It’s becoming boring to keep reporting that SUV sales are once again behind a strong monthly sales result. But VFACTS figures show SUV sales havr increased by 28.6% so far this year, and contributed 25,737 sales towards the October total of 95,584 new vehicle sales.
Year-to-date numbers show a total of 918,258 new vehicles have driven off showroom forecourts in 2012, a healthy increase of 9.7% compared to the same time last year. Interestingly, government sales are down 10.9% for the year, while private sales, up by 11.7%, have covered those losses.
Toyota continues its unassailable lead as the country’s top seller, registering 18,584 sales last month. They were followed by traditional bridesmaid Holden (10,239) and Ford (8,379).
The Toyota HiLux was the highest selling model in October, with 3,403 sales, followed by the Mazda3 (3,342) and the Toyota Corolla (2,977).
Aussies’ love for SUVs continues in October
Strong growth in vehicle sales continued in October, distinguished yet again by Aussie’s continued love for Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) 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 28.6 per cent overall (up 56,545 vehicles to 254,132) compared with the same period in 2011, sales of the small SUV segment have grown 56.0 per cent (an increase of 18,005 units).
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 56.8 per cent growth in private purchases, and 30.6 per cent in non-private purchases of diesel SUVs compared with the same ten months in 2011. SUVs now make up 27.7 per cent of new vehicle sales year to date, compared with 23.6 per cent at this time in 2011. Passenger vehicles still represent the largest part of new vehicle sales at 51.7 per cent.
Overall, 918,258 vehicles (cars, SUVs, light commercials and trucks) have been sold since the beginning of 2012. This is a 9.7 per cent increase (80,934 vehicles) on sales for the first ten months of 2011. October sales increased in every state and territory compared with the previous October, although Tasmanian sales are down 3.3 per cent on a year to date basis.
On a month to month basis, 95,584 vehicles were sold in October 2012, an increase of 12.2 per cent (or 10,388 vehicles) compared to October 2011.
Compared with the first ten months of 2011, private purchases of vehicles have increased by 11.7 per cent (46,565 units) but government purchases decreased by 10.9 per cent (5,311).
Sales of locally manufactured vehicles continue to decline, with just over 115,000 sold for the year to date, down 4.7 per cent from nearly 119,000 this time last year.
Toyota HiLux continued to lead in October with 3,403 sales, followed by Mazda3 (3,342), the Toyota Corolla (2,977), the Hyundai i30 (2,898) and the Toyota Camry (2,723).
Toyota was the best performing brand overall in October selling 18,584 vehicles, followed by Holden with 10,239 and then Mazda with 7,738.
Top 10 selling marques – October 2012
- Toyota – 18,584
- Holden – 10,239
- Ford – 8,379
- Mazda – 7,738
- Hyundai – 7,576
- Nissan – 6,662
- Volkswagen – 5,559
- Mitsubishi – 5,334
- Subaru – 3,203
- Kia – 2,977
Best Ever Month for Hyundai Santa Fe
An industry record October that saw 95,584 new vehicles registered nationally, also delivered Hyundai Motor Company Australia (HMCA) with a record October sales result. Finishing in fifth position overall with 7,576 sales, securing a total market share of 7.9% for the period, and a YTD market share of 8.3%.
In passenger car sales Hyundai ranked second for the month with 6,061 vehicles sold, equating to a market share of 12.3%, which is an increase of +5.4% over the same period last year.
Hyundai consolidated its leadership of the Small segment, with combined sales of 3,524 for i30 hatch and Elantra sedan. Outselling Mazda 3 (combined sedan & hatch) at 3,342 sales, and the country’s top selling vehicle for the month Toyota HiLux (4×2 & 4×4) at 3,402, the combined Hyundai result confirms the current consumer confidence in the brand and the overall ownership experience.
October also saw Veloster retain its first place in the Sports segment for the ninth consecutive month since its launch, while the iMax people mover, and the workhorse iLoad both took second place in their respective categories. The i20, i30, and ix35 all secured podium finishes, with third places in each of their respective segments.
The New-Generation Santa Fe posted its best monthly sales result on record, dating back to its Australian launch in 2000, with 591 units, which equates to a +40.7% increase over the same period last year.
“The all-new Santa Fe has proven itself with an excellent result reflected both locally and in the tough US market,†said Damien Meredith, Director of Sales, Hyundai Motor Company Australia. “Again the Veloster took out first place in the competitive Sports segment proving its sale proposition is the right car, in the right place, right now.â€
In the U.S., Hyundai Motor America (HMA) announced a sales result for the month of 50,271 cars. The all-new Santa Fe, recently crowned the “2012 Compact CUV of Texas†by the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA), mirrored outstanding Australian results, gaining a +16% increase for the month.
Hyundai Motor Company recorded an October 2012 global sales result of 412,189 units compared to 361,889 sales, an increase of +13.9%, for the same period 2011.
Hyundai Motor Company Australia highlights include:
- Veloster ranked first in the Sports segment, posting a sales result of 356 units and a total segment share of 20%.
- iLoad ranked second in the Van/CC 2.5-3.5t segment achieving 182 vehicle sales and a segment share of 15.7%.
- iMax ranked second among People Movers, posting a sales result of 108 units and a 9.9% total segment share.
- ix35 ranked third in the SUV Small segment achieving 742 vehicle sales and a total segment share of 17.9%.
- i20 ranked third in the Light Car segment posting a sales result of 1,118 and a total segment share of 10.4%
- i30 ranked third best-selling Small car segment achieving 2,898 vehicles sales and a total segment share of 13.3%.
- All-new Santa Fe ranked sixth in the Large SUV
Mazda on Track to Break Sales Record
Mazda is on the verge of breaking its all-time annual sales record with eight weeks of the year still remaining.
In VFACTS figures released today, Mazda sold a record 7,738 new cars, SUVs and utilities in October taking its total to 85,600 for the year, a mere 2,733 car sales short of its 88,333 2011 record year.
Mazda’s sales year-to-date are up 17.3 per cent, it has a strong 9.3 per cent market share and maintains its position as the third best-selling automotive brand and the number one full-line importer.
Leading the charge was the ever-popular Mazda3, selling 3,342 cars, making the result its best October on record. With 35,776 Mazda3 sales in 2012, it has maintained its lead in the small car segment year-to-date.
Supporting the Mazda3 was the Mazda2 with 1,351 sales. Topping its category once again it was the most popular car in the light segment and enjoyed its best ever October.
Mazda sold 1,190 new CX-5s in October as sales hit 12,718 for the year as it continues to be one of the most popular models in the competitive Medium SUV segment.
In addition, the Mazda BT-50 had its second best October in its history, selling over 1,000 cars for the eighth month this year with 1,046 finding new homes.
With Mazda’s passenger cars continuing to sell strongly and with the CX-5 and BT-50 top of mind for many Australians, Mazda is nicely positioned to break through the 100,000 new car sales barrier for the first time.
Mazda Australia managing director, Doug Dickson said, “Our record October sales performance takes us a significant step towards 100,000 new car sales for the year. I am proud of what Mazda Australia and our dealer group have achieved, but I am more pleased that we have achieved this growth while focussing on customer service.â€
Mitsubishi’s Outlander Leads Outstanding October Sales
Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited’s (MMAL) versatile Outlander was October’s top-selling Medium SUV with 1,542 units, leading MMAL’s impressive total October sales of 5,334.
Outlander claimed number one spot with a 17.2 percent share of the Medium SUV under $60,000 market. This outstanding result is a substantial 100.8 percent increase over Outlander’s October 2011 result and is also an all-time monthly sales volume for the versatile SUV.
Triton 4×4 continued to be a strong performer in October with 1,145 units, a healthy 41.9 percent growth on October 2011. Combined with 336 Triton 4×2, it was the best October on record for total Triton sales.
Challenger was another stand-out performer with a record 332 units, a substantial 90.8 percent growth on October 2011.
Sales of the legendary Pajero were solid with 441 units while the city-sized ASX continued to be a robust performer with 463 units rounding out MMAL’s outstanding total SUV result of 2,778 units. This represents strong growth of 37 percent for total SUVs against October 2011.
MMAL CEO Mutsuhiro Oshikiri said MMAL has recorded strong sales in the past few months and is looking to consolidate on these results to finish 2012 in a strong position.
“MMAL is focused on long-term steady growth and we are confident we can achieve this particularly with the introduction of the next-generation Outlander later this month and the all-new Mirage in January,†Oshikiri said.
According to official VFACTS figures, MMAL have sold 49,778 vehicles year-to-date, resulting in a 5.4 percent total market share.
October Sales Highlights:
- MMAL’s best-ever October volume as an importer with sales of 5,334, an increase of 4.2 percent over October 2011.
-  Outlander was October’s number one selling Medium SUV with 1,524 units.
- Sales of 332 Challengers, an all-time record monthly result.
- ASX recorded a solid 463 units contributing to the strong SUV segment result.
- October numbers for Triton totalled 1,481 across 4×2 and 4×4 models which resulted in an all-time record October.
Nissan Sets National Sales Record in October
Nissan Motor Co. today announced record-setting sales in Australia as the brand achieved its sixth consecutive monthly sales record, this time in October.
Fuelled by its range of innovative and exciting cars as well as a compelling zero-per cent comparison rate finance offer, Nissan delivered a total of 6,646 new cars last month, an impressive 22 per cent jump compared to October last year and a new Australian October sales record for the Japanese car maker.
The result advanced Nissan’s already-impressive 2012 sales performance. Fiscal year-to-date (April-March; Japanese financial year) the company is a full 20 per cent ahead of the same period last year – this equates to 7,500 new car sales. Calendar year-to-date the company is up more than 9,200 units, a full 17 per cent in a local market that’s grown just over 13 per cent.
William F Peffer, Nissan Australia managing director and CEO, said Nissan’s Australian sales result last month is no surprise.
“The Nissan team is invigorated, focused and working towards a common goal,†he said.
There were numerous highlights during Nissan’s record-setting October sales result.
Dualis:
- New October sales record
- Increase of 18 per cent compared to October last year
- Increase of 61 per cent fiscal year-to-date
X-TRAIL:
- Increase of 59 per cent compared to October last year
- Year-to-date increase of 30 per cent compared to same period last year
Navara:
- Highest-ever October sales result
- Highest-ever month of sales for the Navara V6 ST-X
- Increase of 17 per cent compared to September
Nissan Micra
- Highest-ever October sales result
Almera:
- Increase of 20 per cent compared to September
Murano:
- Increase of 66 per cent compared to September
Pathfinder:
- Best October sales result since October 2010
- Fiscal year-to-date increase of 22 per cent compared to same time last year
Patrol Cab-chassis:
- Increase of 21 per cent compared to September
Toyota quinella in October sales
Toyota vehicles took three of the top four spots on the new-vehicle sales chart last month, according to official figures released today.
Australian motorists handed Toyota a quinella, making HiLux the country’s best-selling vehicle for the sixth time this year, followed closely in second place by the locally built Camry.
Corolla, in run-out with a new-generation hatch launched late in the month, took fourth place as Toyota moved closer to a 10th consecutive year of overall market leadership.
October sales for HiLux, Camry and Corolla totalled 9,759 – enough for these three vehicles to beat the entire sales for every other brand except Holden.
The popularity of these three vehicles as well as Toyota’s SUVs lifted Toyota to a market-dominating 18,584 sales for the month – 7.8 per cent higher than for the same month last year.
So far this year, Toyota sales have risen almost 19.6 per cent to a total of 177,695 registrations, putting the company more than 82,000 ahead of its nearest rival.
Toyota Australia executive director sales and marketing Matthew Callachor said the company planned to continue an aggressive retailing push to the end of the year.
“The industry remains on track for an all-time record approaching 1.1 million sales with strong demand and supply of vehicles, low interest rates and attractive offers across the board,” Mr Callachor said.
“Our dealers have told us they can sell as many HiLux utes as we can receive from the factory, which is continuing to work overtime to fill orders based on huge demand in every country in which it is sold.
“Camry will continue to benefit from our Local Pride campaign, including Toyota’s push to encourage people to buy Australian-built cars by offering zero per cent finance* – an offer that continues till the end of the year.”
In October, Australian motorists bought 3,403 HiLux utes ahead of Camry on 3,379 sales. Corolla achieved 2,977 sales, Yaris 1,300, Aurion 931 and the 86 sports car 335 sales.
LandCruiser Prado was Australia’s best-selling large SUV and LandCruiser wagon was the most popular upper-large SUV while HiAce was the top-selling van and bus.
* Comparison rate. For full details of the Toyota Finance offer, visit toyota.com.au/special-offers.