New Car sales Top 1 Million in November

New car sales topped 1 million in November, with the 98,639 sales recorded in the month bringing the year‑to‑date (YTD) total to 1,055,792. YTD, new car sales are 3.9 per cent higher than those recorded in the same YTD period in 2014.

The month’s 98,639 sales are 6.9 per cent higher than sales recorded in November 2014 and they represent the highest selling November on record.

Releasing the November 2015 new car sales figures (VFACTS), Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries Chief Executive Tony Weber said that with one month of sales to go in 2015, the Australian automotive industry is looking towards a record year, and the fourth year ever where sales have topped 1.1 million. The current record year is 2013, when car sales reached 1,136,227.

“Both SUV and light commercial vehicle sales surged in November, with both segments seeing 16 per cent increases on November 2014 sales, and the segments together representing almost 55 per cent of the total vehicle market,” Mr Weber said.

“While passenger car sales have declined by 3.1 per cent, the segment is still the largest with 42.3 per cent of the market in November 2015. Of the 41,726 passenger cars sold in November, a significant 44 per cent were small passenger cars. The popularity of small passenger cars can also be seen in the top five seller lists released each month. The Toyota Corolla and the Mazda3, both small passenger cars, are the only vehicles to have appeared in the top five selling cars lists every month in 2015.”

Private, business and government purchases were all strong in November 2015, with sales 9.8, 4.6 and 9.2 per cent higher, respectively, than in November 2014.

Business and government buyers, in particular, were drawn to light commercial vehicles, with business buyers purchasing 27.3 per cent more light commercial vehicles than in November 2014 and government buyers purchasing 22.4 per cent more.

Private buyers showed an increasing preference for SUVs by purchasing 22 per cent more SUVs than in November 2014. The buyer group also bought 3.1 per cent more passenger cars. Business buyers also showed a preference for the versatile SUV, buying 17.9 per cent more SUVs than in November 2014.

Sales rose in all states and territories with the exception of the Northern Territory and Western Australia, which fell by 12.7 and 1.7 per cent, respectively, compared to November 2014. Sales in the Australian Capital Territory increased by 6.2 per cent, New South Wales by 9.1 per cent, Queensland by 14.5 per cent, South Australia by 2.2 per cent, Tasmania by 6.9 per cent and Victoria by 4.3 per cent.

In November, the Toyota Corolla took out the top spot as best-selling vehicle, with 3,430 sales. The Corolla was followed by the Toyota Hilux (3,369), Mazda3 (3,104) Ford Ranger (3,028) and Toyota Camry (3,025).

Toyota was the highest selling brand in November, with 18.7 per cent of the market. Toyota was followed by Mazda with 9.9 per cent, Holden with 9 per cent, Hyundai with 8.5 per cent and Nissan with 7.3 per cent.

Private buyers showed an increasing preference for SUVs by purchasing 22 per cent more SUVs than in November 2014. The buyer group also bought 3.1 per cent more passenger cars.

Business buyers also showed a preference for the versatile SUV, buying 17.9 per cent more SUVs than in November 2014. Government buyers purchased 0.3 per cent less SUVs, but 5.4 per cent more passenger cars.