China Overtakes Japan as Australia’s Top Source of New Vehicles

Recent industry figures show that Chinese‑built cars have become the largest single source of new vehicles entering the Australian market, surpassing long‑standing Japanese imports in February 2026.

According to the latest data, around 22,000 vehicles imported from China were sold during the month, marking strong year‑to‑date growth. By contrast, sales of Japanese‑built cars- historically the dominant origin for Australia- declined over the same period. Australian‑sold Tesla models, which are manufactured in China, add further weight to China’s influence on local sales figures.

Chinese brands such as BYD, GWM, Chery and MG have also climbed the sales charts, with BYD showing especially rapid growth compared to a year ago. These brands are now routinely breaking into the country’s top‑selling lists alongside more established overseas marques.

Meanwhile, Toyota- still Australia’s best‑selling brand overall- saw its sales impacted by a transition between RAV4 Hybrid model generations. The outgoing version recorded relatively low deliveries while supply of the updated RAV4 Hybrid remains limited, creating what Toyota says is a temporary shortage as it works through its order backlog and prepares for wider deliveries of the new model later in 2026.

Toyota Australia noted that this shift in sales figures was anticipated as part of its 2026 rollout plan, and that demand for the refreshed RAV4 remains strong despite the constrained supply of hybrid units.

Other leading brands in February included Mazda, Ford, Kia and Hyundai, rounding out the top sales performers for the month.

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Original Article Source: CarsGuide