Statistics

The following data are new car sales figures for the month of September 2016. For a detailed market analysis, click here. September 2016 Australian New Car Sales Figures Micro (839, up 0.8 per cent): Light under $25k (7798, up 7.6 per cent): Light over $25k (486, up 0.5 per cent): Small under $40k (17,512, up 17.1 per cent): Small over $40k (1680, up 1.6 per cent): Medium under $60k (4270, up 4.2 per cent): Medium over $60k (1890, up 1.8 per cent):

Now that we’re beyond the half-way point of 2016, it’s possible to sit back a little and look at wider segment trends. One of the more interesting developments this year has been the moderate slowdown in growth among small SUVs — the high-riding, city-car based crossovers that have boomed in recent times.

The interminable federal election campaign failed to put a dampener on new vehicle sales last month, with a new all-time record figure set. During June, traditionally the year’s biggest selling month, sales grew by 2.2 per cent to 128,569 to an all-time record high, with SUVs and commercials counterbalancing the 4.5 per cent reduction in passenger cars.

No new-vehicle market segment shed more sales over the first quarter of 2016 against the same period last year than Light Cars, home to the Mazda 2, Hyundai Accent and Toyota Yaris. In what constitutes a sharp decline, light car sales over the period of January 1 to March 31 dipped 13.9 per cent, from 29,399 units over the period last year to 25,316 units in 2016. This means the overall market share of light cars is now just 8.9 per cent. 12 months ago it was 10.6 per cent.

The fact that SUV registrations are steaming along is not exactly going under-reported, but here is a more detailed breakdown from the month of February. SUVs achieved a market share in February (VFACTS) of 38.2 per cent, not far shy of the share of passenger cars (41). This is half the differential of just one year ago.