Australia’s new automobile market homes an eclectic mixture of automotive manufacturers from all corners of the globe.
There are the Japanese staples – Toyota, Mazda and Mitsubishi, simply to call a couple of – in addition to European giants together with Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi.
Then there’s the brand new wave of producers arriving from China, led by MG, BYD, and GWM. South Korea has a big stake Down Below by Kia and Hyundai, whereas Tesla and Ford symbolize the US.
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However whereas carmakers symbolize their nation of origin on the worldwide stage, not all of them produce automobiles on residence soil.
The truth is, most of the vehicles you laud for Japanese reliability or European construct high quality are doubtless assembled elsewhere. With that in thoughts, let’s breakdown the place Australia’s best-selling automobiles are literally produced.
| Make/mannequin | Place of manufacture |
|---|---|
| Ford Ranger | Rayong, Thailand |
| Toyota RAV4 | Aichi, Japan |
| Toyota HiLux | Samut Prakan, Thailand |
| Isuzu D-Max | Samut Prakan, Thailand |
| Mitsubishi Outlander | Aichi, Japan |
| Ford Everest | Rayong, Thailand |
| Toyota Corolla | Aichi, Japan |
| Mazda CX-5 | Hiroshima, Japan |
| MG ZS | Both Jiangsu or Shanghai, China |
| Kia Sportage | Gwangju, South Korea |
Ford Ranger
Australia’s favorite car is manufactured in quite a lot of totally different areas, together with South Africa, Argentina, and america, relying in the marketplace during which the Ranger is offered.
Nevertheless, the principle manufacturing hub resides in Rayong, Thailand. Ford’s Thai manufacturing plant produces Ranger fashions for the Asia-Pacific, Australia, and Europe, in addition to elements of Africa and the Center East.
Among the many Ranger automobiles constructed on the Rayong manufacturing facility is the Raptor flagship. Nevertheless, the upcoming Ranger PHEV will come right here from Ford’s Silverton plant in Pretoria, South Africa, the place the Volkswagen Amarok can be completely produced.
Ford Australia offered a complete of 62,593 Rangers in 2024 – making it the primary Blue Oval mannequin for the reason that EB and ED Falcon (1992/93) to assert back-to-back nationwide gross sales victories.
Designed and developed in Australia alongside its Everest SUV sibling, the most recent era Ranger was launched in 2022 and is obtainable in all kinds of physique kinds and (to this point) 4 powertrains, together with single- and twin-turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesels and a 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel.
Pricing ranges from $36,880 earlier than on-road prices for the bottom XL single-cab/chassis, as much as $90,440 plus on-roads for the high-performance 3.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V6-powered Raptor.
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Toyota RAV4
Just like the Ranger, the Toyota RAV4 is in-built a bunch of areas around the globe to serve totally different markets.
World manufacturing centres across the Toyota manufacturing hub in Aichi, Japan, extra particularly the Tahara and Takaoka manufacturing vegetation. All Australian RAV4 fashions are in-built Japan.
Bought over 5 generations since 1994 (with a sixth to return quickly), the RAV4 generated 58,718 gross sales for Toyota in Australia final yr, making it our hottest SUV and the nation’s favorite mid-sized SUV, as effectively usurping the HiLux to develop into the model’s top-seller for the primary time.
All fashions are powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid drivetrain, after the remaining petrol-only variants had been discontinued in 2024.
9 RAV4 grades can be found throughout 5 totally different trim ranges, with a beginning value of $42,260 earlier than on-road prices for the front-wheel drive RAV4 Hybrid GX.
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Toyota HiLux
Whereas Toyota is called a Japanese producer, high-volume fashions such because the HiLux ute are literally constructed elsewhere.
The Australian-market HiLux is manufactured on the Japanese large’s Samrong plant in Samut Prakan province, Thailand, as has been the case since 1975.
Different markets served by the Samrong plant embody New Zealand, Southeast Asia, and Europe.
Toyota recorded 53,499 HiLux deliveries in Australia final yr, considerably greater than the nation’s fourth best-seller.
4 engines are provided throughout the native vary, all with 4 cylinders and three being turbo-diesels. Pricing ranges from $26,475 to $74,310 earlier than on-road prices.
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Isuzu D-Max
The Isuzu D-Max is produced in shut proximity to the HiLux within the Samut Prakan province of Thailand.
Thailand is the most important manufacturing base for the D-Max, which can be assembled elsewhere for regional markets. Over 100 nations import the D-Max from Thailand, together with Australia.
Isuzu offered 30,194 examples Down Below final yr, making it the fourth best-selling mannequin within the nation.
The producer presents 26 particular person variants in Australia, with the off-road prepared Blade and X-Terrain sitting on the high quality.
Two four-cylinder turbo-diesel engines can be found – 1.9-litre and three.0-litre – whereas pricing ranges from $32,700 earlier than on-road prices to $76,990 drive-away.
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Mitsubishi Outlander
Whereas Mitsubishi serves the Chinese language market with a manufacturing facility in Hunan, China, the lion’s share of Outlander manufacturing takes place in Aichi, Japan.
The Okazaki plant serves international markets together with Australia, North America, Europe, and Asia, with each petrol and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variations rolling off the manufacturing line there.
A flexible mid-sized household SUV, the Outlander was Mitsubishi’s best-seller in Australia final yr and that seems unlikely to alter anytime quickly.
It’s obtainable in each five- and seven-seat configurations, and begins from $37,740 earlier than on-road prices for the bottom petrol variant powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine (135kW/244Nm).
PHEV variants are geared up with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol/electrical powertrain producing a mixed 185kW and 450Nm, though all command a big value premium.
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Ford Everest
Just like the Ranger on which it’s primarily based, the Australian-market Ford Everest is constructed on the Blue Oval’s AutoAlliance facility in Rayong, Thailand.
Thailand is Ford’s manufacturing base for body-on-frame SUVs and utes, serving markets together with New Zealand, Southeast Asia, and South Africa.
The Everest outsold the Toyota Prado to develop into Australia’s favorite giant SUV in 2024, when it additionally proved extra standard than different ute-based SUVs such because the Toyota Fortuner. It ain’t low-cost, with value beginning at $54,240 earlier than on-road prices for the bottom Ambiente.
Nevertheless, you get a selection of turbo-diesel powertrains and the choice of seven seats. Add in elective four-wheel drive, and the Everest is effectively arrange for the fashionable Australian household.
Ford just lately launched the Everest Tremor, a more-capable off-roader fitted with Bilstein position-sensitive dampers, new springs, and Basic Grabber AT3 all-terrain tyres as normal.
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Toyota Corolla
All Toyota Corollas offered in Australia are in-built Aichi, Japan, alongside the RAV4 medium SUV.
Spanning 12 generations since 1966, the Corolla topped 50 million international gross sales in 2021, cementing its place as one of many world’s hottest auto nameplates, and the evergreen small hatch and sedan (which was as soon as Toyota Australia’s best-seller bar none) stays the nation’s hottest passenger automobile, with 24,027 delivered in 2024.
All Corolla variants – not together with the high-performance GR Corolla – are powered by a 1.8-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol-electric powertrain producing a mixed energy output of 103kW.
Roughly one yr in the past, Toyota transitioned to a hybrid-only Corolla lineup in Australia.
Pricing begins from $32,110 earlier than on-road prices for the Ascent Sport Hybrid hatch and extends to $40,260 earlier than on-road prices for the ZR Hybrid sedan.
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Mazda CX-5
As soon as Australia’s favorite mid-sized SUV and nonetheless its maker’s biggest-volume mannequin, the Mazda CX-5 is manufactured in Japan like many different fashions on this listing, however this time it’s assembled on the carmaker’s head-office plant at Hiroshima, within the island nation’s far south.
Nonetheless in its second era, the CX-5 generated 22,835 gross sales for Mazda in Australia final yr, making it the seventh best-selling mannequin within the nation.
Costs begin at $36,590 earlier than on-road prices for the bottom G20 Maxx, and high out at $55,000 plus on-roads for the flagship Akera.
Patrons have the choice of three four-cylinder engines, every mated to a six-speed computerized transmission. The Maxx, Maxx Sport and Touring can be found with front-wheel drive, whereas the remainder of the vary is all-wheel drive.
The third era of Mazda’s best-selling household SUV is predicted to launch later this yr, bringing fuel-saving hybrid expertise developed in-house.
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MG ZS
The MG ZS is the one Chinese language-made car on this listing, and it’s manufactured in each Jiangsu and Shanghai.
These SAIC Motor Company manufacturing services additionally serve the UK and European markets, amongst others.
After launching completely as a hybrid car final November, the second-generation MG ZS vary has been expanded to incorporate purely petrol-powered variants.
Pricing begins from $26,990 drive-away for petrol-only fashions, with the hybrid commanding a value premium. Three four-cylinder powertrains are presently provided – naturally aspirated petrol, turbo-petrol, and a petrol-electric hybrid system shared with the MG 3 hatchback.
A mixed 22,629 examples of the previous ZS, beforehand Australia’s favorite small SUV, and its successor had been offered Down Below final yr.
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Kia Sportage
The only South Korean-built automobile amongst Australia’s high 10 best-sellers is the Kia Sportage mid-sized SUV.
All Australian examples are assembled on the Gwangju manufacturing facility, in addition to exports destined for North America, Europe, and different elements of Asia-Pacific.
The Sportage lineup includes 12 variants throughout 4 trim grades. In base specification, it’s one of many few SUVs to nonetheless provide a handbook transmission, whereas the flagship GT-Line HEV options hybrid energy by way of a six-speed computerized transmission.
Pricing ranges from $32,995 to $55,420 plus on-roads.
Now in its fifth era, the Sportage is well Kia’s best-seller in Australia – the model shifted 22,210 of them final yr.
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