- shares New-car sales continue to show signs of a strong recovery as the Australian economy bounces back from coronavirus lockdowns and border restrictions imposed through much of last year. Official new-car sales figures for May 2021 released today show demand for new motor vehicles has returned to pre-COVID19 levels, but it was the second-best May result rather than a record. A total of 100,809 new vehicles were reported as sold in May 2021, an increase of 68.3 per cent compared to the disastrous May 2020 result posted in the grip of the coronavirus crisis. May was only the second month this year to eclipse 100,000 new-car sales, and it was the third time in three years May has been in six-figure territory.