It’s been a tricky couple of years for a lot of of Australia’s automobile manufacturers, which have battled to supply and ship autos within the face of components shortages, COVID outbreaks, and quarantine kinks.

However in 2023 we’ve seen some come roaring again at a sooner tempo than the general market, which is up 8.2 per cent year-on-year (YoY) over the primary half for its finest first-half (H1) end result since 2018.

One of many notable tales for this yr to this point is the efficiency of the Volkswagen Group, which has returned to higher kind on the again of what seems to be improved provide.

The Volkswagen model’s 20,970 first-half gross sales is up 60.6 per cent YoY, the corporate posting its finest figures since 2019 – in different phrases, it’s on a post-COVID bounce.

That is due largely to its core SUV fashions within the Tiguan household (up 203.3 per cent over the identical interval final yr) and T-Roc (up 263.5 per cent).

The German titan has subsequently returned to the general high 10 manufacturers record, and with the brand new Amarok simply now rolling out into sellers, a equally robust second half certainly awaits…

It’s an analogous story for sibling manufacturers Audi (9336 gross sales YTD, up 48 per cent) which posted its finest H1 end result since 2018, in addition to Skoda (3967 gross sales YTD, up 20.7 per cent, its second-best end result on document).

Audi’s progress has come from spikes in deliveries of the A3 (up 122 per cent), Q3 (up 40 per cent) and Q5 (up 29.2 per cent). Skoda’s return to some kind is most attributable to the up to date Karoq SUV (up 122.8 per cent).

Subaru, number-nine in-market this yr, posted a 32.4 per cent achieve over H1 to 22,502 models, with the Forester (up 45.6 per cent) and Outback (up 22.9 per cent) contributing the largest share of extra quantity.

It’s Subaru’s finest H1 efficiency since 2018.

Ford can be monitoring properly this yr, up 33.7 per cent to 38,182 gross sales for its finest H1 end result since 2017. Unsurprisingly the brand new Ranger 4×4 (up 29.2 per cent) has pushed this regardless of ongoing wait instances, alongside the Transit Customized (up 170.2 per cent).

One other historically huge quantity participant that has bounced again to some extent is Nissan, up 13.3 per cent this yr to 17,278 models. Nonetheless, whereas that is an enchancment, it’s down on the identical interval in 2021 (23,982 gross sales).

Nissan sellers went with out sufficient new SUV product final yr, with the new-generation X-Path, Qashqai and Pathfinder making massive impacts, and offsetting an alarming 41.2 per cent quantity drop for the Navara.

Lexus in on monitor for an all-time document after shifting 6910 autos over H1, up 75.5 per cent. Its largest improver by quantity is the NX (up 60 per cent), however the progress was almost unanimous throughout its vary.

Land Rover has additionally rebounded from a poor 2022 exhibiting to be up 42.8 per cent to 3714 models for H1, with the Defender (1620 gross sales, up 111.8 per cent) its clear MVP.

One other Euro model that’s up and about is Mini, which posted a 30.5 per cent quantity achieve over H1 for its finest haul since 2018. The Countryman (up 70.2 per cent) was the motive force.

Lastly Peugeot, which is distributed in Australia by the identical firm as Subaru, is up 17.3 per cent this yr to 1186 models, likewise for its finest end result since 2018 – pushed in equal measure by good points from the brand new 308 small automobile and Companion van.

Huge improvers in 2023

• Audi – 9336 gross sales, up 48 per cent, finest end result since 2018
• Ford – 38,182 gross sales, up 33.7 per cent, finest end result since 2017
• Land Rover – 3714 gross sales, up 42.8 per cent, finest end result since 2021
• Lexus – 6910 gross sales, up 75.5 per cent, finest end result so far
• Mini – 2136 gross sales, up 30.5 per cent, finest end result since 2018
• Nissan – 17,278 gross sales, up 13.3 per cent finest end result since 2021
• Peugeot – 1186 gross sales, up 17.3 per cent, finest end result since 2018
• Skoda – 3967 gross sales, up 20.7 per cent, finest end result since 2021
• Subaru – 22,502 gross sales, up 32.4 per cent. finest end result since 2018
• Volkswagen – 20,970 gross sales, up 60.6 per cent, finest end result since 2019