Car news today: VFACTS results for December 2024, Genesis unveils facelifted GV60, Chery bringing three new hybrid vehicles to Australia, and more – 6 January 2025

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Thanks for joining us this Monday January 06th 2024. Notably in car news today: VFACT for December 2024 confirm a softening of the sales market in Australia, and Genesis facelifts its electric GV60 for MY25.

Browse this issue:

• VFACTS results for December 2024 – new car market softens during the last quarter
• Genesis unveils freshly remodelled GV60 
• Chery to bring three new hybrid vehicles to market in 2025
• Toyota breaks yearly sales record on the back of strong hybrid growth
• Reviewed: 2025 Suzuki S-Cross AllGrip Prestige 

VFACTS results in for December 2024 – new car sales soften during the last quarter 

• Official numbers for Australia’s new vehicle sales for December 2024 are in. Overall sales are up compared to last year, however numbers are softening with 2.7 percent fewer new vehicles sold in December 2024 compared to December 2023.

• This is particularly clear in the private sector, with sales figures falling after a strong start to 2024. High interest rates and cost of living pressures are said to be the leading cause for this according to industry sources.
  

• Hybrid sales continue to climb, with 14.1 per cent of new cars sold being hybrid vehicles, and 1.9 per cent being plug-in hybrids. SUVs and light commercial vehicles (dual-cab utes) continue to dominate sales in Australia.
  
• Toyota takes top position as market leader for the year, selling 18,657 vehicles in December. This is followed by Ford (8305 vehicles), Mazda (7256), Kia (6302 vehicles) and Mitsubishi (5754 vehicles).
  

Genesis unveils freshly facelifted GV60 

• A freshly facelifted Genesis GV60 was revealed today, the first time this model has been updated since the vehicle’s global launch back in 2021.
  
• Key changes to the exterior include a new front bumper and headlamps and the inclusion of 21-inch wheels. Colour matched skid plates and fender flares are also planned for the 2025 GV60 update. 

• Interior upgrades are also expected for 2025, with the inclusions of a new three-spoke steering wheel, 27-inch infotainment screen, and more luxurious cabin trim.
  
• Final specifications and pricing have not been confirmed at the time of publishing, however these will be announced ahead of the Korean launch in the first quarter of 2025. The Australian launch is expected in the third-quarter of 2025.
  

WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMLtesWXnc4 

Chery to bring three new hybrid vehicles to market in 2025

• While pricing has yet to be confirmed, Chasing Cars can confirm that Chinese manufacturer Chery will be bringing three new vehicles to Australia in the first half of 2025.  

• These vehicles are expected to be a hybrid version of the Tiggo 4 Pro, as well as plug-in hybrid Tiggo 7 Pro and Tiggo 8 Pro models. 

• Being new models arriving in a competitive and shrinking market, it’s expected these hybrid models will come in with sharp pricing, potentially arriving as the most affordable hybrid models on sale in Australia.
   
• If we look at the petrol-powered Tiggo 4 which is priced from $23,990, one would have to assume Chery will be aiming to undercut its competition such as the MG 3 Hybrid, currently the most affordable hybrid on sale in Australia at $28,990 driveaway.
  

READ: https://www.chasingcars.com.au/chery/  

WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ltGXd2jxqw 

Toyota hits half-million hybrid sales milestone

• Toyota has just achieved a milestone of selling over 500,000 hybrid vehicles in Australia. This was achieved in December 2024, with the half-millionth hybrid, a RAV4, rolling out the dealership forecourt.
  
• Hybrid-electric vehicles accounted for 48.9 per cent of sales for Toyota in 2024. This figure has risen from 33.5 per cent achieved in 2023.

• In 2024, Toyota sold 118,081 hybrid electric vehicles. This is an increase of 45,997 vehicles compared to 2023. 

• RAV4 has topped the hybrid sales charts for the second year in a row. Official sales figures are 55,902 units sold in 2024. In 2023, this figure was 25,666. This clearly shows Australia has an appetite for hybrid vehicles, especially considering the high cost of fuel currently. 

Suzuki S-Cross AllGrip Prestige reviewed

• Chasing Cars Deputy Editor, Curt Dupriez’ review of the 2025 Suzuki S-Cross AllGrip Prestige was recently published, including his thoughts on the most expensive Suzuki model. .
  
• Strong points for the S-Cross include lively performance from the 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol motor, and a proper automatic gearbox with torque converter auto rather than a CVT.
  

• However the high pricing, as well as average ride and handling characteristics make the S-Cross a hard sell in a super competitive field.
  
• Dupriez was left asking the question of why would you buy this model, instead of the more affordable Suzuki Vitara stablemate? 

READ: Link to written review 

The next issue of Car News Today will be published on Tuesday 7th January at 4.30pm Sydney time.