The new vehicle market has started the year with a solid result, following on from record annual sales in 2012.
Official VFACTS data released today by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) shows that 85,430 passenger cars, SUVs and commercial vehicles were sold in January (up 11.3 per cent or 8,647 vehicles compared to the same month in 2012). Sales growth was reflected in all states and the ACT, with the NT showing a decline of 8.8 per cent compared with the same period in 2012. Tasmania had particularly strong growth in sales (39.2 per cent), followed by South Australia with 28.0 per cent.
Government purchases were down 30.1 per cent compared with January last year. The bulk of this reduction was seen in the passenger car category which is down 45.4 per cent, while private purchases of passenger cars increased by 4.3 per cent compared with this time last year. For the first time ever, passenger cars now make up less than 50 per cent of the new vehicle market, dropping to 49.1 per cent.
Australian vehicle buyers continued to move to SUVs, which saw a 20.1 per cent increase in sales last month compared with January 2012. SUVs represented 31.2 per cent of the total market in January. Light commercials saw a 43.9 per cent increase, which is mostly attributable to a very strong surge in the sale of 4×4 pickups (a 63.6 per cent increase, or 3,897 units) compared with January last year.
Sales of locally manufactured vehicles dropped by 28.4 per cent (2,722 units) compared with this time last year.
Mazda3 achieved the highest for the month (3,345 units), followed by the Toyota Corolla (2,960), the Toyota Hilux (2,747), the Nissan Navara (2,474) and the Ford Focus (2,364).
Toyota was the best performing brand overall in January selling 13,375 vehicles, followed by Mazda with 8,912 and then Holden with 8,811.
…ends
VFACTS monthly auto sales data is available the 3rd working day after the end of every month at www.fcai.com.au
For further information contact:
Sheena Ireland, Communications Manager
P: 02 6229 8221
M: 0458 038 555
E: [email protected]