 18.1 per cent to 1602 gross sales, whereas the traditional V80 is down 41.8 per cent to 199 gross sales. The model’s solely SUV in Australia, the D90, can be down 19.2 per cent to 1382 gross sales.
There are some promising new arrivals for LDV, nevertheless.
The T60 Max Plus just lately launched, packing extra security expertise and a extra high-tech inside.
An up to date model of the D90 is due within the second half of 2024, as is a diesel model of the just lately launched Ship 7 van.
A brand new electrical ute can be anticipated in Australia in 2025.
