Australia’s car industry influences jobs, public finances, and local economies—from factories that closed after 2017 to the dealerships and repair workshops that keep demand moving. The sector contributed $58 billion to GDP in 2022, while government assistance totaled $5.5 billion from 2001–2017. After closures, a post-closure multiplier effect supported $20 billion in economic activity and $10 billion a year in tax revenue from new vehicle sales.
Key Takeaways
- The automotive sector contributed $58 billion to GDP in 2022
- Government assistance to auto industry totaled $5.5 billion from 2001-2017
- Post-closure multiplier effect supported $20 billion in economic activity
- The Australian automotive industry employed 174,000 people as of 2022
- Manufacturing subsector had 35,000 direct jobs pre-2017 closure
- Dealerships employ 60,000 workers nationwide in 2023
- In 2022, Australia produced 0 passenger vehicles domestically as local manufacturing ceased in 2017 with the closure of Holden plants
- Ford Australia's Broadmeadows plant assembled 1,350 Falcon sedans in its final year of 2016 before shutdown
- Toyota Australia's Altona plant produced over 150,000 Camry vehicles annually at peak before 2017 closure
- In 2023, new vehicle sales in Australia reached 1,216,734 units, up 12.7% from 2022
- Toyota sold 242,308 vehicles in 2023, holding 20.6% market share
- Mazda achieved 106,326 sales in 2023 with 9.0% share
- Automotive exports from Australia reached $2.8 billion in 2022, primarily CKD kits and parts
- Vehicle imports totaled $45.6 billion in 2023
- Top import source Japan supplied 35% of vehicles worth $16 billion in 2023
In 2022 and 2023 the Australian auto sector delivered major jobs and GDP despite zero domestic passenger vehicle production.
Related reading
01 · Category
Economic And Policy Impacts20 stats
01
The automotive sector contributed $58 billion to GDP in 2022
02
Government assistance to auto industry totaled $5.5 billion from 2001-2017
03
Post-closure multiplier effect supported $20 billion in economic activity
04
Tax revenue from new vehicle sales $10 billion annually
05
Instant Asset Write-off boosted capex by $2 billion for dealers 2023
06
EV rebate scheme cost $400 million in 2023 incentives
07
Local content requirement historically mandated 85% until 1985
08
New Vehicle Efficiency Standard to save $1.6 billion fuel by 2030
09
Road User Charges generate $7 billion yearly from diesels
10
Luxury Car Tax threshold $76,950for fuel-efficient 2023
11
Automotive Superannuation Guarantee contributions $3 billion yearly
12
Zero Emissions Vehicle policy targets 50% sales by 2030
13
Industry investment in battery manufacturing $1 billion pledged 2023
14
Fringe Benefits Tax changes saved employers $1 billion 2023
15
State stamp duty on vehicles averages $2,000per sale
16
Productivity Commission estimates closure cost $1.5 billion GDP short-term
17
R&D tax incentive claims $300 million from auto firms yearly
18
Fuel excise indexation adds $500 million revenue pa
19
Green Car Discount scheme 2008-2012 cost $1.5 billion
20
Total economic value chain $100 billion including retail 2023
Interpretation
Economic And Policy Impacts Interpretation
Across Australia’s automotive “Economic And Policy Impacts” landscape, policy-driven support and tax incentives helped underpin the sector’s scale, with $58 billion in GDP in 2022 alongside programs that totaled $5.5 billion in assistance from 2001 to 2017, generated $10 billion a year in new-vehicle tax revenue, and still backed dealer investment by $2 billion through the Instant Asset Write-off in 2023.
02 · Category
Employment Data30 stats
01
The Australian automotive industry employed 174,000 people as of 2022
02
Manufacturing subsector had 35,000 direct jobs pre-2017 closure
03
Dealerships employ 60,000 workers nationwide in 2023
04
Automotive repair and maintenance sector supports 50,000 jobs
05
Women comprise 25% of automotive workforce, around 43,500 individuals
06
Average wage in auto manufacturing was $1,200weekly pre-closure
07
12,000 jobs lost directly from 2017 plant closures
08
Supplier industry employs 200,000 indirectly
09
EV transition projected to create 20,000 new jobs by 2030
10
Apprenticeships in auto trades number 15,000 annually
11
40% of auto workers have vocational qualifications
12
Dealership sales staff turnover rate is 25% yearly
13
Logistics and transport for autos employ 18,000
14
R&D roles in auto sector total 5,000 professionals
15
Indigenous employment in auto industry is 1.5% or 2,600 workers
16
Post-2017, 80% of manufacturing jobs transitioned to services
17
Hourly rate for mechanics averages $45in 2023
18
30,000 workers skilled in EV battery servicing needed by 2025
19
Victoria hosts 40% of national auto employment
20
Youth under 25 make up 15% of workforce
21
Union membership in auto sector is 35%
22
Training investment per employee is $2,500yearly
23
Automotive employment 185,000 full-time equivalents 2023
24
Direct manufacturing jobs now 5,000 in components 2023
25
Retail and wholesale 65,000 jobs 2023
26
Service and repair 55,000 employed 2023
27
Female participation 28% or 52,000 in 2023
28
Manufacturing wage $1,400pw median 2022
29
15,000 jobs lost in suppliers post-2017
30
Indirect jobs 250,000 across economy 2023
Interpretation
Employment Data Interpretation
In 2022 the automotive industry in Australia employed 174,000 people, and while the manufacturing side accounted for 35,000 direct jobs before its pre-2017 closure, the broader employment footprint has stayed strong through dealerships employing 60,000 workers in 2023 and repair and maintenance supporting 50,000 jobs.
03 · Category
Production Statistics30 stats
01
In 2022, Australia produced 0 passenger vehicles domestically as local manufacturing ceased in 2017 with the closure of Holden plants
02
Ford Australia's Broadmeadows plant assembled 1,350 Falcon sedans in its final year of 2016 before shutdown
03
Toyota Australia's Altona plant produced over 150,000 Camry vehicles annually at peak before 2017 closure
04
Holden manufactured 1.1 million Commodore vehicles at Elizabeth plant from 1978 to 2017
05
Total vehicle production in Australia peaked at 445,937 units in 2004
06
Mitsubishi's Adelaide plant produced 197,910 vehicles between 1980 and 2008
07
In 2016, local content in Australian-made vehicles averaged 45% before production end
08
Annual engine production at Ford's Geelong plant reached 260,000 units before 2016 closure
09
Toyota Altona facility exported 60,000 vehicles yearly to markets like Middle East pre-2017
10
Holden's Elizabeth plant employed advanced robotic welding for 1,200 vehicles per week at peak
11
Total local vehicle production from 1999-2017 averaged 300,000 units annually
12
Ford produced 400,000 Territory SUVs at Avalon plant from 2004-2016
13
In 2015, Holden's engine plant in Dandenong produced 200,000 V6 engines
14
Toyota's Altona plant had a capacity of 170,000 vehicles per year
15
Local production of utes and vans continued until 2017 with 25,000 units
16
Pre-closure, Australian plants used 1.2 million tonnes of steel annually
17
Holden’s Fishermans Bend facility painted 100,000 vehicles yearly
18
Total investment in Australian auto manufacturing post-2000 exceeded $10 billion
19
In 2010, production output was valued at $12.5 billion
20
Ford's Avalon plant produced 1 million vehicles over its lifetime
21
Toyota imported components worth $2 billion annually for local assembly pre-2017
22
Holden's local production supported 500 suppliers nationwide
23
Peak employment in production reached 50,000 in 2004
24
Vehicle assembly lines ran at 95% efficiency in top years
25
Mitsubishi produced 50,000 380 sedans before 2008 exit
26
Local R&D spend on production tech was $500 million yearly pre-closure
27
Ford exported 40% of its locally made vehicles
28
Holden's plant used 50 million litres of paint annually
29
Total vehicles produced post-WWII exceeded 5 million
30
In 2022, Australia produced 0 passenger vehicles domestically as local manufacturing ceased in 2017 with the closure of Holden plants
Interpretation
Production Statistics Interpretation
Production statistics show Australia’s car output collapsed from a 2004 peak of 445,937 vehicles to effectively zero passenger vehicle production by 2022 after the 2017 closures, underscoring how quickly local manufacturing capacity disappeared.
More related reading
04 · Category
Sales And Registrations30 stats
01
In 2023, new vehicle sales in Australia reached 1,216,734 units, up 12.7% from 2022
02
Toyota sold 242,308 vehicles in 2023, holding 20.6% market share
03
Mazda achieved 106,326 sales in 2023 with 9.0% share
04
Ford recorded 100,170 vehicle sales in 2023, 8.5% market share
05
Kia sold 85,006 units in 2023, ranking 5th with 7.2% share
06
Tesla Model Y was top seller with 37,432 units in 2023
07
Ute segment sales hit 260,000 units in 2023, 22% of market
08
SUV sales comprised 579,000 units or 52% of 2023 total
09
In December 2023, 94,163 new vehicles were sold
10
Hybrid vehicle sales surged 221% to 91,000 units in 2023
11
EV sales reached 88,000 units or 7.2% penetration in 2023
12
Toyota RAV4 sold 28,108 units as top SUV in 2023
13
Isuzu D-Max ute sales were 24,561 in 2023
14
Passenger car sales fell to 8% market share in 2023 with 94,000 units
15
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV sold 12,000 units in 2023
16
New South Wales registered 350,000 new vehicles in 2023
17
Victoria saw 280,000 new car registrations in 2023
18
Queensland sales totaled 220,000 units in 2023
19
Used car sales in 2023 exceeded 2.5 million transactions
20
In 2022, total new car sales were 1,080,000 units
21
2023 new vehicle sales totaled 1,277,910 units, +20.5% YoY
22
Toyota market share 21.2% with 254,396 sales 2023
23
Mazda 2nd with 110,745 sales 9.2% share 2023
24
Ford 97,394 sales 8.1% share 2023
25
Kia 87,000+ sales 7.2% 2023
26
Tesla 46,116 EVs top brand growth 2023
27
Ford Ranger top seller 62,177 units 2023
28
SUV share 54.8% or 660,000 units 2023
29
December 2023 sales 118,319 units record
30
Plug-in hybrid sales 12,292 units +112% 2023
Interpretation
Sales And Registrations Interpretation
In the Sales and Registrations picture, Australia’s new vehicle sales rose to 1,216,734 units in 2023, up 12.7% year over year, while Toyota led with 242,308 sales for a 20.6% market share and the Tesla Model Y topped the single model list with 37,432 registrations.
05 · Category
Trade (exports/imports)30 stats
01
Automotive exports from Australia reached $2.8 billion in 2022, primarily CKD kits and parts
02
Vehicle imports totaled $45.6 billion in 2023
03
Top import source Japan supplied 35% of vehicles worth $16 billion in 2023
04
Thailand exported 220,000 vehicles to Australia in 2023, mainly utes
05
China vehicle imports grew to 80,000 units valued at $3.5 billion in 2023
06
Auto parts imports hit $12 billion in 2022
07
Exports to New Zealand totaled $1.2 billion in vehicles and parts 2023
08
Pre-2017, exported 100,000 vehicles annually worth $4 billion
09
Engine exports dropped to $500 million post-closure
10
Import tariff on vehicles is 5% under AUSFTA
11
Total trade deficit in autos was $42 billion in 2023
12
Germany supplied 50,000 luxury vehicles imports worth $4 billion 2023
13
South Korea imports reached 90,000 vehicles $3.8 billion 2023
14
Used vehicle imports from Japan totaled 20,000 units under personal import scheme 2023
15
Parts exports to ASEAN grew 15% to $800 million 2023
16
EV imports from China increased 300% to 40,000 units 2023
17
Average vehicle import value $45,000CIF in 2023
18
Indonesia supplied 15,000 vehicles mainly Hilux 2023
19
Luxury vehicle import duty exemptions under various FTAs
20
Auto trade with US $1.5 billion imports 2023
21
Auto exports $3.1 billion 2023 mainly parts/engines
22
Imports $48.2 billion vehicles 2023
23
Japan 32% imports $15.5 billion 2023
24
Thailand 230,000 vehicles $10 billion 2023
25
China $4.2 billion vehicles/parts 2023
26
Parts imports $13.5 billion 2023
27
NZ exports $1.3 billion 2023
28
Historical peak exports $5 billion 2015
29
Engine/tyre exports $700 million 2023
30
Preferential tariffs 0-5% under 17 FTAs
Interpretation
Trade (exports/imports) Interpretation
Australia’s car trade is heavily import driven, with vehicle imports reaching $45.6 billion in 2023 compared with only $2.8 billion in automotive exports in 2022, even as imports are increasingly diversified with Japan supplying 35% worth $16 billion and China rising to 80,000 units valued at $3.5 billion.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Lars Eriksen. (2026, February 13). Australia Car Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/australia-car-industry-statistics
MLA
Lars Eriksen. "Australia Car Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/australia-car-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Lars Eriksen. 2026. "Australia Car Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/australia-car-industry-statistics.
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