New car sales reach record highs
July 3, 2008 by Alborz Fallah
Logic should dictate that given the rising cost of petrol and increasing petrol prices, the Australian motor vehicle market would suffer, not so. Official VFACTS figures released today by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) indicate that 542,695 new cars, trucks and buses have found new owners in first six months of 2008.
The figures are up 18,319 or 3.5 per cent over the same period last year and for those that remember, 2007 was the best year on record!
For the accountants, 1,068,301 vehicles have been sold in the 2007-08 fiscal year, marking a near 65,000 increase over the previous financial year.
“The continued growth of the motor vehicle market so far this year is an encouraging result given current economic circumstances, business sales in particular have remained resilient in the face of interest rate rises, fuel price increases and general turbulence in world financial markets.” said the chief executive of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, Andrew McKellar
Andrew McKellar said the FCAI is once again forecasting a million-car-year, having initially overcome that milestone last December with a total of 1,049,982.
“While there are reasons to be cautious about the general market outlook in the second half of the year, the industry remains confident that total 2008 sales will once again top a million units,” he said.
So what’s making the numbers? Surely large cars and SUVs are no longer major contributors? The single largest contribution has been from the Medium SUV segment, which has grown a massive 18.5 per cent.
Toyota takes out the top 3 spots with the Corolla coming in first with 24,415 sales, ahead of Holden’s Commodore with 23,323. The HiLux is not that far behind with 22,132 sold so far.
The Small car segment has also grown, by 5,410 sales or 4.6 per cent. Two-wheel drive Pick-up/Cab-chassis sales have increased by 4,158 sales or 12.0 per cent.
Toyota was predictably the most successful brand in Australia with 127,440 sales or 23.5 per cent of the market, followed by Holden with 67,123 (12.4 per cent) and Ford with 54,469 (10.0 per cent).
Print it: 
I don’t think a rise in petrol prices should assume a decrease in car sales, as many maybe downsizing the size of their vehicles.
so much for fuel prices curtailing our obsession with the car. When will the government wake up. We don’t want to give up the car, Australian’s love the freedom that comes with the car.
They keep on about public transport. Well for crying out loud, if they had a decent and above all, consistent transport infrastructure (like many Euro countries) then we might consider adopting it but until then, they can shove the buses and trains. You are lucky to get anywhere on time if you make it home at all!
This is one exception, the Ferry system around Sydney’s foreshore. This has to be the world’s great public transport systems on the best harbour in the world. Pure gold.
Guys, if you want the full wrap up of sales data for June 08, just go to search for “autonews . net . au / static / vfacts / main . html ” and obviously remove the spaces.
Well car sales are at an all time high, unless your Holden and trying to sell the Epica!!!
So we all laughed at the May sales figures of 43 units, but June has got to be the best end of financial year run-out of all time. 37 Epica’s sold, so the only thing running out in Epica showrooms are obviously customers :D
Mondeo sold a respectable 507 units.
Genie Says:
July 3rd, 2008 at 3:47 pm
“Guys, if you want the full wrap up of sales data for June 08, just go to search for “autonews . net . au / static / vfacts / main . html ” and obviously remove the spaces.”
Another dumbarse website with no redirect without the bloody “www”s.
Epica LMFAO!
Lazybones – although your right about the Epica, it’s a bit of a stretch to say the mondeo’s total of 507 units is “respectable”. For a car in that segment the mondeo should really be selling around the 1000 units a month mark. Even the Mitsubishi 380 could do that!
The figures would have to reflect that peeps are changing the size or efficiency of the vehicle they drive….not to mention the fact that many cars look so good now and have safety features that eclipse the older models. Not hard to justify a more efficient car with awesome safety features.
Just imagine still owning a big SUV and trying to shake it in this environment!? You would have to trade it in just to get rid of it I reckon.
Soon you’ll be able to buy a big 4WD for a couple of grand…..if you really need it or stupid enough to think you need it ;)
Hell…I’m selling my Mazda6 diesel coz using 7L/100km average is starting to look thirsty now…
Richo, the mazda 6 is doing around 900 units a month and thats prolly the class leader, Think Ford would be happy to hit around the 750 mark on average, its on the way at least, see what happens, the Epica is soon the be an orphan I’m happy to say :), Viva & Barin next :)
Toyota is relying more haevily on fleet sales of it’s commercials all the time.
Passenger by month 2007/2008
Toyota -2%
Holden -3%
Ford +1.2%
Best selling locally manufactured vehicles June 2008:
Ford 5987
Holden 5895
Toyota 4813
Another thing richo is that Ford said when the mondeo was released again into oz that 500 a month was the best case sales rate to make the operation worth while, meaning they are doing quite nicely.
At the end of the day, despite growth the medium car segment is quite small, with the exception of medium SUV’s like forestor and rav4 obviously.
Subaru sold 788 Liberty’s, mazda 6 sold 807 despite the new version getting rave reviews. The main winners were camry (2261) although given the amount of free publicity thatt toyota has got in the last few months thats not surprising, and mitsubishi lancer (2667) which would have to be near their best month ever surely?
So in a nutshell, 507 isn’t bad. And don’t forget that lancer and camry both start in the low $20k price region, which helps.
The problem with Holden is they keep rebadging old Daewoo designs and try to flog them off to us as new Holden models
“it’s a bit of a stretch to say the mondeo’s total of 507 units is “respectable”
No I would still say that is respectable, Its early days yet and with the new Falcon having a boost in sales i should think the Mondeo is being slightly overlooked.
My prediction would be for steady growth of the Mondeo as its reputation spreads around, and would see it hit close to 1000 per month by mid next year.
You’ve also got to remember, its more about sales estimates
from the vendor. If Ford are happy with 500 then anything above is a bonus and well see the Mondeo on our roads for longer. The 380 originally had sales expectations of well over 1500, which was later down graded and even then it failed to meet its targets. But credit to Mitsubishi for streamlining the business to cope with the reduced sales for so long.
bret so toyota is taking holden and ford fleet customers big deal! based on your figures commodore sells 99.9% of its cars to gov sales and the same for falcon! so toyota is still the chosen company for private buyers!fleet companys are not silly that’s why they are changing why buy a unreliable holden or ford product with no resale value when you can by a toyota and save a bucket load!
Dingo,
You really struggle when it comes to to accepting Toyota shortcomings don’t you.
How the heck do you get “from my figures” commodore and falcon sell 99.9% to govt????? Your ignorance is already legendary you don’t have to keep proving it!
Ford and GM commercial vehicle sales are UP as well, so no Toyota are NOT taking their sales.
Most private sales are PASSENGER vehicles – an area where Toyota sales are DOWN.
Box of Tissues for Dingo please.
bret (who the hell is dingo) ford and holden commercial sales are not up! toyota however is last month hilux nearly outsold commodore again where was anything from your beloved holden or ford camp!and corolla once again outsold commodore! brett do you know that toyota is outselling holden and ford combined! thats right combined! oh the taste of another toyota victory is sweet!
O.W.A.F. (a.k.a dingo dont try and play us for idiots) quit being a d***head and pull your head in. Bret just ignore him his only trying to stir up trouble.
500 mondeos a month is probably all ford can ship in (except deisels)
Hmmm, the arguments are the same as usual, oh well we’ll soon find out if alborz deletes the posts again for doubling up like last time.
Ford commercials UP about 1% market share.
Ford Passenger sales up bu over 6%.
Don’t know actual Holden figures.
Toyota passenger sales DOWN 2%.
Bret,
also keep in mind that the falcon ute hasnt been on sale for a month yet.
expect an even bigger increase once it has a full month of sale time up its sleeve
big deal ford may go from 8% market share to 8.1% try 27.2% market share for toyota in june that’s right bret “ford lover” 27.2% now who’s a d***head! OH WHAT A FEELING!!!!!!!!!
So does this mean that BMW, Merc and Audi are not as good as Toyota because they dont have a 27% market share?
Methinks not!
Market share doesnt necessarily mean better. Please take your Beer-googles off and wake up to reality.
If Toyota made the best cars in the world, there would be no other manufacturers. Ford and Holden have built their reputaion in Australia on cars that appeal to drivers. Toyota built their reputation on QDR (Quality, durability, reliability) which tends to appeal more to consumers. Since the advent of the internet and the spread of consumerism as a culture, Toyota have come forward in market share. Simple as that!
cant wait for the next chapter of hsv a “daewoo viva” or maybe a “hsv barina” now that would appeal to drivers! NOT!!!! because no one will be buying v8’s when fuel hits $2.00 a litre.
as much as i hate to admit it i think ford has gone the right way with a high performance 6cyl like the trd aurion where are you going to find a high performance 4 door passenger car that will do a 13sec qtr mile (aurion 13.6 offical) and still get up to 35mpg highway driving! no v8 will ever do that!$2.00 a litre will be here before the end of 2008 what will it be in 2009! hsv will need to totally revalue it’s current situation when there v8 sales die!
To by a toyota over a Ford or a Holden is unaustralian,anyway toyotas are crap cars & overrated.
PS toyota has no V8 so there boooring just look at them .
oh What A Feeling, you are so full of shit mate, since when can a car that has only 241 kilowatts and 400nm of torque do a quarter in 13.6 when the current FG xr6 pull a 0-100 time in 5.1 secs and do the quarter in 13.3 when it has 270 kilowatts and 533 nm of torque. You really are a F#*#en toss bag. Have a look at power to weight moron and you’ll realise your a dick.
Grow up and give real life performance times instead of blowing up your horse and donkey company toyota..