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Endangered Cars
The fastest disappearing car makes and models in Australia
Ever wondered if your first car is still cruising around somewhere? Or if your current ride is on the verge of vanishing from Australia’s roads? At iSelect, we got curious and decided to dig into ABS and BITRE data to discover which car makes and models are at risk of disappearing, how the popularity of once-loved cars has shifted, and which new favourites have taken the wheel.
The fastest disappearing car brands in Australia
Not all cars are built to last forever – and some brands have faded faster than others from Australia’s roads. Over the past decade, shifting consumer preferences, brand retirements, and the rise of SUVs have reshaped the automotive landscape. In this section, we’ll take a closer look at the car brands with the largest decreases in vehicle numbers, revealing which brands are most at risk of going ‘extinct’.
The car brands with the biggest percentage decrease in numbers
Some car brands have faded faster than others from Australia’s roads. Leading the decline is Daewoo, which saw a dramatic 93.5% drop in vehicle numbers over 11 years, shrinking from 71,647 cars in 2013 to just 4,645 in 2024. A budget-friendly favourite in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, Daewoo was withdrawn from sale in Australia in 2004 due to poor sales.
Daihatsu, known for its compact, fuel-efficient cars like the Charade and the Terios, followed with an 80.3% decrease, reflecting its exit from the Australian market in 2006. In third place, Proton, the Malaysian brand that briefly gained traction with its affordable sedans, has seen numbers drop by 76.9% as the brand failed to keep up with competitors.
Surprisingly, even the huge manufacturer Ford has experienced a sharp 42.1% decline since 2013. This drop reflects the end of local manufacturing in 2016.
The car brands with the biggest decrease in numbers
Holden may rank sixth in terms of percentage decline, but it takes the top spot for the largest drop in vehicle numbers on Australian roads. Between 2013 and 2024, Holden’s presence shrank from 2,027,033 vehicles to 1,186,069 – a staggering decrease of 840,964 cars. Holden’s market share also took the biggest hit during this period, dropping sharply by 8.04%. After decades as an Aussie icon with models like the Commodore, this sharp decline reflects the brand’s exit from Australian manufacturing in 2017 and its complete retirement in 2020.
Ford follows closely, with a drop of 655,348 vehicles. This equates to a 6.23% decrease in market share, the second largest decline of all car makes. Meanwhile, Daewoo, which exited the Australian market in 2004, saw a decrease of 67,002 vehicles as older models gradually disappeared from the roads.
The fastest disappearing car models in Australia
While some cars have stood the test of time, others have quietly faded from Australia’s landscape. Whether due to discontinued production, changing trends, or the natural wear and tear of aging vehicles, certain models have experienced dramatic declines over the past decade. In this section, we’ll dive into the car models with the sharpest percentage declines and explore the factors behind their disappearing acts.
The car models with the biggest percentage decrease in numbers
The Suzuki XL7 holds the title of Australia’s fastest-disappearing car, with a 100% decline from 3,209 vehicles in 2013 to none left on the roads by 2024 – making it officially ‘extinct.’ Hot on its heels is the Nissan 300, which is teetering on the edge of extinction with just 9 cars still around, marking a staggering 99.8% drop from 3,890 in 2013.
Interestingly, Mercedes-Benz makes a few notable appearances in the top 10 fastest-disappearing cars, despite not ranking among the top overall declining brands. The Mercedes-Benz 320 saw a sharp 99.1% decrease, while the 240 wasn’t far behind with a 98.5% decline.
The car models with the biggest decrease in numbers
The Holden Commodore tops the list for the biggest decline in vehicle numbers between 2013 and 2024, with a decrease of 569,833 cars. Its longtime rival, the Ford Falcon/Fairmont, isn’t far behind, recording a decline of 482,615 vehicles over the same period. This fierce rivalry extended beyond sales to the battle for market share, where the Commodore again led in decline, losing 4.99% since 2013. The Falcon/Fairmont follows closely with a 4.09% drop. These sharp declines reflect the end of an era for two of Australia’s most iconic cars, both casualties of shifting consumer preferences towards SUVs and utes, combined with the closure of local manufacturing.
The car brands increasing in popularity in Australia
While some car brands have faded from Australia’s roads, others have experienced a surge in popularity, driven by changing consumer preferences, new technologies, and fresh market strategies. In this section, we’ll explore the car brands with the most impressive growth in both percentage and total vehicle numbers, highlighting the rising stars and enduring favourites reshaping Australia’s roads.
The car brands with the biggest percentage growth in numbers
Isuzu has claimed the title of Australia’s fastest growing car brand, with an astonishing 9,694.9% increase in passenger vehicles between 2013 and 2024. Back in 2013, there were just 883 Isuzu passenger vehicles on Australian roads, but by 2024, that number had skyrocketed to 86,489. This surge can be credited to the brand’s strong reputation for durability, and to popular ute models like the MU-X, which have become favourites among tradies, off-road enthusiasts, and families alike.
Following Isuzu’s lead is MG, which has enjoyed a 1,322.7% growth, thanks to its affordable, feature-packed vehicles and newer electric and SUV options. Chery rounds out the top three with a 595.9% increase, after the brand re-entered the Australian market with refreshed models that appeal to budget-conscious drivers without compromising on features.
The car brands with the biggest growth in numbers
Mazda has claimed the top spot for the largest increase in vehicle numbers on Australian roads, adding 632,978 cars since 2013. This growth reflects Mazda’s strong appeal, thanks to its blend of sleek design, fuel efficiency, and reliable performance across popular models like the CX-5 and Mazda3.
In second place is Toyota, with an impressive rise of 554,959 vehicles. While that’s a massive number, it represents just a 21.3% increase – highlighting Toyota’s long-standing dominance in Australia, where models like the HiLux and Corolla have been best-sellers for years.
Meanwhile, among brands that weren’t even on Aussie roads in 2013, Tesla has experienced a remarkable boom. In 2024, 89,240 Teslas were driven on Australian roads, a testament to the rapid adoption of electric vehicles as Australians embrace sustainable transport options.
The car models increasing in popularity in Australia
While some car models have faded into the rear-view mirror, others have surged ahead, becoming staples on Australian roads. In this section, we’ll explore the car models with the most impressive growth, revealing which are seeing popularity on Australian roads.
The car models with the biggest percentage growth in numbers
The Mazda CX-5 takes the crown as the car with the most increased popularity between 2013 and 2024, with an extraordinary 1,695.7% rise. As one of Australia’s best-selling SUVs, the CX-5’s rise is driven by its reputation for safety, value, and comfort – ticking all the boxes for families and city drivers alike.
Hot on its heels is the Honda HR-V, boasting a 1,503.4% growth. This surge reflects Australia’s growing appetite for compact SUVs, with the HR-V’s blend of performance and practicality striking the right chord with drivers looking for comfort and style.
Rounding out the top three is the Mitsubishi ASX, with a 1,403.6% increase, thanks to its compact size, smart interior space, and strong appeal in the ever-growing small SUV segment.
The car models with the biggest growth in numbers
The Hyundai i30 has seen the largest growth in number of vehicles on Australian roads, skyrocketing from 49,526 in 2013 to 395,290 in 2024. This impressive surge highlights the i30’s appeal as a reliable, affordable, and fuel-efficient hatchback. Its combination of sharp design, practical features, and strong value for money has kept it competitive in a crowded market.
Again ranking in the top two is the Mazda CX-5, whose numbers have grown from 15,380 vehicles in 2013 to 276,174 in 2024. The Toyota RAV4 ranks in third place, with an increaseof 225,553 vehicles in just over a decade.
Australia’s best-selling cars then and now
If you were behind the wheel in the 1980s or 1990s, names like the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon were hard to miss. But how many of these iconic cars are still cruising Australia’s roads today? Use our interactive tool to see how many of your old favourites from those eras are still around.
Among the most popular cars manufactured in the 1980s, one model has completely vanished from Australian roads: the Toyota Spacia. Spacias built in the 1980 have faded into history, with none left in circulation by 2024.
Shifting to the 1990s, the Ford Sierra holds the title for the rarest surviving model from that era, with only 15 vehicles manufactured in the 90s still registered in Australia. This sharp decline reflects not just the natural aging of these vehicles but also changing consumer preferences, evolving safety standards, and the challenges of maintaining older models.
The oldest cars in Australia
Vehicles from the early days of motoring are rare sights on Australian roads, but a few brands have managed to stand the test of time. For cars manufactured between 1900 and 1909, Ford and Cadillac hold the title for the most surviving vehicles, with 12 cars each still registered – a nod to the early influence these brands had in automotive history and robust engineering. Moving into the 1910s, Ford dominates with 184 vehicles still on the road, a testament to the enduring legacy of the Model T, often credited with revolutionising mass car production. While these numbers are tiny compared to modern vehicle counts, they highlight the remarkable longevity of some of the earliest cars ever built, cherished by enthusiasts and collectors who keep automotive history alive on today’s roads.
About the data
We have analysed the number and market share of registered passenger vehicles from the Australian Bureau Statistics’ (ABS) Motor Vehicle Census, Australia 31 Jan 2013 to the latest available data from the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics’ (BITRE) report Road Vehicles Australia, January 2024 to highlight the trends in manufacturers and model series.
Due to differences in some naming conventions from different data sets, aggregations have been applied for direct comparisons of the two time periods. For example, in 2013 the Toyota Camry and Toyota Vienta were listed separately by the ABS but in 2024 they were combined as Toyota Camry/Vienta by BITRE.
Another example is the BMW 323. This model is listed under variations ‘BMW 323i’, ‘BMW 323 series’ and ‘BMW 323’ in 2013, but listed under just ‘BMW 323’ in 2024. The three variations have been combined as ‘BMW 323’ for both periods for comparison. Adjustments have also been applied by aggregating brand names when a name change has occurred for the purposes of comparison.
The ‘MINI’ model has been classified under a number of manufacturers from both reporting periods due to changes in ownership and badge listings, including Austin, BMC, Morris, Leyland, BMW, Land Rover and MINI.
Note that a small percentage of passenger vehicles were registered with an unknown make, or with a known make with an unknown model; these have been excluded.
The list of popular models from the 1980s and 1990s was extracted from the top remaining car models that were manufactured from these eras and still registered in the Motor Vehicle Census, Australia 31 Jan 2013.
The ABS and BITRE have adjusted some of the input data to avoid the release of confidential data. Discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.
While care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information presented, iSelect assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions.
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