ACT and National Car Sales in 2025: A Detailed Market Overview
In 2025, the ACT and National automotive markets presented a dynamic landscape, marked by evolving sales trends, a shifting embrace of electric vehicles, and a consistent demand for popular models like the Toyota RAV4 and Ford Ranger.
ACT Sales Overview
The Toyota RAV4 led vehicle sales in the ACT in 2025, with 949 units sold. It was closely followed by the Tesla Model Y at 771 units, and the Ford Ranger secured third place with 613 sales.
Top-selling brands in the ACT for 2025 included:
- Toyota (2983 units)
- BYD (1500 units)
- Hyundai (1218 units)
- Kia (1168 units)
- Mazda (1137 units)
National Sales Snapshot
Nationally, the Ford Ranger emerged as the top-selling vehicle, registering 56,555 units. The Toyota RAV4 followed with 51,947 sales, and the Toyota HiLux rounded out the top three with 51,297 units.
Toyota solidified its position as the national market leader in 2025, selling 239,863 vehicles and capturing approximately 19.8 percent of the total market. Other leading brands included Ford (94,399 units), Mazda (91,293 units), Kia (82,105 units), and Hyundai (77,208 units).
Sales Trends and Historical Context
Toyota vehicles have consistently performed strongly in the ACT, with the Corolla leading in 2020 and the RAV4 topping sales in 2021 and 2022. While Tesla's Model Y and Model 3 held the top spots in 2023, the RAV4 reclaimed first place in 2024 with 1105 sales.
In 2025, Tesla sales decreased both in the ACT and nationally, with national Tesla sales declining 24 percent from 2024, which itself was down 17 percent from 2023.
The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) reported a national increase of three percent in new car sales for December 2025 compared to December 2024, totaling 98,744 vehicles. Conversely, car sales in the ACT experienced a slight decrease of 1.4 percent, with 17,963 units sold.
Electric Vehicle Market Share
The fuel type landscape saw significant shifts in 2025. Petrol engines accounted for 31.2 percent of new car sales in the ACT, representing a decrease of 19 percentage points from 2024. In contrast, Hybrid and plug-in hybrid sales saw notable gains of 24 percent and 62 percent, respectively. Diesel sales declined by approximately 10 percent, settling at a 17.5 percent market share.
The ACT continues to lead Australia in electric vehicle (EV) market share at 26.3 percent, despite the decline in Tesla sales. The national EV market share stands at 12 percent.
Toyota RAV4 Customer Profile
Canberra Toyota dealerships reported that approximately 70 percent of RAV4 buyers in 2025 were private customers, with the remaining 30 percent attributed to fleets. Hybrid models continued to be the most popular choice among buyers.
Future Outlook: The New RAV4
An all-new Toyota RAV4 is slated for release in 2026, with prices commencing from $45,990 for the base hybrid GX 2WD model. This updated model will mark Toyota's first plug-in hybrid (PHEV) offering in Australia, alongside standard hybrid petrol variants. The PHEV versions are expected to combine a 2.5-liter petrol engine with electric motors, providing an estimated 100 km of electric driving range.
The new RAV4 is anticipated to arrive in Canberra showrooms in April 2026. Dealerships foresee high demand for the refreshed model, which promises new specifications, powertrains, technology, and an updated design, all at comparable pricing.