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Sales slump further in November

By George Skentzos |

After a delay in releasing the official figures due to computer problems, the FCAI has today announced that Australian new vehicle sales have slumped further for November.

Sales slump further in November

Figures released today show that 71,647 cars, trucks and light buses were sold in November – down 22.2 percent (20,434 vehicles) compared to the same month last year.

Equivalent year-to-date new vehicle sales are now down 2.9 percent, with a total of 935,684 vehicles being sold.

“It is clear that people are being more cautious with their money as the magnitude of the global financial crisis deepens,” FCAI Chief Executive Andrew McKellar said.

“On the up-side, there are going to be some very competitive opportunities for anyone considering buying a car in the near future,” Mr McKellar said.

Toyota still holds a dominant sales lead for November, with a market share of 24.4 percent, followed by Holden with 13.6 percent and Ford with 10.1 percent.

This represents 219,984 vehicle sales to date by Toyota in 2008, followed by Holden with 119,520 and Ford with 97,216 vehicles.


 
  • HSV

    I bet that HSV sales are still rising because they are the best cars in the world! Go the mighty HSV take down all the competition!

  • http://skyline The Salesman

    These figures reflect the October quarter. I don’t think we have seen the effect of the interest rate cuts and the huge dealer discounts yet. The December quarter will see s rise i am sure, due to the perfect storm of interest rates, low fuel and increased competition. Certainly from personal experience November was my best month since June this year and December is already shaping up as a strong month at only four days in.

  • WVB

    …………or could people be seeing value in the used car market?

  • Bret

    Salesman, October and December Qtrs?
    The figures are for the MONTH of November.
    Your point however is valid. Sales are picking up with the combination of current factors.

  • http://skyline The Salesman

    WVB,
    Yes, the used car market is doing well, most dealers i know are very much relying on the profit making centre that is used cars at the moment. Most success is in the $10K bracket.
    Buying the right cars is very important as well as pricing trades competitively. Most of the clients tell a similar story as well, walking away from any big commitment they could do with out and paying outright to own a car to reduce monthly commitments.

  • http://skyline The Salesman

    Bret,
    Sorry, i should have said month ending :)

  • MB

    Dealers are screwing people over too with trade in to ty and make something somewhere along the line

  • http://skyline The Salesman

    We call this re structuring. Allot of dealers lost money selling unpopular old stock they had paid too much for before the slump. The market has been hard to read these last few months.
    It should be no surprise the dealer will try and pay less for you trade than what it is worth retail. If you are trading on another car new or used the over all change over figure seems to hold the most weight. Don’t forget you can sell your trade privately if you are not satisfied with the dealer’s price.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=674330849 lazybones

    “I bet that HSV sales are still rising because they are the best cars in the world!”

    www .drive .com .au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=58871&vf=12

    The world is a big place.

    “The December quarter will see s rise i am sure”

    Probably not, since December/Jan a normally quiet anyway. But by the end of Q3 i think we’ll see some action. Even now the drop % wise is not as bad as the 30-40% drop we’re seeing in the US. But I’d agree the used car market will be doing well.

  • 4 LeMans in a row

    ^HSV, Quick question, are you an Australian or Scottish as Walkinshaw is?

    How can you applaud HSV, owned by one Tom Walkinshaw, sending one of Australias favourite sporting sons broke? HSV sponsor HRT, yet HSV have not made a sponsorship payment to HSV for almost 2 years. Walkinshaw has another company contracted to do major work on the HRT cars, so he charges outrageous sums then withholds sponsorship dollars forcing Skaife into handing over control of HRT and leaving Skaife broke.

    All Australians should boycott HSV products until Walkinshaw and HSV stops engaging in criminal tactics.

  • BJ

    ^4 LeMans In A Row – Tom W is a bit of a character isnt he?

    Anti spam word is HSV – I bet HSV wishes he got that one.

  • Reckless1

    Perfect climate for Toyota to increase prices. Hahahaha.

  • Frontman

    MB Says:
    December 4th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
    Actually MB, you say the dealers are screwing people on the trade in price, can I ask a question?
    If you can buy a brand new 08 60th aniversary VE for $29,990.00 D/away, what does that make your 05 VZ worth? What will John the punter pay? Same as your 4 y/o Rio, New car $13,990.00 drive away what can the dealer get for the old one? less GST, less yard fees, less wages, less warranty what is that car worth now? The dealers aren’t screwing anyone, it’s just the natural adjustment made by the buyers.

  • MB

    Depending on the car the dealer can make a profit on the tade i with wholesalers etc….not everyone is suffering in the current climate and are holdng on for their specific model & specs

  • http://skyline The Salesman

    MB,
    True, to a degree. If you do a wholesale tender you can pick up some money. But in order to get the sale in the first place the dealer may have commited to a particular wholesaler who payed above market value to own it.

  • Andrew M

    MB,
    profit aint a dirty word is it??
    i would guess car turnover remains constant.
    when the new cars boom, the A*se falls out of new cars. when the new car sales drop, used cars hold better value.
    you will always find better value in a used car IMO.

    if i had a 15K budget, i would definately fork out for a decent used car over a half baked new car

    4 LeMans in a row,
    I totally agree.
    ive never been a Skaiffe fan, but i feel for they way he was “Used/done over”

    holden does over all their main men first brocky, then lowndes and now skaiffe. watch out Tander, you are next.

    Uncle Tom is bad news.
    i sure hope they dont let him own a licence again

  • Shane

    Holden have reported an up swing in Commodore sales since reducing it’s prices this month, and last month they sold 4400 Commodores to have the top selling vehicle.
    There is big sales happening especially on the V8 models with petrol prices plummeting.

  • Wheelnut

    So Holden are gradually reducing the gap to overall number one – Toyota as well as increasing the gap as Australias Mostr popular car – the VE Commodore..

    2/3s of VE Commodore Sales were V8s before Holden reduced their prices; introduced “anniversary” models or fuel prices dropped.. and of those 2/3s almost 1/2 of the V8s was a Ute

  • http://. Naughtyius Maximus

    Toyota 1st……………..rest still mega sorry sales numbers