China becomes Australia’s largest car importer for the first time

China has officially overtaken Japan to become the largest supplier of imported cars to the Australian market for the first time. According to data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industry (FCAI), the shift occurred in February, when vehicle shipments from China reached 22,300 units, accounting for approximately 25% of the total import share.

Such indicators allowed China to overtake Japan, whose imports amounted to 21,600 units, as well as Thailand, which shipped 19,400 vehicles. Of the last two countries, residents of the Green Continent mainly receive Toyota cars.

The February data marks a turning point in Japan’s dominance of the Australian car import market since 1998. This shift indicates a rapid shift in consumer preferences towards hybrids and electric vehicles.

The local market is heavily dependent on imports, as the country is left without its own production base. At the same time, the complete absence of duties on imported equipment has made Australia an important market for many global automotive brands.

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