FCAI

Australia's peak automotive industry body is urging drivers and passengers to conduct a simple but potentially life-saving check from their smartphones to see if their vehicle they're travelling in requires urgent airbag replacement under the ongoing compulsory Takata recall.

EXCLUSIVE Industry insiders have estimated new-car deliveries fell by between 40 and 60 per cent in April as the coronavirus lockdowns slammed the brakes on the market – even though all dealerships were allowed to remain open as an "essential service", and many also adopted online sales to abide by social distancing requirements.

Industry analysts have forecast the biggest fall in new-car sales since the Global Financial Crisis in the US, as Australian dealers report the toughest conditions in memory – however the sharp declines are likely to drive mega deals in April. New-car showrooms across Australia remain open – although some have reduced hours – as the industry has switched to a “contactless” sales model.

Australia's Takata airbag recall is almost 80 per cent complete, but the ACCC data says there are three brands with a conversion rate below 70 per cent. A combination of heat and humidity can make the propellant in Takata airbag inflators degrade over time. In an accident where the airbags deploy, metal fragments could shoot into the cabin, posing a serious risk of injury or death to passengers.

Sales of new vehicles in Australia fell almost 10 per cent in June compared to the same month in 2018, making it 15 successive months of decline. The June tally of 117,817 vehicles was 9.6 per cent less than the 130,300 sold in June 2018. It’s also the worst June tally since 2012. At the halfway point of the year, sales across the six months sit at 554,466 units, which is 8.4 per cent fewer (equating to 51,056 units) than the same period in 2018.