New vehicle sales report – July 2012

After the euphoria of an end of financial year inspired all-time monthly record in June, Australia’s new vehicle sales came back to reality in July, with 86,641 vehicles walking out the door.

The official VFACTS figures show there’s still a strong demand for SUVs. Although at least buyers are downsizing their SUVs and even keen to take up diesel-powered models.

Year-to-date a total of 634,495 new vehicles have been sold in 2012, an increase of almost 10% compared to the same period in 2011.

Toyota (17,780 sales) maintains its stranglehold at the top of the monthly sales charts, ahead of Holden (8,936) and Mazda (7,951). The top three selling models last month were the Toyota HiLux (4,163), the Mazda 3 (3,355) and the Toyota Corolla (2,985).

Aussies’ preferred vehicles are small, sporty and diesel

Growth in sales of small Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) is rapidly outpacing larger SUV models in 2012 according to the official VFACTS data released today by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI).

While sales of SUVs in all categories have grown 31.9 per cent overall (42,802 to 177,100 units) compared with the same period in 2011, sales of the small SUV segment have grown 61.6 per cent (13,642 units).

Overall sales growth for SUVs is being driven by private and non-private customers, both of which are showing a trend toward diesel-powered models. There was 59.9 per cent growth in private purchases, and 36.3 per cent in non-private purchases of diesel SUVs compared with the same seven months in 2011. SUVs now make up 27.9 per cent of new vehicle sales year to date, compared with 23.3 per cent at this time in 2011. Passenger vehicles still represent 51.9 per cent of new vehicle sales.

Overall, 634,495 vehicles (cars, SUVs, light commercials and trucks) have been sold since the beginning of 2012. This is a 9.9 per cent increase (57,268 vehicles) on sales for the first seven months of 2011. July sales increased in every state and territory compared with the previous July, although Tasmanian sales are down 6.2 per cent on a year to date basis.

On a month to month basis, 86,641 vehicles were sold in July 2012, an increase of 7.0 per cent (or 5,650 vehicles) compared to July 2011.

Compared with the first seven months of 2011, private purchases of vehicles have increased by 11.3 per cent but government purchases have decreased 7.7 per cent.

Sales of locally manufactured vehicles are still strong, with nearly 80,000 sold for the year to date, up 4.1 per cent from just over 76,000 this time last year.

For the fourth month in a row, the popular Mazda3 (3,355) was outsold by the Toyota HiLux with 4,163 sales, followed by the Toyota Corolla (2,985), the Holden Commodore (2,399) and the Nissan Navara (2,164).

Toyota was the best performing brand overall in June selling 17,780 vehicles, followed by Holden with 8,936 and then Mazda with 7,951.

Top 10 selling marques – July 2012

1. Toyota – 17,780
2. Holden – 8,936
3. Mazda – 7,951
4. Hyundai – 7,607
5. Ford – 6,903
6. Nissan – 6,155
7. Volkswagen – 3,964
8. Mitsubishi – 3,428
9. Subaru – 3,023
10. Honda – 2,869

Six Podium Finishes for Hyundai in July Sales Results

In an industry record July month, that saw 86,641 vehicles sold nationally, Hyundai Motor Company Australia (HMCA) finished in fourth position overall with 7,607 sales in June, an increase of +5.3% over the previous year and secured a total market share of 8.8%.

In passenger car sales, Hyundai ranked second for the month, with 5,707 vehicles sold and a market share of 13.2%.

The month saw HMCA achieve a number of ‘top three’ including segment leading placements for Veloster (sixth consecutive month since launch) and iLoad, second placing for i20, iMax and ix35 (third consecutive month); as well as third place for i30 in their respective segments.

Hyundai led the Light segment with a segment share of 17.3%, achieved through combined sales of its i20 and Accent models. In the Small segment Hyundai placed third with combined sales for the i30 and Elantra of 2,754 units to give a segment share of 15.4%.

“The second place result for our passenger cars is very encouraging, supported by six top three results across the range,” said Damien Meredith, Director of Sales, Hyundai Motor Company Australia. “This is a great start to the second half of 2012 and we are looking forward to the new Veloster SR Turbo hitting the streets this month.”

In the U.S., Hyundai Motor America (HMA) announced an all-time July sales record of 62,021 units, up +4.1% over a record breaking July 2011.

Hyundai Motor Company has seen an overall increase in global sales of +3.1% YOY rising from 322,039 units in July 2011 to 332,027 units in July 2012.

Hyundai’s Australian highlights include:

• Veloster ranked first in the Sports segment, posting a sales result of 360 units and a 18.8% total segment share.
  
• iLoad ranked first in the Van/CC 2.5-3.5t segment, achieving 591 vehicle sales and a segment share of 38.4%.
  
• ix35 ranked second in the SUV Small segment, posting a sales result of 942 units and a 19.4% segment share.
  
• i20 ranked second place in the Light segment achieving 1,382 vehicle sales and a segment share of 12.5%.
  
• iMax ranked second in the People Mover segment, posting a sales result of 163 units and a 17.1% segment share.
  
• i30 ranked third place in the Small segment, achieving 2,045 vehicle sales and a segment share of 11.4%.

Mazda Celebrates July Sales Joy

Mazda Australia has posted its best ever July result with 7,951 new cars sold last month and remains on target for another record-breaking year.

According to VFACTS figures released today, last month’s result beat Mazda’s previous best July total, set in 2010, by more than 600 vehicles. The result is almost 14 per cent ahead of the same month last year.

Mazda’s Year-To-Date (YTD) sales performance remains on record pace, having sold 60,084 cars through to July 31, an increase of 18.3 per cent on last year. Mazda has 9.5 per cent market share.

The Mazda3 maintained its place as Australia’s number one car, with 3,355 sold in July and 25,168 so far this year – giving the stylish model an 18.2 per cent share of the small car under $40,000 segment.

The All-New Mazda CX-5 again topped the Medium SUV segment with 1,483 sales. So far this year, Australian new cars buyers have taken home 8,040 CX-5s.

The enduring appeal of the Mazda2 saw Mazda’s little hatch notch up its 38th consecutive month of more than 1000 sales, securing 1272 retails last month.

Sales figures for the Mazda BT-50 also continued to rise. July’s result of 1,011 is the fifth time this year the BT-50 utility has sold over 1,000 vehicles in a month. Year-to-date sales of 4×4 variants of BT-50 have increased by 95 per cent.

With the Mazda2, Mazda3, CX-5 and the BT-50 all selling strongly, Mazda is looking forward to further strong sales and market growth with the addition of new models including the upcoming All-New Mazda6.

Mazda Australia Managing Director, Doug Dickson said, “We are delighted with customer support for our whole Mazda range. And there is more to come with an all-new Mazda6 arriving next year to keep the momentum going.”

Record July for Nissan

Nissan has achieved a record sales result for the third month in succession after recording 6,148 sales in July, according to internal numbers announced today.

July 2012 was the strongest July for Nissan as a full-line importer and was 18 percent above July 2011, compared with Total Industry Volume up by around six percent.

Three consistently high performing models – Navara, X-TRAIL and DUALIS – all recorded their best ever July result.

Navara, one of the best-selling models in the Australian market, is on-track to achieve a record financial year sales result based on the success of 2012 April to July.

In the booming compact SUV market, DUALIS is up 75 percent on same month last year, underlining its appeal in this increasingly competitive segment and despite the recent arrival of several new competitors.

“To continue such impressive growth in a competitive market is a credit to our hard working people right across the country,” said Nissan Australia CEO William F Peffer Jr.

“After a highly impressive end to the Australian financial year, we have again earned our ‘unfair share’ for July, a traditionally slow sales month.

“The success of our marketing communications, including our new brand campaign, combined with solid and simple offers have seen us continue to out-perform the industry.

“We are determined to continue delivering ‘Innovation That Excites’ and with new models such as Almera, Patrol and the return of Pulsar all on the horizon, we are energised about our future.”

Nissan’s genuine parts business continues to grow, also recording a record sales result for July, up 116 percent on the same time last year.

“The success of Nissan Genuine Parts is a reflection on the Nissan dealer network’s commitment to customer care as the number of Nissan models on Australian roads grows and grows.”

Toyota surges on back of HiLux

Australians are buying Toyota vehicles this year at the rate of 580 a day – close to double the pace of any other automotive brand, according to official figures released today.

Toyota’s sales have been buoyed by a continued resurgence in arrivals of the ever-popular HiLux – Australia’s best-selling vehicle in July and its fourth consecutive month at the top.

Continued strong performances from Toyota’s passenger cars and SUVs – particularly Corolla, Camry, Yaris, RAV4, Prado, Kluger and LandCruiser – have lifted Toyota’s sales tally by 26.2 per cent this year.

Local motorists have taken delivery of 123,815 Toyota cars, SUVs and light-commercial vehicles in 2012 – more than 25,000 ahead of the same stage in 2011.

This year’s buying rate of 581 Toyota vehicles for each of the 213 days to the end of July compares with 306 for the nearest rival, which translates into an overall sales lead of 58,696 for Toyota.

In July alone, Toyota dealers delivered 17,780 vehicles to customers – 4,800 vehicles or 37 per cent more than for the same month last year.

Toyota’s sales for the month were greater than the combined totals of the second and third-placed brands.

Sales of the rugged HiLux workhorse were 4,163 in July – 24 per cent higher than any other new vehicle sold in Australia.

Toyota Australia’s executive director sales and marketing Matthew Callachor said the excitement of vehicles such as the new 86 sports car were helping to revitalise the Toyota brand.

“In the past five months alone, we have introduced three models that are totally new to our line-up – 86, Prius c and Prius v,” Mr Callachor said.

“We have also revitalised our entire range of locally produced cars – Camry, Camry Hybrid and Aurion, as well as the popular Yaris,” he said.

“These launches, as well as Toyota’s quicker-than-expected recovery from last years’ natural disasters, have underpinned the growth in sales this year.

“Another element underpinning Toyota’s sales success is the capped-price servicing on all new vehicles.

“Toyota SUVs sales rose by a massive 58 per cent July-on-July, led by Prado which more than doubled its year-ago result while light-commercial sales jumped 33.8 per cent and passenger-car sales gained 28.7 per cent,” Mr Callachor said.