Cars and the Australian Automotive Industry: What You Need to Know

The End of an Era

Australia's relationship with car manufacturing changed fundamentally when the last locally built car — a Toyota Camry — rolled off the Altona assembly line in Melbourne. The closures of Holden (General Motors), Ford, and Toyota ended decades of Australian car manufacturing. Today, every new car sold in Australia is imported.

This is a unique situation among major developed nations and has significant implications for Australian car buyers: pricing, model availability, parts supply, and even which brands succeed in the market.

Before buying any vehicle, always verify its history with a VIN check. The VIN reveals exactly where the car was built and its specifications.

Where Australia's Cars Come From

Japan

Japan remains one of the largest sources of vehicles for Australia. Both countries drive on the left side of the road, so Japanese cars arrive as right-hand drive — no conversion needed. Major Japanese imports include Toyota (Corolla from Japan, LandCruiser from Japan, HiLux from Thailand), Mazda (most models from Japan, CX-series from various plants), Subaru (all models from Japan — Gunma plants), Suzuki (various models from Japan and India), and Mitsubishi (Triton and other models from Thailand).

Thailand

Thailand has become a manufacturing powerhouse for vehicles sold in Australia. Sometimes called the "Detroit of Asia," Thailand produces a significant portion of Australian market vehicles. Key Thai-built vehicles include the Toyota HiLux (Australia's best-selling vehicle — built in Thailand), Ford Ranger (built in Thailand alongside the Everest), Isuzu D-Max and MU-X, Mitsubishi Triton, and Mazda models.

South Korea

Korean manufacturers have become dominant in the Australian market. Hyundai and Kia produce most models in South Korea, and their vehicles are exported to Australia. The Genesis luxury brand also ships from Korea.

Europe

European-built vehicles occupy the premium and specialist segments. BMW (Germany), Mercedes-Benz (Germany and other EU countries), Volkswagen (Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia), Volvo (Sweden and Belgium), and various others.

China

China is a rapidly growing source of vehicles for Australia. MG (owned by SAIC), GWM/Haval, BYD, Chery, and other Chinese brands are expanding their Australian presence. Chinese-built EVs are becoming particularly significant as Australia's EV market grows.

North America

Some vehicles come from US and Mexican plants — notably certain Ford, GM, and RAM models. The RAM 1500, imported and converted by RAM Trucks Australia, is a notable example of a vehicle that requires right-hand drive conversion.

The Thai Connection

Thailand deserves special attention because it supplies such a significant portion of Australia's most popular vehicles. The Thai automotive industry benefits from proximity to Australia, favourable trade agreements (Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement), shared right-hand drive configuration, established supply chains and quality standards, and competitive labour costs.

When you see a Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger, or Isuzu D-Max on Australian roads, you are almost certainly looking at a Thai-built vehicle.

What It Means for Buyers

Pricing

Since all vehicles are imported, Australian pricing includes shipping, import duties (a percentage of the customs value), GST, luxury car tax (for vehicles above a certain threshold), and distributor margins. These add up, which is why cars in Australia often cost more than in the US or Europe.

Model Availability

Australia gets a curated selection of global models. Some vehicles sold in other markets are not available here because demand does not justify the cost of compliance with Australian Design Rules (ADRs), right-hand drive is not offered, or the distributor chooses not to import the model.

Parts and Service

For popular brands with strong Australian distribution (Toyota, Mazda, Hyundai, Kia, Ford), parts availability is excellent. For niche brands or recently launched Chinese marques, parts supply chains are still developing. This is an important consideration when buying, especially for used vehicles — a brand that exits the Australian market can leave owners with parts and service challenges.

Warranty and Support

Despite being imports, vehicles sold through authorised Australian distributors come with full Australian warranties and are supported by local dealer networks. Australian Consumer Law also provides additional protections beyond the manufacturer warranty.

How to Identify Country of Origin

The VIN code reveals where the vehicle was assembled. Common origin codes for Australian market vehicles include J for Japan, K for South Korea, L for China, M for certain Asian countries (India, Thailand, Indonesia), W for Germany, S for United Kingdom, and various codes for other countries.

For a thorough inspection of any vehicle, see our used car buying guide.

The EV Transition

The shift to electric vehicles is reshaping Australia's import landscape. Chinese manufacturers like BYD and MG are leading the affordable EV charge, while Korean brands (Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6) and European brands (BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen) compete in the premium EV space. Tesla imports from China and the US. As the EV market grows, the mix of import sources is shifting significantly.

Where to Find Vehicles

Browse vehicles for sale on Tuble.vip — listings across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and all of Australia. Need auto parts? Check our parts section.