What happened to the Tesla Model Y? Electric car wave washed away by dual-cab utes as Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger and Isuzu D-Max shine in August

Normal new-car broadcasting returned to Australia in August, with the Tesla Model Y slipping out of the top five and the Tesla Model 3 falling out of the top 10, with ute-beaut favourites like the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger and Isuzu D-Max dominating the sales charts.

The Tesla Model Y - Australia's second-best-selling vehicle a handful of months ago - finished August in spot number eight, with 2314 sales.

It wasn't enough to challenge the dynamic ute duo of the HiLux (first spot with 5762 sales) and the Ranger (second spot with 5760 sales).

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In third place was a resurgent Toyota RAV4, which finished the month with 3317 sales, followed by the Isuzu D-Max in fourth, with the Japanese ute recording its best-ever month (3281 sales). Chinese brand MG snuck into fifth spot, with 3193 sales for its ZS in August.

Turning to the battle of the brands, Toyota took out a dominant top position, with the Japanese giant shifting 22,321 vehicles in August - or roughly one in five new cars sold last month.

Mazda finished in second place, with 8458 sales, while Ford finished in third place, with 7898 sales. Hyundai claimed fourth, with 6513 sales, with Kia hot on its heels in fifth with 6510 sales.

Those are big numbers, and they capped off a big month for sales in Australia (what downturn?), with a total 109,966 vehicles sold across August.

“The Australian automotive sector continues to demonstrate its strength, with August recording unprecedented sales figures, reflecting both a high level of demand from Australians and improved supply of vehicles," says FCAI Chief Executive Tony Weber.

“Year-to-date sales have increased 9.9 per cent which is a better indicator of the underlying strength of the market.”