Best-selling car brands in Australia in October 2025

Australia’s new-car market remained strong in October, with 100,658 vehicles sold, a 0.7% increase compared to the same month last year, according to VFACTS data released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and the Electric Vehicle Council.

While overall growth was modest, the standout story was the continued rise of Chinese brands and electrified vehicles. Hybrids, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), and electric cars now make up nearly 30% of the market, underscoring a clear shift in buyer preferences.

At the top, it was an extremely close race; the Toyota HiLux narrowly beat the Ford Ranger and Toyota RAV4, separated by just a handful of sales.

October 2025 car sales at a glance

• Toyota once again claimed the top spot, up 6.8% year-on-year, thanks to strong demand for the Camry, Fortuner, and Yaris. The brand’s hybrid lineup continues to dominate as buyers look for fuel-efficient options.
• Ford held firm in second place, though its sales dipped 11.8% as Mustang numbers plummeted and F-150 deliveries paused. The Ranger ute remains its strongest performer, finishing just behind the HiLux.
• Mazda, Kia, and Hyundai completed the top five, with relatively stable results despite a softer market for small and medium SUVs.
• Chinese automakers continued to impress, GWM, BYD, and Chery all posted double- or triple-digit growth, while MG saw a notable 31.7% decline as sales of its core models cooled.
• Mitsubishi slipped to sixth with a 15.7% drop, hurt by the outgoing ASX and shrinking Eclipse Cross stock, though the Triton ute remained a bright spot.

Market insights: October vs September 2025

Australia’s October results marked a mild cooldown following the record-breaking September sales (106,891 units). The 6% month-on-month dip was largely seasonal, though underlying trends show a market in transition. Chinese manufacturers continue to climb, with four brands, GWM, BYD, MG, and Chery, again landing in the top 10. Together, they now represent around 15% of total sales, nearly matching the combined share of Korea’s Hyundai and Kia.

Meanwhile, the EV and hybrid segment continues to expand. Hybrids made up 17.6% of all new vehicles sold in October, while PHEVs and EVs rose to 4.7% and 7.3%, respectively. Among traditional players, Toyota remains untouchable, while Ford and Mazda are holding on despite shrinking shares. Korean brands are steady, and Mitsubishi faces challenges in a period of product renewal.

The standout story? The rapid rise of BYD and Chery, both achieving triple-digit growth, as Australians embrace affordable electrified SUVs from China.