In a significant development within the Australian automotive market, the BYD Seal electric sedan has surpassed the Toyota Camry in monthly sales for the first time, as revealed in December’s VFACTS industry report. With 412 units sold, the BYD Seal edged out the Camry, which recorded just 387 deliveries—its lowest monthly performance of 2024.
While the Tesla Model 3 previously outpaced the Camry with a notable 1,732 sales in December, this marks the inaugural occasion that the BYD Seal has led against the iconic Japanese sedan. The declining sales of the Camry in the latter months of 2024—661 in October, 400 in November, and 387 in December—were starkly evident, although it still maintained a considerable lead over the Seal in overall annual sales.
Throughout the calendar year, Toyota delivered a robust 15,401 Camrys, peaking at 2,468 in May and 2,013 in June. In contrast, BYD’s performance with the Seal yielded a total of 6,393 deliveries, with consistent monthly sales exceeding 300 units except for September, when it set a record of 1,002 deliveries in May.
The Seal made its Australian debut in December 2023, achieving 471 deliveries that month while the Camry reached 1,312—a staggering 70.5 percent decrease in year-over-year sales by December 2024.
In October 2023, Toyota halted Camry orders in Australia due to unprecedented demand, revealing that 90 percent of buyers opted for the hybrid model over the traditional petrol variant. Reports indicated that many customers awaiting delivery were switching to the new hybrid model announced the prior month, which was launched after a nearly year-long order pause that saw strong sales performance thanks to a substantial backlog.
The recent surge in the Seal’s sales can be attributed more to Toyota’s ongoing challenges than a dramatic increase in demand for BYD’s electric sedan. Despite this fluctuation, the Seal remains among Australia’s top-selling EVs, even if it trailed behind models such as the MG 4, Tesla Model 3, and Model Y in December sales figures—Tesla’s Model 3 alone recorded 17,094 sales in 2024.
Within the under $60,000 segment for mid-sized passenger vehicles, the Camry and Seal dominated, leaving the Mazda 6, which secured 1,354 sales, far behind. Despite the challenges faced in the latter part of the year, Toyota still achieved a 12.1 percent annual increase, finishing with a total of 241,296 deliveries, solidifying its status as Australia’s best-selling brand.
Meanwhile, BYD, ranked 17th overall, experienced a remarkable 64.5 percent year-on-year growth, concluding 2024 with 20,458 deliveries, largely thanks to the Seal and the newly introduced Sealion 6 SUV.
Both vehicles are comparable in dimensions, with the Camry slightly longer by 120mm, yet they embody contrasting engineering philosophies. The Seal offers single-motor rear-wheel drive and dual-motor all-wheel drive options, with ranges spanning from 460 kilometers to 570 kilometers, while the Camry comes equipped solely with a front-wheel drive hybrid powertrain powered by a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and continuously variable transmission (CVT).
In terms of pricing, the Seal typically commands a higher price point, ranging from AUD 49,888 to AUD 68,748 before on-road costs, compared to the Camry’s range of AUD 39,990 to AUD 53,990.
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Source:www.carexpert.com.au
