Australian automotive sales have started strongly in 2012 with a total of 76,783 sold. That’s an increase of 3199 sales compared to the same month last year.
Sadly, we think, the growth is due in part to the seemingly insatiable appetite the Australian market has for SUVs. In this segment sales were up almost 30% on 2011 figures.
“This is an encouraging January sales result and provides a good start to 2012,†FCAI Chief Executive Ian Chalmers said.
“It is mostly being driven by private and business buyers of SUVs and car rental companies updating their passenger car fleets. The number of private buyers for passenger cars declined by 8.4 per cent compared with this time last year.â€
Toyota, Holden and Mazda have started the year as the top three selling marques.
Strong start to new vehicle sales in 2012
3rd February, 2012
The new vehicle market has started the year with a solid result, thanks mostly to Australians’ growing preference for sports utility vehicles (SUVs).
Official VFACTS data released today by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) shows that 76,783 passenger cars, SUVs and commercial vehicles were sold in January (up 4.3 per cent or 3,199 vehicles compared to the same month in 2011).
“This is an encouraging January sales result and provides a good start to 2012,†FCAI Chief Executive Ian Chalmers said.
“It is mostly being driven by private (27.7% or 2,533 more than Jan 2011) and business (32.3% or 2,233 more) buyers of SUVs and car rental companies updating their passenger car fleets (up 55.6% or 583 compared with Jan 2011). The number of private buyers for passenger cars declined by 8.4 per cent (2,314) compared with this time last year,†he said.
Queensland continued the strong sales growth it displayed at the end of last year, with new vehicle sales in that state up by 18.3 per cent or two and a half thousand vehicles compared to the same period in 2011.
Toyota was the best performing brand in January with a market share of 18.3 per cent followed by Holden with 11.8 per cent and then Mazda with an 11 per cent share.
The New Year Starts Strong for Hyundai
Hyundai has recorded its best-ever January sales result since the brand was introduced to Australia in 1986. Hyundai Motor Company Australia (HMCA) finished in fourth position overall with 6,513 sales, an increase of 2% over the same period last year, achieving a total market share of 8.5%.
In passenger car sales, Hyundai also ranked fourth for the month with 4,946 vehicles sold, and a market share of 11.6%.
Hyundai was second in the light car segment with a combined market share of 16.4% for i20 and Accent models, third in the small car segment with a combined market share of 13.9% for the i30 and Elantra models and third in the medium car segment with a combined market share of 7% for i45 and i40 Tourer models.
“This is a great way to kick off another busy year for Hyundai just as the new Veloster is about to be launched,†said Damien Meredith, Director of Sales, Hyundai Motor Company Australia. “In 2012, Hyundai plans to respond flexibly to the market and create new opportunities by focusing on quality to achieve qualitative growth.â€
In the U.S., Hyundai Motor America (HMA) has again set an all-time monthly sales record with total sales for January of 42,694 vehicles, an increase of 15% January 2012 v. January 2011.
Hyundai Motor Company has seen an overall increase in global sales of 3.5% rising from 310,925 units in January 2011 to 321,757 units in January 2012.
Hyundai’s Australian highlights include:
- iMax ranked second in the People Mover segment, posting a sales result of 181 units and a 19% market share.
- ix35 ranked second in the Small SUV segment, achieving 865 vehicle sales and a market share of 20.6%.
- iLoad ranked second in the Van/CC 2.5-3.5t segment, posting a sales result of 448 units and a 37% market share.
Mazda Posts Record Sales and Market Share
Mazda Australia has smashed its previous January best with 8,479 sales last month, providing it with an 11.0 per cent market share, according to official VFACTS figures released today.
This is an increase of 1,279 new vehicles or 17.8 per cent on last January and in addition to its record market share also makes it Mazda’s fourth best month ever.
There were several star performers across the range with Mazda3, Australia’s best-selling car in 2011, picking up where it left off with 4,045 sales to again top the sales charts.
This is now the third time in the past year that the Mazda3 has found more than 4,000 buyers in a single month.
In the light segment, Mazda2 kept its lead position with 1,624 January sales and its third strongest month ever. This is a 19% increase over the same month last year.
Mazda6 started the new year in style. Recently upgraded with leather upholstery and parking sensors across the range, Mazda6 record 663 sales, its strongest month in over a year.
Also vying for the limelight was CX-7 which secured its best ever result with 1,167 sales to claim second place in the hotly contested Medium SUV segment.
And with the All-New CX-5 about to hit Australian shores, Mazda is optimistic about achieving further SUV sales success.
Mazda Australia managing director, Doug Dickson said, “We are both delighted and humbled by customer acceptance of our whole range during January. While we are quietly confident of a strong year, particularly with the imminent launch of our all-new CX-5, our primary focus will remain on looking after our customers.”
Toyota tops car sales for January
Toyota Australia has kicked-off 2012 with a strong market-leading sales performance despite a severe shortage of its top-selling HiLux.
The company was number one in sales of passenger cars, SUVs and light-commercial vehicles for January.
Toyota sold more than 14,000 vehicles for the month, giving it a lead of more than 55 per cent or 5,000 sales over its nearest rival.
This was despite fewer than 1,100 HiLux being sold – about one-third the normal level – due to lack of supply.
The company said stocks of HiLux utes will improve in coming months with the Thailand factory back to normal production following severe floods in October and November last year.
Toyota Australia’s executive director sales and marketing Matthew Callachor said the overall result showed the strength of Toyota’s diverse range.
“Camry celebrated the arrival of the new seventh-generation range with sales up 22 per cent on the same month last year,” he said.
“With a new Camry Hybrid due inside two months, the new Camry range is set to extend its 18 consecutive years as Australia’s best-selling medium car.
“Toyota also had strong results with Kluger and Prado taking the top two positions in the large SUV segment and LandCruiser 200 Series continuing its leadership of the upper-large SUV segment,” Mr Callachor said.
“Corolla topped 3,300 sales for the month to be Australia’s second most popular vehicle, while HiAce performed well as the best-selling van and best-selling light bus.
“Even with low supply, HiLux was the most popular 4×2 ute and we expect all HiLux stock to improve in February and beyond.”