China is now the third largest importer of new vehicles in Australia, and it does not seem to be slowing down.
Last year, 210,113 new cars were delivered to Australian customers in China, which represented just under 17 percent of the 1,237,287 total deliveries on the market for record 2024.
It is a strong increase in exporting the world’s second most populated nation and the largest trading partner in Australia, who was only 1.7 percent of the local car market five years ago, and less than half a percent ten years past.
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Despite the fact that last year grows by nearly nine percent, feeding services and market information company Cox Automotive Australia The Chinese import predicted an even larger share in the new car market in 2025.
According to the Automotive Industry Group, Chinese brands can come close this year of an interest of 20 percent on the Aussie Auto Market.
Although this has risen only three percent of the share kept by Chinese vehicles last year, the prediction of Cox cars that were built in the country by brands in foreign ownership is excluded.
That includes Tesla (who builds the model Y and Model 3 there), BMW (IX3), Mini (Cooper E), Volvo (XC40 charger) and others who count to the total.
With these vehicles excluded, Cox says that around 142,000 cars were sold here in 2024 by Chinese car brands, good for a market share of 12 percent.
Based on the prediction of the company of 1.18 million new vehicle sales this year, this means that the Chinese brands can combine in 2025 for 236,000 deliveries.
For the context, that figure combined with the sale of vehicles made by foreign brands in the nation would see China Thailand overthrow as the second largest source of Australian vehicle import (largely thanks to UTES).
Last year 272,139 new vehicles came from Thailand here. Japan took place as the number one vehicle importer of Australia with 378,911 (largely thanks to market leader Toyota).
According to Cox, this increase will not only be powered by people such as MG, GWM, BYD, LDV and Chery, but also new or returning brands such as Gey, Photon, Xpeng, Leap motor, Deepal and Jac, you name a few.
“By the end of 2025 there will be around 15 Chinese brand names on the market, which cover all segments and fuel types, with price tires from $ 25,000 and in six digits,” Cox said in a media release.
Although Chinese brands are often considered as some of the most affordable on the market, the title of the cheapest vehicle in Australia is currently in the hands of the South Korean Kia Picanto, with the Suzuki Ignis, Hyundai location and Japanese-built Mazda 2 All are all cheaper than the outgoing generation MG ZS.
The GWM ORA, however, remains the cheapest electric vehicle (EV) in Australia, and it is this technology that China has been so dominant in sales, both worldwide and locally.
Last year, eight of the 10 best -selling EVs were made in Australia in China, with five from Chinese brands (MG, BYD and Volvo).
