The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) has released VFACTS new car sales data for January, and the results don’t look pretty. The peak body recorded 71,731 sales, down 12.5 per cent over January in 2019, which was itself the worst sales-year since 2011.
However, it would be safe to cite extenuating circumstances, not least the devastating bushfires that have naturally taken precedence for many people over buying that new car, plus drought, coronavirus, and hailstorms.
One of the most commonly asked questions accompnying each month's VFACTS sales report centres around which brand is winning the ute-based SUV sales race.
These rugged body-on-frame, towing-ready offerings clearly have a dedicated following. For the sake of one argument, we do not include Toyota's pricier Prado in this sub-segment, but you could argue the case either way.
Australia’s 2019 new car sales tally finished up almost 8 per cent down on the previous year, making it the worst since 2011.
Self-reported Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries data counted 1,062,867 new vehicles sold. That is more than 90,000 fewer than 2018’s tally.
Each state and territory went backwards, by a minimum of 2.3 per cent (Tasmania) to 16 per cent (Northern Territory). Buyers in New South Wales and Victoria, combined, purchased 60,000 fewer new cars than they did in 2018.
Holden hits new record low, Toyota HiLux under attack, car sales slow for 20th month in a row
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EXCLUSIVE
The true depth of Holden’s sales disaster will be exposed 24 hours from now, with official figures expected to show the former top-selling brand sold just 2665 cars in November – half what it sold at the same time last year and its weakest monthly result since the company was established 71 years ago.
It is the sixth record low for Holden in 11 months. The figure is so low that each of the top three selling cars outsold the entire Holden line-up last month (see tables below).
Ford Ranger 4x4 outsells Toyota HiLux 4x4 for seventh month in a row
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The Ford Ranger four-wheel drive ute has outsold the Toyota HiLux four-wheel drive for the seventh month in a row – the longest winning streak to date for the Blue Oval brand.
However, the Toyota HiLux remains on track to become the best-selling vehicle outright for the fourth year in a row when all variants are included – counted by nameplate according to standard industry practice – as it now has an unassailable lead.
