An investigative report published yesterday (September 1) in the UK’s Auto Express, the online arm of the UK’s biggest-selling motoring weekly, again has confirmed that Australian cars are among the most affordable in the world.
The Auto Express report entitled “Car running costs: how much does it cost to run a car around the world?” examined a range of facets about car ownership in 11 countries around the world including the UK, Japan, UAE, Germany, Russia, South Africa, the US, Venezuela, India and Brazil.
For consistency purposes and ease of comparison, all the purchase costs were calculated where possible on one model vehicle: the Volkswagen Golf 1.4. Where the vehicle’s price would be skewed by market-specific factors, an equivalent-sized popular vehicle was used.
Of the 11 markets surveyed, India had the cheapest vehicle at 8,644 UK pounds (A$15,195).
Australia finished in a close third place for international affordability, just behind Russia.
In Russia, the vehicle cost the equivalent of 14,743 UK pounds (A$25,916). In Australia, the vehicle cost 14,747 UK pounds (A$25,925).
Insurance costs in Australia for the same vehicle were among the highest of the 11 markets surveyed, and standard grade unleaded fuel costs comparable with India and South Africa at 71 UK pence (A$1.25) per litre.
The Auto Express findings reflect similar results on car affordability made by the national online automotive publication GoAuto in May this year, looking at cars that were sold in a comparable form in the UK, Japan, New Zealand and Australia.
The GoAuto report found that Australia has the lowest right-hand drive car prices in the world, using a system devised by authoritative international business magazine The Economist.
In 2014, the FCAI also commissioned IHS Automotive to conduct an international price and specification comparison between a range of vehicles sold in the right-hand drive markets of Australia, Japan, the UK and New Zealand.
The outcomes, published on the FCAI website (www.fcai.com.au), found that when comparing “like for like” (comparable specification, exclusive of specific market imposts such as the 33 per cent Luxury Car Tax), the vehicle sold in Australia is almost always cheaper.
The Chief Executive of the FCAI, Tony Weber, said that the Auto Express report offered further confirmation that Australia’s new car market is one of the most competitive in the world and continuing to offer great value for the consumer.
The Auto Express report can be found at: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/96879/car-running-costs-how-much-does-it-cost-to-run-a-car-around-the-world.
The GoAuto report can be found at: http://premium.goauto.com.au/editions/goautonews-premium-ebook-edition-6/