Electrified vehicles accounted for just over 40% of all new vehicle registrations in January, with battery electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid models continuing to drive demand at the start of the year.
Battery electric vehicles recorded 761 registrations in January, representing 6.4% of the market and higher than the same month last year. Plug-in hybrid vehicles followed with 738 registrations, or 6.3%, while hybrid electric vehicles accounted for 3,312 registrations, making up 28.1%.
Combined, electrified vehicles totalled 4,811 registrations in January, representing 40.8% of all new vehicles registered.
Within the light passenger battery electric segment, BYD dominated the top of the market. The BYD Atto 1 led battery electric registrations with 94 units in January, followed by the BYD Atto 2 with 71 registrations. The MG ZS recorded 60 registrations, while the Volkswagen ID.4 followed on 40 units. The BYD Sealion 7 rounded out the top five with 37 registrations. Total light passenger battery electric registrations reached 729 units for the month.
Plug-in hybrid demand was led by the BYD Sealion 6, which recorded 86 registrations in January. The GWM Haval H6 followed with 75 units, ahead of the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross on 67 registrations. The Jaecoo J7 recorded 45 registrations, while the BYD Sealion 5 completed the top five with 34 units. Total light passenger plug-in hybrid registrations reached 619 units for the month.
Hybrid electric vehicles continued to account for the largest share of electrified demand. The Toyota RAV4 remained the leading hybrid model with 641 registrations in January, followed by the Toyota Corolla Cross on 334 units. The Toyota Yaris Cross recorded 284 registrations, ahead of the Kia Sportage on 169 units and the Toyota Corolla on 153. Total light passenger hybrid registrations reached 3,219 units.
Within the broader light passenger segment, electrified vehicles accounted for just over half of registrations. In contrast, electrified vehicles represented 9.8% of light commercial registrations, down from 25.9% in the same month last year.
Motor Industry Association chief executive Aimee Wiley says the January result points to improving conditions, while highlighting ongoing sensitivity in the market.
“January has opened the year on a stronger footing than the same month last year, with growth coming through most clearly in light passenger vehicles. The increase was supported by higher rental registrations and steady business demand, while private registrations were slightly lower. These results indicate improving conditions, but the market continues to remain sensitive to broader economic and confidence settings,” Wiley says.
Across the total industry, new vehicle registrations reached 11,806 units in January, up 960 vehicles or 8.9% compared with the same month last year.
Light passenger vehicles, including SUVs, accounted for 9,036 registrations, representing 76.5% of the market. Light commercial registrations were broadly steady at 2,359 units, while heavy commercial registrations declined to 411 units.
The Ford Ranger was the top-selling vehicle overall with 688 registrations, followed by the Toyota RAV4 on 641, the Mitsubishi ASX on 492, the Nissan Navara on 405 and the Mitsubishi Outlander on 363.
Overall, the January result is consistent with recent months, indicating the market is continuing to stabilise gradually, with electrified passenger vehicles, rental demand and business fleets providing the strongest support.
Source: Motor Industry Association.
