Best-selling car brands in Australia in August 2025

Australia’s new-car market eased slightly in August 2025 compared to July, but still crossed the 100,000 mark for the third year in a row. Dealers reported 103,694 new vehicles sold this month. Toyota remained the market leader, Ford secured second place, and Kia climbed into third. 

The standout story was the rise of Chinese carmakers. For the first time, four of them, BYD, GWM, MG and Chery, secured spots in the top 10. Their rise pushed established names like Isuzu Ute and Subaru out of the top 10. Electric vehicles also played a key role. BYD drove much of the growth, while traditional favourites like the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux battled for their supremacy.

August 2025 car sales at a glance

• Japanese giant Toyota and American giant Ford continue to lead Australia’s car sales, but cracks are beginning to show. Toyota stayed in first place, but its sales dipped from July, while Ford grew and held second. Mazda and Mitsubishi also slipped, and Japanese brands Isuzu and Subaru failed to make the top 10.
• Korean brands are climbing steadily. Kia overtook Mazda for third place, while Hyundai kept its ground. New releases like the Tasman ute and a robust SUV lineup are helping them stay competitive.
• Chinese brands are reshaping the top 10. BYD, GWM, MG and Chery all featured in August’s top sellers. BYD and Chery posted substantial growth, while GWM and MG kept building momentum. Together, they pushed out established players like Isuzu Ute, Subaru and Volkswagen.
• Utes and SUVs remain dominant. The Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux led the charts again, while SUVs like the Kona, ZS and Tiggo 4 drove much of the growth for Hyundai, MG and Chery. Australia sure love its big cars.
• EV adoption is also showing accelerating growth. BYD gaining sales shows demand for electric cars is no longer just a niche, with EVs now central to overall sales growth.

2025 Brand market insight: July vs August

• The overall automotive market remained steady. July hit a record 104,244 deliveries, while August was just shy at 103,694 units, showing sustained buyer demand.
• Brands like Toyota, Mazda, Hyundai, and Mitsubishi dipped in sales volumes. All of them recorded lower sales in August compared to July, showing a slowdown for some of the long-established favourites. Ford sold slightly more units in August than in July, but its position remained under pressure as rivals gained ground.
• Kia held steady on sales but climbed the rankings to take third place, reflecting its growing momentum. BYD and GWM both maintained strong volumes, while MG and Chery entered the top 10 for the first time, highlighting the rise of Chinese manufacturers.
• Japanese brands Subaru and Isuzu Ute were pushed off the top 10 in August by MG and Chery. 
• EVs continued to climb as BYD bounced back strongly in August after a soft July. 
• Japanese brands still lead the market overall. Korean brands are climbing steadily, and Chinese brands are now firmly embedded in the mainstream.