Global Auto Market | Chinese Brands Hit a New High in Australia in July 2025

In July 2025, new car sales in Australia reached 104,244 units, a year-on-year increase of 2%.

Chinese brands continue to expand their influence in the local market, with total sales of 19,997 units, a year-on-year increase of 33.1%, ranking third among import sources, behind Japan and Thailand, and closing in on second place.

This is not a short-term fluctuation but a continuation of the trend. The market performance of Chinese automakers in Australia has gradually shifted from early cost-performance orientation to a comprehensive competitive landscape with multiple brands and product strengths.

Great Wall and BYD maintained steady growth, while Chery entered the top ten in monthly sales for the first time with the Tiggo 4 Pro, rising to 11th place in brand rankings, setting a record since entering the Australian market. In contrast, MG, which had long held a leading position, saw a significant decline, with sales down nearly 30% year-on-year.

Meanwhile, new brands such as Geely, JAC, and ZEEKR are accelerating their layouts, starting from small volumes and building a multi-point breakthrough trend. Overall, Chinese brands are moving from the margins to firmly occupy a strong position in the Australian market!

Overview of the Australian Market

and Evolution of Mainstream Trends

In July 2025, the Australian passenger car market reached a record high of 104,244 units, a year-on-year increase of 2%, surpassing last year's record. Although cumulative sales from the beginning of the year to date have slightly declined by 0.9%, they remain the second-highest in history (728,374 units), second only to the same period last year.

In terms of powertrain structure

◎ Gasoline vehicle sales were 39,991 units, down 4.8% year-on-year;

◎ Diesel vehicles bucked the trend, growing 8% to 31,611 units.

◎ Plug-in hybrid sales grew particularly significantly, surging 81.7% year-on-year to 4,031 units;

◎ Pure electric vehicles also maintained a moderate growth of 7.1%, with sales of 7,219 units, accounting for 6.9% of the market, up from 6.6% a year ago.

This indicates that new energy vehicles have established a stable growth momentum in the Australian market.

From a usage scenario perspective

◎ Private car purchases grew by 6.1%,

◎ The leasing market also grew by 20.8%,

◎ While government purchases fell by 23.2%.

Performance varied significantly by state, with the Northern Territory showing the strongest growth (+10.6%), while major states such as Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria also saw growth.

Vehicle structure continues to concentrate on SUVs:

◎ SUV sales were 63,723 units, accounting for 61.1% of the total market, up more than 4 percentage points from a year ago.

◎ Light commercial vehicles also steadily increased to 21.5%, while traditional passenger cars accounted for only 13.9%, showing consumers' growing preference for versatile, high-clearance models.

In terms of brand competition,

◎ Japan remains Australia's primary import source, with July sales of 30,874 units;

◎ China saw a surge of 33.1% to 19,997 units, ranking third and closing in on second-place Thailand (20,596 units).

◎ Notably, German and Korean-made models saw limited growth, while Chinese-made models continue to strengthen, becoming a trend.

At the brand level,

◎ Toyota, although down 4.3% year-on-year, remains the market leader with sales of 21,722 units, accounting for 20.8%, almost equal to the combined sales of the second to fourth places.

◎ Mazda returned to second place after several months,

◎ Kia and Hyundai followed closely with double-digit growth,

◎ Ford ranked fifth.

◎ In contrast, Mitsubishi sales fell to sixth place.

Chinese brands performed particularly well:

◎ Great Wall remained seventh, growing 42.2% year-on-year;

◎ BYD, although falling from its historical high to eighth place, still achieved year-on-year growth of over 100%;

◎ Chery saw explosive growth of 267%, jumping to 11th place, setting its highest ranking since entering Australia.

◎ In contrast, MG saw a 27.9% decline, becoming the weakest performer among the four major Chinese brands.

From the model rankings,

◎ The Toyota Hilux, RAV4, and Ford Ranger still occupy the top three positions.

◎ However, the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro rose to seventh place with sales of 2,065 units, entering the top ten for the first time, marking a milestone for Chinese brands in the Australian market.

◎ The Great Wall Haval Jolion also entered the top twenty in sales (13th place), with cumulative sales of 10,716 units for the year, up nearly 30% year-on-year.

◎ BYD's Sealion 7 and Shark models also maintained stable sales.

Chinese Brands Accelerate,

Local Acceptance Rapidly Increases

◎ Among Chinese brands, Great Wall Motors is the most stable performer. Its July sales reached 4,721 units, a year-on-year increase of 42.2%, ranking seventh among all brands in Australia and the most popular Chinese car brand.

The Haval Jolion sold 1,687 units, up over 50% year-on-year, making it the brand's core model; the Tank and Poer series are also gaining traction in the light commercial vehicle market, helping Great Wall solidify its position.

◎ BYD followed closely with 4,607 units, a surge of 158% year-on-year. Although it declined compared to June, it still showed impressive growth momentum.

Its Sealion 7 and other models continue to sell well, and although the Shark fell to 24th place in July, its cumulative sales for the year have already entered the top thirteen, indicating its appeal to Australian consumers remains strong.

◎ Chery's explosive growth was the highlight of the month. Its July sales reached 3,149 units, a year-on-year surge of 267%, and the brand rose to 11th place.

The Tiggo 4 Pro performed particularly well, surpassing 2,000 units for the first time and rising to seventh place in the market, the only Chinese model in the top ten. This not only reflects Chery's product strength gaining local market recognition but also shows its initial success in channel and brand building in Australia.

◎ MG, in contrast, showed a completely different trend, with July sales of 2,955 units, down 27.9% year-on-year, falling to 12th place in brand rankings. As one of the earliest Chinese brands to enter the Australian market, MG faces clear challenges in an increasingly competitive environment.

◎ New brands such as Geely and JAC are also testing the waters in Australia. Geely sold 490 units in July, a modest start but promising for a newcomer; JAC also began its Australian market journey, selling 434 units in July, demonstrating the appeal of its independent brand and youthful design language to local consumers.

◎ ZEEKR, IM Motors, Neta, Deepal, and Leapmotor are also expanding in Australia, with monthly sales still below 100 units but gradually building brand awareness and channels for future growth.

Chinese brands have formed a "four strong + multi-point penetration" pattern in the Australian market.

◎ Great Wall, BYD, Chery, and MG form the main tier, each with representative models and relatively stable sales networks;

◎ Meanwhile, Geely, JAC, and ZEEKR, as rising stars, are accelerating breakthroughs with technological innovation and brand differentiation.

Summary

In terms of market share, Chinese brands are not yet dominant in Australia, but their growth speed and structural changes are enough to reshape the market order. Driven by factors such as slowing growth of traditional strong brands, local demand restructuring, and rising new energy penetration, Chinese brands are gradually finding their path to the mainstream.