Category: Mazda

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New vehicle sales report – September 2010

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Official VFACTS data released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) showed that 85,054 passenger cars, SUVs and commercial vehicles were sold in September, up 8.9 per cent (or 6,923 vehicles) on the same month in 2009. It also represents a new record for the month of September, beating the old mark (2005) by 584 sales.

Toyota and Holden retain their place at the top of the charts, while perennial top-three challenger Mazda has once again knocked Ford back to fourth place.

Year-to-date sales now tally 780,720 and the full year prediction has been raised to over 1 million, up from the previous forecast of 980,000. It would be only the third time in Australia’s history that 1 million new cars have been sold in a calendar year.

Press releases from FCAI and various manufacturers are available after the break.

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Mazda Motor Shows

Mazda BT-50 ute to debut down under

Mazda BT-50 sketch

Commercial vehicles aren’t usually an AUSmotive staple, but when a manufacturer sends out a funky sketch with news said vehicle will make its world premiere at the Australian International Motor Show in about a month from now then we may as well give it a plug.

So, you’re looking at a sketch for the new Mazda BT-50. If you want to see what it will really look like then put some time aside in your schedule to check out the motorshow when the lights go on in Sydney from 15 October.

Even better news for consumers, they need not refer to this BT-50 as an SUV, or even an SAV. No, better start preparing yourself for a new euphemism acronym, the ALV – Active Lifestyle Vehicle. Just the news all you pleasure-seekers out there have been waiting for!

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Holden Hyundai Kia Mazda Subaru Suzuki Toyota VFACTS reports

New vehicle sales report – August 2010

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Official VFACTS data released by the FCAI states 82,122 new vehicles were sold in August, up 12.1% on the same month in 2009. Toyota, Holden and Ford retain the top-three positions on the sales charts.

Press releases from FCAI and various manufacturers are available after the break.

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Holden Hyundai Mazda Mercedes-Benz Subaru Suzuki Toyota VFACTS reports

New vehicle sales report – July 2010

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Last month’s high of 108,722 new vehicle sales came crashing back to earth in July. A comparatively low figure of 82,376 sales were registered. However, this result represents an increase of 9.3% on July 2009 data, so it’s not all bad news.

Andrew McKellar, FCAI Chief Executive, explains July usually provides a slow start to the new financial year, “This is a very solid result for July with the start of the new financial year usually resulting in slower sales.

“These figures provide further evidence that sales to private customers continue to increase strongly – recording a 20 per cent rise compared to this time last year,” Mr McKellar said.

If we go back to the results from May we can see sales across all segments were up almost 20% on 2009 figures. Year-to-date numbers have now eased a little, but are still up 15.6% compared to last year, with a total of 613,544 sales so far in 2010.

The SUV segment continues to lead the charge, with light commercials and passengers cars behind. Toyota and Holden retain their positions at the head of the sales chart. While Ford hung on to its third placing by a single sale over Mazda.

More from the FCAI and manufacturers after the break.

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Mazda Volkswagen

Burnout fatigue

VW Golf GTI

The folks over at Inside Line bring us this Burnout Super Test featuring the Volkswagen Golf GTI and the Mazda3 MPS. Why they bothered is anyone’s guess. Perhaps the presenter should have said his last line to camera at the start of the clip and saved everyone the hassle.

Still, nobody got hurt and so long as the readers out there don’t go fooling around like this on public roads we should all live happily ever after.

You can see the moving pictures after the break.

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Audi Holden Hyundai Mazda Mercedes-Benz MINI Mitsubishi Subaru Toyota VFACTS reports

New vehicle sales report – June 2010

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The end of financial year saw some big numbers in terms of new vehicle sales in Australia. In fact, the final sales tally of 108,722 vehicles is the highest selling month on record. It betters the previous monthly high by over 2000 sales, set back in June 2008.

“The record June result is a clear demonstration of renewed confidence in the marketplace,” FCAI Chief Executive Andrew McKellar said.

“It is encouraging to see that private buyers have returned to the market in greater numbers and have taken over the momentum previously attributed to business sales.”Year-to-date sales now sit at 531,168 and the FCAI has upped is 2010 prediction by 40,000 vehicles. It now expects 980,000 sales to be registered in 2010.

Toyota, Holden and Ford continue as the three highest selling marques. But that hasn’t stopped many other brands from bragging about their sales results.

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BMW Hyundai Mazda Subaru Suzuki Toyota VFACTS reports

New vehicle sales report – May 2010

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A new sales record for the month of May was set this year. New vehicle sales totalled 89,218, and improvement of 578 sales from the previous May record set in 2008.

“This is a record May result and shows the new vehicle market is maintaining a strong sales momentum,” said FCAI Chief Executive Andrew McKellar, “All vehicle segments increased during the month, demonstrating a genuine recovery in the marketplace.”

Once again the SUV segment was the leading category, followed by passenger cars and light commercials. There has also been an increase in private buyers taking delivery of new cars in the last month.

As usual Toyota sits atop the sales charts, followed by Holden and Ford. So far in 2010 a total of 422,446 new vehicles have been sold. A boost of almost 20% on 2009 figures.

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Audi Hyundai Mazda Subaru Toyota VFACTS reports

New vehicle sales report – April 2010

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New vehicle sales in Australia have continued strongly following the record result from last month. In total 81,401 vehicles were sold during April, the second highest recorded result for that month.

FCAI Chief Executive Andrew McKellar says official interest rate movements may hurt future sales in the short term, “It has to be expected that recent interest rate increases will have some dampening effect on demand over coming months. However, the industry is hopeful that interest rates must now be at a level where further increases will be more difficult to justify.”

Sales growth in the SUV sector continues, increasing by 38%. Indeed, the Toyota HiLux topped the sales charts for the month. Overall, the market is up 20.3% year-to-date compared with 2009. In all 333,228 new vehicles have been sold in 2010. Toyota, Holden and Ford filled the three highest selling posts for April.

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Hyundai Mazda Subaru Toyota VFACTS reports

New vehicle sales report – February 2010

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Monthly sales figures have continued to trend upwards on 2009 data with an increase of 17% (almost 12,000 vehicles) compared to February last year. According to official VFACTS numbers 82,219 new vehicles rolled off showroom floors last month.

Breaking the monthly comparison numbers down further, business sales remain strong, up by almost 23% on 2009 sales. But it was the rental segment that has given a major boost to results for February 2010 with an increase in sales to rental companies of 175%.

There was also a modest 9.3% increase in the number of private buyers taking delivery of new vehicles. FCAI Chief Executive Andrew McKellar says, “Looking ahead, sustaining the confidence of private buyers is the key challenge for the economy.”

“For that reason we continue to be cautious about the impact of interest rate increases,” Mr McKellar said.

Toyota and Holden held their recent traditional placings as the top two selling marques in Australia. However, Hyundai has displaced Ford from third position by boosting their sales to the tune of 8.8%. This is the first time Hyundai has reached a top three position on local sales charts. The news is worse for Ford, too, as Mazda, in fourth place, have relegated the blue oval further down the charts.

Interestingly, the number of manufacturers sending out press releases trumpeting their results is significantly down on January’s efforts.

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Mazda Targa Tasmania

Fancy a free ride at Targa Tasmania?

Mazda3 MPS

Mazda Australia has just launched a competition offering free entry at the wheel of a 3 MPS at this year’s Targa Tasmania. You’ll need to check out the Mazda Motorsport website for full details, but, the deal is you and a mate get entry into the Targa Tour (Saturday 1 May – Sunday 2 May).

The Tour can be entered by anyone in pretty much any road legal car and allows regular drivers to tackle the demanding Targa Tasmania course with the safety of closed roads and no oncoming traffic. Sounds good, huh.

Mazda’s competition is now open and entries must be lodged by 1 April 2010. The winner will be notified on 6 April.

There’s a press release below from Mazda, but if you can’t be bothered with that then just CLICK HERE!

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Audi BMW Hyundai Mazda Mercedes-Benz Subaru Suzuki Toyota VFACTS reports

New vehicle sales report – January 2010

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January 2010 showed good signs for the automotive industry in Australia. While sales for the month did fall dramatically from December 2009 it is worth noting there were strong financial incentives, in the form of Federal Government tax breaks, that saw many businesses rushing to buy cars before the program ended on 31 December.

More importantly, the 74,864 new vehicle sales for January 2010 represents a healthy increase of 11.6% compared to the same month last year. Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries Chief Executive Andrew McKellar believes the new cut in import tariffs has helped kick the year off, “New car affordability is better than ever and has been further enhanced by the tariff cut on many imported vehicles,” he said.

“New car buyers have effectively been handed a ‘tax cut’ and many brands have moved quickly to reduce prices or increase vehicle specifications. As a result, it is expected that this will encourage private buyers to return to the marketplace in greater numbers throughout the year,” Mr McKellar said.

Toyota, Holden and Ford maintained recent tradition as the top three selling marques.

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New vehicle sales report – December 2009

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According to official VFACTS figures released earlier today new vehicle sales in Australia for 2009 reached 937,328, an overall drop of 7.4% compared to 2008.

November’s cracking results showed the motor industry was well on the way to financial recovery and  December followed suit registering 88,708 sales. Which sets a new record for the month.

FCAI Chief Executive Andrew McKellar acknowledged the role of the Federal Government’s tax incentives for businesses in returning better than expected yearly figures, “The final outcome for the year has surpassed the industry’s original expectations by some 57,000 vehicles and a significant proportion of this additional volume can be attributed to the tax break.”

Toyota (200,191), Holden (119,658) and Ford (96,501) were the top three selling marques. Toyota’s stranglehold on top spot looks very secure, despite the highest selling car in Australia for 2009 being the Holden Commodore (44,387). The Corolla (39,013) and HiLux (38,457) rounded out the top three selling models nationwide.

Other notable performers were Audi, Mitsubishi and Volkswagen. But it seems most manufacturers have a positive spin to sell and a raft of press releases to that affect follow this article.

Audi, intent on chasing BMW for the top selling prestige marque, concluded 2009 with their fifth year of growth. Impressively, the German brand bettered last year’s record by over 20% while recording 11,310 sales. A perfect end to the local career of Audi Australia’s managing director, Joerg Hofmann. The hard task master will be returning home to Germany at the end of this month—see carsales interview from December 2009.

Mitsubishi have put the corpse of the Magna well behind it, achieving best ever annual sales for the Lancer (21,362) and Triton (18,182).

Volkswagen improved on its 2008 record year by selling over 30,000 vehicles for the first time under the Volkswagen Group Australia banner.

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