SUVs strong despite August sales slump
September 3, 2008 by George Skentzos
Overall vehicle sales are down significantly for the second month in a row according to official figures released today by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI).
The report shows that 77,324 cars, trucks and buses were sold in August – down 10,882 vehicles (12.3 percent) compared to the same month last year.
Although the overall year to date sales figure remains marginally ahead of the benchmark 2007 sales record by 0.7 percent – this is down significantly from a 2.6 percent lead in July.
The overall vehicle tally stands at 703,995 thus far, with FCAI Chief Executive Andrew McKellar crediting the slump to interest rate rises.
“Yesterday’s official interest rate cut is a welcome move and will help renew future confidence in the marketplace but unfortunately the figures suggest it may have come too late and further reductions may be necessary,” he said.
The proposed increase to the luxury car tax – which is in effect despite not yet having been passed – has certainly had an effect in the luxury segment with sales falling by almost 20 percent compared to the same month last year.
“This unnecessary and unfair tax grab is continuing to have a damaging impact on the Australian car industry. It is economically irresponsible to persist with this measure in the current circumstances,” Mr McKellar said.
Sales in all segments of the passenger vehicle market were down except for the large SUV segment which increased by 23.3 percent in August despite a greater emphasis on smaller, more fuel efficient cars.
Toyota has retained its top sales position in August with a 22.9 percent market share, leading Holden with 13.8 percent and Ford with 11 percent.
Print it: 
Maybe one day Dudd will actually be more then hot air and deliver his diatribes and wanting lax promises. Cant believe he got in and the “we cant do anymore to help reel in the cost of living” white flag defeatists mentality he stands by. They are his words! NOT MINE! There is lots that can be done and changed……plenty hoopla and little follow through. MAYBE TIME FOR ANOTHER SUMMIT MEETING! He is a bit like spinnaker on my yacht…..heaps of wind and sail is still limp and lifeless!
and if you think last month was bad….wait till this month…it promises to be worse.its really not the cars either,just fuel,interest rates,drought,confidence.if kevin07 wanted to slow things up,well done.i just wish the rtd’s went back to a sane price($8.ouch)
Yep agree. Consumer confidence has ebbed low and is at shocking levels. Seems like Dudd has said to fight inflation is like a 15 round fight. Hope he gets TKO as cannot remotely see him lasting more then 5 seconds. Come on Dudd bring on gabfest and do the talk and PR (with no results). Good at talk and when it comes to the walk….a baby crawls better! Is a laugh how some simple tons blame world events and previous mob. It was not that dark as now and went pair shaped quick since Dudd got in! I used to play football for Panthers…up middle with gusto I would go. No fear and hard as. Dudd reminds me of “THE MAN”… all talk and little results yet states how unreal he is!
SUV’s are a joke. Big fuel guzzlers with little or no 4WD use by owners. They block ones view and are a blight on road when not used in any form of 4WD!
Maybe a special license for 4wd owners that would put off the pretend owners (or at least educate them on things like moving slightly to the left of the lane so people behind can see past etc).
But then you have a host of pretend 4wd’s to worry about that have no purpose (2wd Kluger, 2wd Territory, 2wd Captiva and Hyundai Tuscon City come immediately to mind).
Need 7 seats? Buy a people mover and stop pretending.
“Sales in all segments of the passenger vehicle market were down except for the large SUV segment which increased by 23.3″
So large SUV’s (or in other words, full size 4wd’s) are UP by a 23.3% – lets tell the full story, guys that amounts to a sum total of 233 vehicles. Yep 233. And you can bet that they are ALL mining co fleet.
Meanwhile private sales of SUV’s are DOWN 27% or a massive 2440 vehicles. Paints a different picture doesn’t it?
good call Brett.
Naughtyius Mr kevin Rudd did get in so deal with it our country can now move forward now that he put Hitler and his SS front bench out.About this article who the F—–G hell cares about SUV sales.
Good call Garry. Your comments seem sedate….about as sedate as the business confidence which is at the lowest point.
This erosion obviously you cant pinpoint due to your limited vision but big on rhetoric nothingness is evident. You wouldnt know the economic rollercoaster Aust has been on as your jaded to see it! Maybe one day you can get a grip about out of hand pay rises that has occurred under Dudd and how it really bites into an increase in inflation. Your happy with an increase in living costs and should be happy with current climate! Its not so much Dudd got him as genuis….more so other mobs time up and no new leader before last election!
typo
got in as genuis….more so, etc.
Hey suppose your happy petrol has come down to its lowest level in 4months yet prices have not heaps moved. Another gold star for Romper Room Dudd. Like my other half says…she knows heaps who voted for Dudd but annoyed and wont do same next time around!
Back on topic…..shouldnt owners of these vehicles pay more as Govt should intoduce tax as I feel they use more petrol and penalise others on road as block view. More so why have a AWD or 4WD when me thinks that the driver should be capable enough to drive to whatever he finds and handle it. I reckon driver defensive courses should be compulsory and should be done at certain times through a drivers life on the road! That and take big rigs off road somewhat as they are annoying, speed heaps and create extra stress for other modes of transport.
Bret the logic behind your math is seriously flawed.
23.3 percent does not mean 233 vehicles.
The full story is that in Aug 2008, 962 large SUV’s were sold compared to 780 in Aug 2007. That is a jump of 182 vehicles or 23.3 percent. That is significant when you consider every other passenger vehicle segment experienced decline.
I agree that Dudd does tend to rule by committee but can’t really blame him for the economic down turn. The yank financial system has put the brakes on the economy of the world unfortunately. Just got the feeling that growth in Asia is going to keep driving everything regardless. Probably have a mini recession until banks in America and Europe sort themselves out. Carbon trading is a worry and could really F^&&K this Country. Whole world needs to get together to formulate a carbon trading scheme.Only way it will work without screwing individual countries.
It’s interesting to see Holden sold 4800 Commodores, which is quite high compared to recent months. But over 1500 of those were the new Sportwagon. So without the wagon, they sold 3300 sedans – about the same as Falcon I’m guessing.
Looks like the wagon came just in time.
That last line should have been – Just in time for Holden.
Gift-Ed, most of the top sellers have more than 1 body style. The result’s the result.
Former Govt….6 rate rises in 4.75yrs (the 10 rises is over 11yrs). They had to deal with collapse after Sept 11, etc.
Dudd Govt….4 rate rises in less then 10months is good odds to p*ss us all off and 1 rate fall. And bear in mind bank fees are going up and will erode further what this last rate reduction was meant to achieve. World stage negative comments you refer to REALCARS is not as massive bad as you make out and hang onto – google it! I have read stuff on it!
Couldn’t u pick a better picture than a Klugger?LOL
Not much better lookin then Kluger…..an ancient tired old new upgraded Escape perhaps (not!)
Yeah the sportswagen really helped holden out. Just looking through the sales toyota aurion has slumped big time for the second month in a row. Sold 1088 cars this month. I’m guessing fleets are abandoning it for falcon and commodore?
Holden Epica, 277 sales! Not as good as last month, but better than 37 or whatever tiny number it was getting a few months ago. Just hope it turns enough profit to pay for that ad campaign.
Carbon Trading could see all manufacturing leave this country Naughtyius! Dudd has pushed this and the Libs are too flaccid to oppose it!
Carbon trading will even make electric cars expensive to run given our coal fired power source in this country.
China and India are laughing at us along with half of the rest of the world that have no intention of implementing a carbon trading regime.
Just another tax on business and individuals in this country which will make us even less competitive.
Realcars Says:
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:47 pm ….”Just another tax on business and individuals in this country which will make us even less competitive”
NM RESPONSE….Dudd is firing more blanks. Maybe the cost of living will spiral significant. Its great to see Dudd backflip gaffs again….now declaring “Much, much more to be done in helping Australian families dealing with the cost of living pressures”. With one hand doing deals willy nilly for wage rises (with warnings if implemented will drive up inflation)….and in Dudd’s other hand mega hollow rhethoric with an absurd 4 rate rises in less then 10months of office (during whole previous mobs time in power which was 11yrs there were 10 rate rises). We seen Sept 11 when markets collapsed and its weak mega forgetful ones who state “The economy has collapsed worldwide and its not Dudd’s fault”. So with this inflationary pressures caused major by Dudd, we see luxury car tax increases, business investment at lowest point. And to top it off you admit further tax rises from carbon trading which is not really addressing the issue other then implementation of a mega “USER PAYS” scenario. I know understand how Dudd got in as your a classic!
I for one am not + about car buyers being penalised with a luxury tax threshold. Iam more inclined to get rid of doubling up bureaucrecy and putting end to buckpassing and get rid of State Gov and broaden Federal scene. Then get rid of all perks in Gov, especially when one retires. My deal is one gets there with nothing……and they leave with nothing. The days of the golden hand shakes and being fetted as if rock stars and wined and dined would come to abrupt hault. Then restore the imbalance with penalties like a – increase in Luxury Tax Threshold! Its about time common sense is taken into these hazy tired places of Govt! MEGA SERIOUSLY OVERHAULED!
And Realcars….reality as follows
1. Dudd said he cant do any more to make cost of living easier some 1-2 months ago as he has done as much as he can do on it. Do you remember this?????
2. Yesterday Dudd said “much, much more to be done in helping families dealing with cost of living pressures”
Do you see hot air nothingness backflip here? Forget who one supports here! I for one have had a gutful of the nothingness to this man……the gabfests he is famous for and little action!
Not a labour voter by any means, but I reckon Howard and Co would have been air punching at losing the last election. The fuel was always on its way up, and interest rate rises were always on the cards too. The libs didnt want to make tough calls pre-election, labour wouldnt know how to deal with it anyway. Shortest honeymoon period of any govt I’ve seen, and largely because outside issues have demonstrated their inexperience before they really did anything. Pre election, everyone was worried about whales and trees coz they had the money to have scruples. Now they couldnt give a hoot, as long as fuel comes down and the mortgage rates come down. Its a bit of a shame, really, that the main positive thing about having a labour govt (environmental issues) has been torpedoed by fuel costs and the knee-jerk reactions of the reserve bank. you’d have to wonder what would happen if there was another election now.
George,
No problem with my maths, just copied down the wron figures.
My number of 233 was in fact the increse of Landcruiser figures, which means all the others lost even more ground.
But to keep the perspective, Toyota still lost 2.8% for the month.
My point was that with less than 1000 units/month the large SUV market is is too volatile to make a big headline out of.
All that really indicates is the strength of the resources sector, and how everyone else is hurting.
Why not mention that sports cars under $80,000 are up nearly 5%?
NM:
I assume you are referring to the Honourable Kevin Rudd. Howard, costeelo, nelson, downer, turnbull and co, as with most libs where/are only interested about there own interests and that of their cronies in big business. They where going too far with AWA’s and planning to errect nuclear power stations across the country, with no positive initiatives for Australias future.
They lost get over it.
The Hon. Kevin Rudd has delivered on promises eg. providing a $55 billion Working Families Support Package;
meeting commitments in education, health, infrastructure, defence & climate change; and
investing in the future with three new nation-building funds. He cant do everything promised at once, doing things properly takes time to ensure it is done right for longterm viability.
Getting involved in carbon trading means that Aus. will be involved in a global market worth billions. A good thing.
Declining vehicle sales is related to rising global oil and food prices. Developed countries across the world are struggling with the impact of the global credit crisis and declining confidence, with five of the major G7 economies recording flat or negative growth in the June quarter.
Today’s National Accounts show that while Australia is not immune from global difficulties which are slowing the world economy, we are better placed than most other countries to withstand the fallout.
“Business investment continues to support growth, rising by a strong 4.0 per cent in the quarter to be 9.9 per cent higher over the year. Business investment as a share of the nominal economy is at its highest level since the early 1970s, and expectations for business investment remain strong, with businesses expecting to invest a record $100 billion in 2008-09.”
…..and there endeth the Rudd political advertisment, paid for by all of US.
We return you to normal activities.
Just posting the facts, as opposed to others above.
Banks put interest rates up above the RB rate and will be slow to bring them down. Oil cmpanies are quick to put fuel prices up but are slow to bring them down. Must be a conspiracy to rip us all off! Probably Rudds fault hey NM?
Doesnt really matter who’s in power they are all tarred with the same brush.
I agree we should get rid of state governments, too much money wasted there.
Hey Iam thinking of standing in election….any of you LMAO buffoon guys want to stand as will throw newspaper quotes at you on your beloved Dudd and would thrive to challenge you. Your recall and lax mirage views astound me.
BIG JIM….come on stand and will mull over facts and not your empty blurry beliefs!
pious Says:
September 4th, 2008 at 10:28 am
“….Pre election, everyone was worried about whales and trees coz they had the money to have scruples”
NM response….gee what a load of gibberish nothing that is! People voted for Dudd as:
1. Howard on way out as time was up and he never stoood down before election for Costello
2. Every child or second child in school will have a laptop for EDUCATION REVOLUTION….what a dream with no substance. Obviously BIG JIM believes this….reality is opposite to what done so far! Dudd even recently attacked teachers for not working hard enough as doesnt know how to tackle problem!
3. People were warned about AWA’s with scare mongering by Union’s and ALP. Reality is its worse now then what it was under previous mob.
4. Kyoto is only a hollow victory seized upon by Dudd. Has any deniable footprint changed aside from carbon trading.
5. Waste $ on FuelWatch and GroceryWatch ($13million updated once a month to let people know how much food costs….real smart Mr Bean stuff)
Perhaps the biggest tick of approval is from small business – 47% supported Howard and this has plummeted to 10% as as June 29th. BIG JIM and others like the blame game. Up to the 29th of June….Dudd instigated 135 reviews, committees, commissions, boards, working groups, inquires, discussion papers, summits, consultations and other paper shuffling exercises. That is real rule by insight and advice and not as promised! Maybe he should have another gabfest….invite Hollywood stars, criketers and footballers and roll the sleeves up and sit in the crowd and mull over it, nod approvingly to the cameras and then wine and dine as if a star….but the follow through is lax as! Carbon taxes will smash into working families like a million runaway freight trains.
Figures by the Bureau of Stat show a seasonally adjusted trade deficit of $717 million. Economists expected a surplus of about $100 million. Not good for business sentiment and economy! Real meaty stuff and handled so well and such good steering of economy.
Wont be long and we will get a credit downgrade. Under Keating / Hawke we got 2 downgrades to AAA…..Howard 2 upgrades to AA. With 4 rate rises in 10months….versus 10 rate rises in 11years begs the question of why same pattern as Hawke/Keating?
NM – you preach as if Howard singlehandedly turneed the economy around and ran the export industries of the country……I think you overestimate the power of John Howard. Do you acknowledge the effect of a Chinese lead mining boom as opposed to a Howard lead mining boom? Do you acknowledge the effect of a collapse of the global credit markets (not attributed to the Asutralian PM btw) on the Australian economy?
“With 4 rate rises in 10months….versus 10 rate rises in 11years begs the question of why same pattern as Hawke/Keating?” see above and do an economics degree. The image of politicians as economic managers are somewhat inflated (unless they do as Bush and Obama and start growing money). Rudd may not be the most impressive but thinking Howard was an economic genious…..he was one of the worst federal treasurers the country has ever had.