The Australian automotive industry has for the first time sold more than 100,000 motor vehicles in a single month, staying on course to smash the annual sales record set last year.

According to VFACTS figures released on Tuesday by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), 101,907 cars, trucks and buses were sold in June, beating the previous record monthly total of 97,212 set in June, 2004.

At the half-yearly mark the industry has sold 498,967 vehicles – 5.4 per cent ahead of the same period last year.

On current trends total annual sales are likely to easily surpass last year’s record of 955,229 – which would make it the car industry’s fourth annual record in a row.

The Chief Executive of the FCAI, Peter Sturrock, is forecasting a 2005 total of 980,000 and says the growth is being driven to new heights by fierce competition, appealing new models and a growing demand for more economical cars.

So far this year, sales of the Small Car segment are up 16.6 per cent and the Light Car segment is up 8.5 per cent.

“The automotive industry is in the fashion and lifestyle business and the car brands that are doing well are the ones that are offering the latest trends,” said Mr Sturrock.

Mr Sturrock cited as example the huge success of the Australian-designed-and-built Ford Territory, which sold 2,537 units last month, making it the best-selling Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) of any size.

The SUV market was the fastest-growing sector of the industry with sales up 9.8 per cent.

Mr Sturrock said that, while the Territory’s popularity was great news for local automotive manufacturing, the other news of note was the performance of Mitsubishi, whose sales so far this year have risen 17.1 per cent.

“It’s very pleasing to see that Mitsubishi has overcome its recent difficulties and returned to its traditional position of fourth on the sales charts,” said Mr Sturrock.

Toyota was the top-selling brand in June with 21,545 or 21.1 per cent share of the market, ahead of Holden with 17,108 (16.8 per cent), Ford (12,951 and 12.7 per cent) and Mitsubishi with 8,136 or 8.0 per cent.

On a year-to-date basis, Toyota continues to lead the market with 97,976 sales, 7,748 units ahead of Holden

Other strong performers are Mazda, in fourth, with sales up 17.7 per cent for the year to date, seventh placed Hyundai whose sales are up 15.6 per cent and eighth-placed Honda whose sales are up 31.4 per cent.

Mitsubishi sales are up 17.1 per cent this year. CH series Mitsubishi Lancer ES pictured above.