VFACTS: April 2018 new vehicle sales

Australia’s new vehicle market cooled off in April after a record first-quarter to the calendar year, with the industry’s VFACTS figures reporting 82,930 cars and trucks sold, down 0.2 per cent over the same month last year.

One-third of the way into the sales year, the market tally sits at 374,468 units, up 3.3 per cent over 2017’s all-time record figure. So, this year is still set to be the biggest ever for sales/demo registrations.

April sales always taper off, because March is consistently a massive month, with Japanese brands clearing stock before the end of their financial year, and others wanting to report strong Q1 results. There are also fewer selling days, as a rule of thumb.

As has become the norm, SUVs were the dominant vehicle type, taking 43.6 per cent market share, ahead of passenger vehicles (basically any car that’s not a SUV) on 33.2 per cent, and light commercial vehicles (utes, vans and small buses) 19.4 per cent.

Much of the small market contraction came from NSW, which was down 5.5 per cent and is the nation’s biggest market. By contrast, fellow major populations Victoria and Queensland managed small growth.

Toyota remains top of the pops, managing 16,647 sales (up 3.5 per cent, bucking the trend). This tally is more than the next two brands combined, Mazda (7723, down 10.5 per cent) and Hyundai (7132, up 4.2 per cent).

Next was Mitsubishi on 5508 (up 0.7 per cent), Ford (4822, down 16.9 per cent), Holden (4576, down 21.2 per cent), Kia (4502, up 9.3 per cent), Subaru (4017, up 4.2 per cent), Volkswagen (3918, up 1.3 per cent) and Mercedes-Benz (3256, even).

MB’s big month pushed Nissan (3028, down 9.6 per cent) outside the top 10. Ditto Honda on 3017, which nevertheless was up 6.7 per cent. Rounding out the top 15 were BMW (1823, up 1.2 per cent), Isuzu Ute (1713, up 2.9 per cent) and Audi (1495, up 7.5 per cent).

Some smaller-volume companies that grew in a statistically significant way included, in alphabetical order:

Alfa Romeo (112, up 30.2 per cent), Fiat Professional (108, up 31.7 per cent), Land Rover (733, up 32.8 per cent), LDV (458, up 177.6 per cent!), Lexus (830, up 20.5 per cent), MG (180, up 227.3 per cent), Mini (298, up 9.6 per cent), Peugeot (153, up 14.2 per cent) and Volvo Car (510, up 93.9 per cent!).

Some smaller-volume companies that shrank in a statistically significant way included, in alphabetical order:

Fiat passenger (96, down 40.4 per cent), Jaguar (169, down 15.1 per cent), Porsche (310, down 16.4 per cent), and Suzuki (1085, down 8.9 per cent).

Brands you guys are always interested in, but which were neither up or down hugely, included Jeep (640, down 5.5 per cent), Renault (700, up 3.4 per cent), and Skoda (400, up 7 per cent).

The top-ten most popular vehicles were the Toyota HiLux, Toyota Corolla, Ford Ranger, Mazda 3, Hyundai i30, Hyundai Tucson, Mazda CX-5, Mitsubishi ASX, Toyota Prado and Holden Colorado. Three small cars, four SUVs and three utes.

The top-three vehicles per segment, mostly as defined by VFACTS (within which there are some clear issues, but you have to start somewhere) were:

* 473 Commodores were imported ZB

Top five segments: Mid-size SUV (17.5 per cent share), Small Cars (17.4), 4x4 utes (13.7), Small SUV (12.2), Large SUV (12.1)

Sales type: Private buyers (44.9 per cent share), business buyers (44.7), rental companies (6.6) and government agencies (3.8)

Sales by fuel type: Passenger cars (25,360 petrol, 1156 diesel, 977 hybrid). SUVs (25,567 petrol, diesel 10,412, hybrid 142). Commercials (petrol 1012, diesel 18,225)

Top five source countries: Japan (26,363), Thailand (19,964), Korea (12,925), Germany (6973), USA (3247)

Ute-based SUV sales race: Isuzu MU-X (557), Ford Everest (443), Mitsubishi Pajero Sport (332), Toyota Fortuner (318), Holden Trailblazer (233)

MORE: New car sales news coverage

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