Australia’s new car market held steady in October, with 99,588 vehicles sold — up 1.2 per cent compared to the same month last year, according to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI). Year-to-date sales reached just over one million units (1,014,027), down slightly by 1.1 per cent.
While the headlines focus on total sales, one of the most important — and under-reported — trends is the growing role of fleets. Fleet buyers accounted for approximately half of all new vehicle deliveries in October, and this share has been rising month on month through 2025. This shift highlights the influence of corporate, government and rental fleets in driving Australia’s transition to lower-emission vehicles.
The October data confirms that powertrain preferences are changing rapidly. Hybrids made up 17.8 per cent of total sales, while plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) accounted for 4.7 per cent and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) 7.3 per cent. Compared to October 2024, hybrid sales rose 25 per cent and PHEVs surged 95 per cent, even as BEVs held steady.
This trend directly supports Fleet News Group’s long-standing theory that the introduction of the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) will help organisations cut fleet emissions — not through policy compliance, but through the simple reality that high-CO₂ models are being replaced by cleaner alternatives. As manufacturers adjust their product mix to meet NVES targets, traditional petrol-only models are losing ground, leaving fleets with more efficient hybrid, PHEV and BEV choices across every segment.
FCAI Chief Executive Tony Weber said Australians are clearly embracing this transition. “The October results confirm that Australians are increasingly choosing hybrid and PHEV models as a practical path towards lower emissions,” he said. “Petrol-only vehicles continue to lose ground, underlining the pace of change in consumer preferences.”
SUVs continued to dominate, making up 61.7 per cent of sales, led by medium SUVs, which now account for one in every four new vehicles sold. Passenger cars represented just 12.2 per cent of the market, while light commercials and heavy trucks saw slight declines.
Top Brands and Models
Toyota maintained its position as market leader, selling 19,726 vehicles in October, followed by Ford (7,570), Mazda (7,140), Kia (6,610), and Hyundai (6,403).
The top five models represented 17.8 per cent of all sales. They were:
- Toyota HiLux (4,444)
- Ford Ranger (4,402)
- Toyota RAV4 (4,401)
- Ford Everest (2,435)
- Toyota LandCruiser (2,090)
Fleet Implications
The sustained rise in fleet participation underscores the importance of procurement decisions in shaping Australia’s automotive future. Many organisations are now revising fleet policies to align with ESG objectives and NVES-driven model availability, while OEMs are focusing on hybrid and electrified vehicles that meet these changing needs.
With hybrids delivering real-world efficiency and BEVs becoming mainstream in corporate and government fleets, October’s results confirm that Australia’s decarbonisation of transport is being led not by individual consumers — but by the collective power of fleet buyers.
