July 2011 VFACTS: Holden and Ford lead Australian fightback

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By Tim Beissmann | August 03rd, 2011

The popularity of Australian made cars surged in July, with five of the top 11 models sold for the month produced on our shores.

Meanwhile, Toyota returned to the top of the sales charts as production and stock levels continue to normalise following the Japanese earthquake and tsunami disaster in March.

Official VFACTS data released today by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) shows that 80,991 passenger cars, SUVs and commercial vehicles were sold in July 2011, down 1.7 percent (1385 vehicles) compared with July 2010.

Increased vehicle supply helped Toyota Australia leap well clear of the competition, after two consecutive months of narrowly trailing Holden in second position.

Subaru also enjoyed a strong month, increasing over June, while the other manufacturers in top 10 slipped backwards on the back of a strong end to the 2011 financial year.

Top 10 sales by marque:

Toyota – 12,980
Holden – 10,819
Ford – 7769
Hyundai – 7226
Mazda – 6984
Nissan – 5207
Mitsubishi – 4972
Volkswagen – 3428
Honda – 3257
Subaru – 3022

The Holden Commodore returned to its top-selling position for the month and has once again crept ahead of the Mazda3 as Australia’s most popular car for 2011. After seven months, the Commodore leads by just 81 units.

The Ford Falcon and Ford Territory were a surprise double act in the top 10 for Ford Australia, while the Toyota Camry just missed the list in 11^th place with 1372 vehicles registered in July.

Top 10 sales by model:

Holden Commodore – 3551
Mazda3 – 3290
Toyota HiLux – 3147
Holden Cruze – 3123
Toyota Corolla – 2502
Hyundai i30 – 2232
Ford Falcon – 1835
Mitsubishi Lancer – 1539
Ford Territory – 1445
Mazda2 – 1421

The Hyundai Getz’s domination of the light car segment appears to be over, as the last of the phased out vehicles leave dealerships. It recorded 1094 sales for the month. The Mazda2 was the top seller for July, ahead of the Nissan Micra (1184) and the Toyota Yaris (1121).

The usual suspects did the damage in the small car segment, with the top five sellers all appearing in the overall July top 10. The locally manufactured Holden Cruze was just 168 units away from eclipsing the Mazda3 and scoring an unprecedented 1-2 result for Holden.

The fleet favourite Toyota Camry dominated the medium car segment ahead of the Ford Mondeo (562), Volkswagen Passat (516) and the recently refreshed Honda Accord Euro (482).

The Commodore outsold the Falcon at a rate of almost 2:1, although the Falcon finally cracked the 10,000-sales mark for the year to sit on 10,918 units. The Commodore is on 24,583, while the only other volume seller in the large segment, the Toyota Aurion, sold 778 for the month to hit 5051 for the year. The trio is down 22.5 per cent compared with the same time last year, from 52,322 vehicles to 40,552.

The Subaru Forester (1081) just held off the Hyundai ix35 (1063) and the Nissan X-Trail (1002) to strengthen its lead in the compact SUV segment. The Toyota RAV4 clawed its way back into fourth position with 909 sales.

The Territory was clearly the highest selling SUV in the country for the second consecutive month, dominating the Holden Captiva 7 (765) and the Toyota Prado (655) in the medium SUV segment.

The Volkswagen Touareg (279) narrowly took the points in the luxury SUV category, slotting in ahead of the BMW X3 (258) and the Jeep Grand Cherokee (255).

The Toyota HiLux was the top seller in both the 4×2 and 4×4 pick-up segments (1104 and 2043 respectively). The Commodore-based utility was the next best 4×2 (876) while the Nissan Navara was the second ranked 4×4 pick-up (1238).

Roadtard

Five years on, VE still reigns. BUT! The next Commodore is going to have to raise the bar significantly.

Stan

I think you right. from what i see they have some good motors and transmissions. they have a wonderful ride and build quality is a large step up over the VT generation. what they really need to do is fine tune that motor and transmission package. reduce fuel in the lower bracket. improve the ride slightly, but give better feel to the brakes. even if the brakes are best in class under hard braking, they don’t feel sharp under foot. step 1 improving the interior was good and welcome. but now they need step 2 to go on. it’s still a good looking car and doesn’t need a massive visual change, but a change wont hurt. a model i feel that’s missing is an SV6-V. V series have been very popular, but the only way to get the calais like interior for a V6 is buy the calais. i’m a fan of the calais but love my muscle look outside. currently only available in SSV. But overall improve the quality and don’t stop at 5%, go 25% improvements. and dam it introduce a turbo V6 you wimps. i’m driving a turbo g6e and i’m in car paradise.

Phil

Excuse me, but where is this Australian “fightback”?

Last month:

- Commodore sold 3809 so they are down 300 sales.
- Cruze sold 3387 so they are down 200 sales.
- Falcon sold 1847 so they are down 12 sales.
- Territory sold 1634 so they are down 200 sales.
- Camry sold 1601 so they are down 300 sales.

bangel

A real fight back would be 8000 crummers and 4500 falcoons alah 2003 , small cars continue to dominate .

http://Frosty Hicks

Top 10 sellers: 3 models are small cars. Mazda 2, i30, and the Corolla (which in my opinion is now a mid-sized car)

That is not dominating.
F1MotoGP

I agree with you. People looking at one months figures. Go back 10-20 years and they will see what you mean. As they saying: “One swallow doesn’t make a summer”

118tsi

Give it up bangel.bangel=Phil=Ram.Your only worry is Golf sales going into freefall.

Phil

@ 118tsi and Charger:

Why would I care or worry about Golf sales? I don’t work for or own shares in VW. I just look at the facts and make comments.
The fact about Golfs is that VW sell over 1,000,000 million a year around the world, with limited to no discounting. Falcon and Commodore COMBINED don’t even make 10% of that even after their massive discounting.
Styling is subjective and the fact that Chris Bangel’s BMW models are, so far the highest selling incarnations of their respective models, goes to show that people were satisfied with his styling.

@ Hicks: Cruze, Lancer and Mazda3 are also classified as small cars which makes 6 out of 10 not 3.

Charger

You just cant handle that more people want a proper size car then a german pussbox VW that spends more time in the dealer getting worked on then driven! You are so bias you point of view is null and void Bangel!
anyone sharing the name with the tool chris bangle who designed the worst looking BMW’s has to be a Flog

bangel

SPICKS , camry is mid sized , small is golf , corolla, crude , mazda 3 , large car sales continue to fall through the floor .

Rather a german small performance car than a inefficient fuel gobbling dino large car , carrying one drone .

People dont want a ” proper ” size car , only taxi’s and fleeters are buying crummers and falcoons .

http://Frosty Hicks

@Phil: By engine classifcation only. On the road they are easily mid-sized cars and fuel consumption shows this. Unfortunately we are looking at Australian statistics, not world-wide.

@Bangel: I see that your reading capability is affecting not only my name, but this months statistics and lasts. Commodore and Falcon are again the highest sellers. Yet again you didn’t read that, and spurted out your usual ignorant VW fan boy dribble.

I commend VW’s attempts at creating and advancing their efficiency. Unfortuantely, I, and others (statistically proven) prefer driving a car that suits my needs, and no VW falls within that and my price range.

So whilst I appreciate your concern for the environment and your fuel consumption. It doesn’t excuse you for being a prat to anyone who appreciates driving a car for its use.

I could go on, but I tire at your juevenile mentality, and will continue to let the ‘-’s downrank your comments, statiscally displayed from many previous articles you have chosen to dribble within.

Here endeth the lesson.

Charger

Spot on!!!!! Case and point
bangel

SPICKS , the lesson is crummer and falcon sales are down again , remember they were selling over 14000 a month in 2003 , now its 5400 .

Does that not compute to a considerable fall in sales , whats the point , more small cars were sold in the top 10, 14000+ .

Large cars are no longer on the radar for the private buyer , fleet/taxis yes , but even there co’s are moving to smaller fleets .

Sorry but the facts are the crummer/falcoon are small fish in a big pond of cars .
Phil

Ummm Hicks,: The Falcon did not make it to the “highest seller” for this month or last. It was comfortably outsold by several smaller cars. Maybe you should read the figures yourself instead of accusing other people of not reading them.
However you class cars by their size, doesn’t change the actual fact that people are obviously buying more smaller cars than Commodore/Falcon.

Peanut

It is nice to see ford back in the top 10 vehicles.

Pez

It would be nice to see the new Focus and Fiesta in the top 10, Better cars than the Cruze, Corolla and Lancer.

Jub

They’re too expensive for their size..
http://Frosty Hicks

Fiesta is too niche at the moment to reach those figures. But the new Focus should raise some marks. Regardless of how overpriced it is.

Dave S

Wow, what a difference a month makes.

This month No Golf in the top 10, and Falcon and Territory both in the top 10.

bangel

Dave we all know that they sold 3000 golfs in june because of free on roads , back to a normal month , at least they dont have to drop $10k like ford do on the falcon to shift metal , and its still under 2000 a month ,sad .

scatman

Quite a predicitable response there, do you ever think of anything else. Your worse than a VL driving bogan with your blind loyalty

Norm

I didn’t know blind loyalty makes one a bogan!

With comments like that,I know why you call yourslf scatman.

acfsambo

Has the lpg falcon started being sold yet?

paulb

acfsambo just looked at the Ford website,advertising LPI but doesnt look like its available at the moment.
davie

people have been saying that the new LPI should restore approx 25% of sales.

Is that proving to be the case?

Andrew M

Dave,
The Lpi isnt on sale yet

BrisVegas

Good to see the Falcon and Territory back in the picture. The new model Falcon is due out shortly and LiLPG has only just rolled out, so it will continue to climb.

I can’t see the Focus cracking the top 10 while it’s being imported from Germany. There is just too much demand in Europe for little Oz to get much supply. Perhaps next year when the Thai plant comes on line, they’ll have the volume to compete. Much the same as what happened with the Fiesta…

Scotto

Think they’re looking at late Aug release on the LiLpg falcon, so yet to show in the sales figures.
Randompost

Not to mention there will be no discounting on the new Focus. While it will probably be a great small car, you’d have to think there are better value alternatives given the RRP Ford are asking for them.

Andrew M

Define “value”
If you mean getting 4 wheels for the cheapest price, then yes the Focus wont posess much “value”

Outside of the obvious, then I argue that the Focus does infact have reasonable value.
There hasnt been a price increase and the quality and quantity in the vehicle has gone up, that to me is good “value”

bangel

Dead right the new focus is very good value , a quality car inside and out , one should never buy just on price .
Golfschwein

WHEELS once finished off a comparison test of mid size sedans with the comment, “if it’s not a good car, it’s not good value”, regardless of the bells and whistles count.
Randompost

Andrew M – just look at the competition. New cruze, new elantra for starters. The small car segment is as the article said the most hotly contested segment.
No matter how much better the Focus “may” be, unless the public see it as value they will go with the other options.
FYI, the matter of “no price increase”. The entry level is now the smaller engine which retains the same price as the old entry level model. All the other models cost over what would have been their equivalent. To mask this, Ford changed the specification levels so the public cannot directly compare between the old and new models.
Again I’m not saying this will be a bad car at all, I am questioning if the premium price is justified on a Ford when you can get other quality cars cheaper and still have similar resale values.

bangel

I suggest you actually go and look at a new focus , miles ahead of the crude or elantra for quality build and finish .

This car will worry VW more than holden , because the target customer is more discerning than the holden buyer .

Buyers downsizing are are generally able to afford a quality car and the focus offers this along side a golf .

Check sales of the focus in europe its a big fight with the golf , the chevy crude does not even rate .
Andrew M

QUOTE……….
“you can get other quality cars cheaper”

If by “other quality” you mean “cheaper” quality cars cheaper then isnt that a bit obvious??

Im not saying the Focus is set to become the highest outright volume seller, thats a different side of the ledger.

I also argue that someone like Holden would need to sell twice as many Cruzes as Commodores to turn the same profit.
Vehicles like the Cruze and i30 etc are geared for a volume argument to justify themselves.

Vehicles like the Mazda 3, Golf and now the Focus are squarely aimed at selling a half decent amount (not necesarily the most) whilst building a reputation as a quality motor vehicle.

You are also silly to think a Golf or a 3 sells for the same price on the 2nd hand market as an i30 for eg.
The cheaper vehicles generally have less desire around them as they are just cheap wheels.

The Golf, 3 and Focus will ask more 2nd hand because they are purchased with appreciation.

I personally would purchase a 2nd hand 3 over a new i30 if I had a tight budget of 20K, others may not because the tag of “New” might mean more to them than what it actually is

paulb

Fantastic result for Falcon,Territory,Commodore,Cruze and Camry just outside top 10.
davie

is it possible to get more detail on these figures?

I’m specifically interested in how many mazda6, subaru liberties and ford mondeo’s were sold

http://www.caradvice.com.au Tim Beissmann

Hi Davie

Mazda6: 463 July, 3205 year-to-date, down 34.3 per cent on 2010

Subaru Liberty: 344 July, 2525 ytd, down 38.4 per cent on 2010

Ford Mondeo: 562 July, 3981 ytd, up 43.4 per cent on 2010

Tim Beissmann

BrisVegas

Wow! I didn’t realise the Mondeo was outselling Mazda6. Looks like Mondeo’s diesel + auto combination is the key differentiator.

The new 2.0 ecoboost motor should be a hit in both Mondeo and Falcon too.
anthony

And dont forget about the 482 Honda Accord Euros which are also in that segment.

Martin V.

Is there ever a post where you don’t bring up your precious Accord Euro?

anthony

I only bring it up where relevant.

As far as I last heard,we have freedom of speech and the press in Australia in 2011 ???

anthony

Tim,do you have figures for the rest of the medium class segment,eg it will be interesting to see how many Hyundai I45,Kia Optimas,Suzuki Kizashis,and Volkswagen Jettas were sold.
I beleive VW is almost out of Jettas,and they are expecting the all new model to be a big success again.
anthony

Hi Tim,
Not sure if you saw my message 5 posts down ?

Figures for the Skoda Octavia will also be appreciated,in adition to VW Jetta,etc.

Alexander

How are the Prius/Insight/CT200h going? can anyone provide figures please?

http://www.caradvice.com.au Tim Beissmann

Hi Alexander

Prius: 24 July, 358 ytd, down 69.5 per cent on 2010

Insight: 54 July, 386 ytd

CT 200h: 116 July, 633 ytd (on sale since late-March)

Tim Beissmann

Randompost

Tim to what do you attribute the big decline in Prius sales? Was there a parts shortage ect. after the Japanese tsunami?

Alexander

The Tsunami did have a large effect on Prius availability, although Prius sales took a hit last year when the Camry Hybrid went on sale and havent really recovered since.

Joey

Tim; You wouldn’t know the sales numbers for the Mercedes S-class, Lexus LS & Audi A8?

Thanks

http://www.caradvice.com.au Tim Beissmann

Hi Joey

Audi A8: 13 July, 90 ytd, up 328.6 per cent on 2010

BMW 7 Series: 16 July, 98 ytd, down 32.4 per cent on 2010

Lexus LS: 1 July, 18 ytd, down 51.4 per cent on 2010

Mercedes-Benz S-Class: 10 July, 100 ytd, down 29.6 per cent on 2010

Tim Beissmann

Oswald

If you combine Camry and Aurion – essentially the same car, it would mean there would be 5 Aussie built cars in the top 10.

Gizmo

No they’re not.. They use entirely different engines, drivetrains and so on.. The Aurion uses the 2GR-FE engine.. Where as the ‘Australian’ Camry still uses the old AZ engine..

Martin

Yet they share a common body shell, glasshouse, doors, wheelbase, suspension and (some) interior panels. An Aurion is a Camry with a different nose, dash and tail + a V6,
Damian

If the Corolla hatch and sedan are considered one car it is not too far fetched to consider the Camry and Aurion as the same car.
Devil’s Advocate

So are you saying then Gizmo that the Commodore Omega/Berlina is a different car to the SV6? Or the Calais (V6) is not the same car as the Calais V(V8)? That is what you are implying as these models have different engines too….

Modern Man

VFACTS figures are stated by the government. 6 cylinder cars of camry/falcon size are considered large cars whereas 4 cylinder cars are considered medium. hence toyota chose to have two different names just like the older vienta/camry models so they can show they are competing in two different segments.

Case in point is the old ford explorer. when was a V6 only it was considered a medium SUV, new model and a V8 option, even though the size did not alter much, pushed it into Large SUV and against landcruiser and patrol.

Wierd rules and to be used as a guide only.

Jack

Fingers crossed for Mazda, the little Japanese car company that could..

But I don’t know why everyone is calling the Cruze a small car….to me it would compete with Mondeo/Camry/Accord/Liberty, etc. (the medium crowd) rather than 3/Corolla/i30. Good *deceptive* marketing by Holden on that front I guess.

Gizmo

It is small, By engine and by size.. Camry is larger.. Even the corolla sedan has more boot space then then the Cruze..
Devil’s Advocate

The Cruze is still classed as a small car by today’s standards. However it is larger in bacially all dimensions (other than over-all length) than the VE-VH Commodore. This even includes the wheelbase. Much like the current Corolla sedan which is now larger than the original Australian built Camry.

garyc

Are you reading this Mr Kia Motors? Where is my Kia Sportage I ordered in January. How are you guys ever going to crack the top 10 if you can’t deliver. Ummm

Martin V.

Because Australia comes second after countries where they actually sell in big numbers.

Why would they prioritise stock for a country where the majority of people think they’re too good for a Kia, or too unadventurous to buy something other than a Toyota?

Randompost

I see “Bangle” I stop reading and vote -
BOSSCR

If you are adding Camry and Aurion together, you might as well put Falcon and Territory together giving them a respectable 3270 units for the month (dissapointing to still be trailing Mazda 3,albeit by 20 units).

Alexander

The Territory and Falcon share a lot less than the Camry and Aurion. A Camry and Aurion are the same car! a territory has a totally different body shell with a Falcon. On that principle the VW Polo and Audi A1, Skoda Octavia and VW Golf/Jetta, Toyota Prius and Lexus CT200h etc etc etc should all be added up.
Golfschwein

Well, no, not really….Camry and Aurion identity is only confirmed half way down the production line, in a manner of speaking, when some split off to get a 4 cylinder and some go the other direction for a six, along with different dashes and front sheet metal (rear sheet metal is shared, despite appearances).

You can’t say that of Territory and Falcon. Anyway, Toyota should have stuck with Camry V6 if they wanted them to appear further up the sales charts.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1715760895 Charles Dean

In USA the Camry is offered with a 6cyl..

They also have Avalon and ES from Lexus.. But Avalon and Camry are not the same as Aurion and Camry..
Andrew M

Territory may share less sheet metal,
but the mechanics are identical along with the interior.

The Territory used to have a wider front track to accomodate the AWD capability, but since FG the front end has been identical.

As far as developmental costs go Falcon and Territory could be considered the same as all the important bits cost share in much the same way as the commodore sedan and wagon do

Jarryd

I was just wondering if anyone could provide sales figures breakdown for alfa romeo and jaguar or if someone can direct me to a site where they have sales figures for both makes and models?
greengsg8

here they are but subscriptions start at $410
http://www.fcai.com.au/library/VFACTS%20order%20form%20_10_.pdf
http://www.caradvice.com.au Jim Goose

I think the Falcon peaked with about the XE or XF model. Since then they’ve steadily declined due to bad decisions,changing tastes and size creep in ‘small’ cars like Corolla and Mazda3.Hands up those who believe the Falcon will be with us after 2016? Sales have picked up recently,but its still not looking good.

DE

OK, count my ‘hand up”.
Falcon WILL be here long after 2016, it’s just a matter of what platform it is. My tip is it will be a smaller RWD car, with the “size creep” reversed as it merges with Mustang.
That will leave Australia with:
Large RWD; Commodore (if it survives 50/50 chance)
Upper Medium RWD; Falcon (about 25% cance to be FWD/AWD)
Medium FWD; Camry/Aurion
Upper small FWD; Cruze (still assembled with mostly Korean made parts as it is now)
Medium SUV; Territory (probably won’t be updated beyond current platform)
Medium SUV; Kluger (possible)
Mike

Jim Goose your name said’s it all and instantly tells everyone you drive a VE Commodore like half the people on this page and thinks is the bee’s knee’s with is hard plastic’s and unsupportive seats and fantastic hand brake which nearly breaks your fingers everytime you put it down.

The reason’s why the holden is number one is the fact most cars get sold to fleet’s at very low prices and government agencie’s give them money and make them look good, private sales for The VE commodore are pathetic typical Holden BS.

Mazda sales at least are mostly private buyer’s which means genuine profit on every car sold!