Five Car Brands Feeling the Squeeze as Chinese Rivals Take Over

The Australian car market is being reshaped at speed, and WA buyers are right in the middle of it. Chinese brands are posting extraordinary growth — BYD up 120 per cent, Chery up 84 per cent, and Geely up a staggering 629 per cent in the first five months of 2026. That growth has to come from somewhere, and several household names are paying the price.

If you're currently driving one of these brands, or considering one, here's a clear-eyed look at where things stand.

The Japanese Brands Are Taking the Hardest Hits

**Mitsubishi** is down 26.4 per cent nationally — and the numbers behind that figure are stark. The brand dropped the Pajero Sport and Eclipse Cross in 2025 and replaced the once-popular ASX with a new Renault-based version that simply isn't selling. Mitsubishi moved just 695 ASX units in five months. Compare that to Chery's 11,309 sales of the Tiggo range in the same period and you understand the problem quickly. The Triton ute is holding its own — good news for the WA tradies and grey nomads who rely on it — but everything else is sliding. An all-new Pajero is expected before year's end, which could matter for WA drivers who spend serious time off the bitumen west of the ranges.

**Nissan** has slipped outside the top 10 sellers nationally, with declines across its entire range. Even the X-Trail, a perennial favourite on Perth's suburban streets, is down 15.3 per cent. Dropping the Juke and Pathfinder hasn't helped the brand's presence, and both were already struggling. The new Navara and a long-overdue new-generation Patrol could change the story in the second half of the year, along with a coming range of hybrid 'e-Power' models.

**Subaru** is down 8.4 per cent, which stings because the brand replaced both its Forester and Outback within a 12-month window — exactly the kind of refresh that's supposed to drive sales up. The new Forester is being outrun in the mid-size SUV segment by the BYD Sealion 7 and GWM Haval H6, with the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro and Geely EX5 closing fast. The Outback's bold new styling has drawn mixed reactions, while it faces stiff competition from the Toyota Prado and Hyundai Santa Fe. For WA buyers who love the Outback for long runs to Esperance or up to the Kimberley, the Wilderness variant is still a capable option — but Subaru needs the second half of 2026 to go much better.

European and Small-Car Brands Are Also Under Pressure

**Suzuki** built its reputation on affordable, compact vehicles — exactly the space Chinese brands have targeted most aggressively. Sales are down across the board, with even the beloved Jimny taking a 12 per cent hit. The new Fronx has added some fresh volume but not enough to offset the broader decline. A limited-edition Jimny Rhino is on the way, which will appeal to WA's dedicated off-road crowd, but a special edition alone won't reverse a structural sales problem.

**Volkswagen** tells a more complicated story — overall sales are down 17 per cent, but the picture is uneven. The Amarok ute has dropped more than 33 per cent, and the T-Roc, T-Cross and Tiguan have all taken significant hits. But VW's EV lineup is gaining real traction, with ID.4 sales up over 455 per cent. The new Crafter and Transporter are also performing strongly. VW needs its Tiguan and incoming Tayron — with new hybrid options — to fire in the second half of the year to avoid finishing 2026 in a worse position than it started.

The bottom line for WA buyers: more choice at more price points than ever before. If you're loyal to one of these brands, check carefully that you're still getting the best value for your money — because the competition is fiercer than it's ever been.