Aussie car sales steady in January as PHEVs surge

Australia's new vehicle market has demonstrated remarkable resilience at the start of 2026, recording 87,092 sales in January—a modest 0.3% increase over the previous year.

Data released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries reveals a stabilising market where consumer appetite for SUVs and passenger cars remains healthy, despite a cooling in the light commercial sector.

The highlight of the month was the accelerating transition toward low-emission motoring.

While petrol vehicle sales slumped by 14%, plug-in hybrids surged by a staggering 170.5%, now accounting for nearly 6% of the market.

Combined with hybrids (17.4%) and battery electric vehicles (8.4%), electrified options now represent nearly a third of all new deliveries.