The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) has released sales figures for the month of June 2019 which report a drop of 9.6 per cent in the Australian new vehicle market. Sales for the month totalled 117,817 units, with year to date 2019 sales totalling 554,466 units.
According to Tony Weber, chief executive of the FCAI, the June result reflects the tough market conditions and highlights the sensitive nature of the new vehicle market.
“Over the past six months we have seen various conditions and circumstances which adversely affected the market. These include a tightening of financial lending, environmental factors such as drought and flood, and a strongly contested federal election.
“In addition, the continuing incursion of Luxury Car Tax on a federal level, and now in some cases on a state level as well, is a major disincentive. It could just be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for the new car buyer,” Mr Weber said.