Vehicle sales up in August
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The Holden Commodore remains Australia's best selling car line.
Image: Holden Calais Sportwagon (VE series)
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5th September, 2010
Official VFACTS data released by the Federal Chamber of
Automotive Industries (FCAI) showed that 82,122 passenger cars, SUVs and commercial vehicles were sold
in August, up 12.1 per cent (or 8,835 vehicles) on the same month in 2009.
“This is a strong August result with sales of SUVs showing a particularly healthy increase,”
FCAI Chief Executive Andrew McKellar said.
“The figures show sales to private buyers remain solid (up 20.9%) and there has been a lift in
new car purchases by government fleets (up 21.7%),” Mr McKellar said.
“There is no evidence in the August data to suggest customers were distracted from their normal
buying habits due to the election and the current political uncertainty,” he said.
The SUV segment was the strongest performer during August, recording an increase of 32.5 per cent;
followed by light commercials (up 22.6 per cent) and then passenger cars (up 3.5 per cent).
Toyota was the top selling marque in August with 16,633 sales; followed by Holden with 11,146, then
Ford with 8,212 units.
Year-to-date, 695,666 vehicles have been sold, an increase of 15.2 per cent compared to the same
period in 2009.
SALES NUMBERS (selected brands in alphabetical order)
Ford
Traditionally number three in Australia, Ford maintained that position with 8,212 vehicles sold locally
last month.
Holden
With VE Series II hitting showrooms late this month, Commodore has continued its lead as Australia’s
favourite car, selling 3,674 units in August, up 10.4 per cent on same month last year.
According to figures released on Friday by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, the
Commodore contributed to Holden’s total sales of 11,146 vehicles for the month of August up 17.3 per cent
from the same month last year, taking market share to 13 per cent for the year.
Holden’s Executive Director, Sales, Marketing and Aftersales, John Elsworth, said the strong sales
pointed to continuing success of Australia’s newest Commodore range being released this month.
“With VE Series II unveiled this week, we’ve taken Australia’s most popular car and made it even
better - introducing clever multimedia technology and improved fuel economy,” Mr Elsworth said.
“We’ve also added flex-fuel capability to models powered by the 3.0 litre SIDI V6 and 6.0 litre V8
engines, enabling them to run either on petrol or Bio-ethanol.”
“We think customers will be really impressed by our new range which boasts a 6.5 inch full-colour
LCD touch screen with full Bluetooth®, USB, iPod® and MP3 integration all the way from Omega to
Caprice.”
Strong Commodore sales were complemented by sales of the Cruze, Holden’s second best-selling car line.
With 2,383 vehicles sold in August and 18,965 this year, sales of this small car were up 20.9 per cent on
the same month last year.
“From 2011, Cruze will join its big 'brother' Commodore, in coming off the line at Holden’s
Elizabeth plant, making it the only small car made in Australia.”
“The local manufacture of Holden’s best sellers is a real boost for local manufacturing in South
Australia and our national automotive industry,” Mr Elsworth said.
August also saw strong Captiva sales of 1,317 units, up 27.7 per cent on August last year, giving
Holden its best SUV August sales on record. Barina, too, performed well, with 1,325 units, up a
considerable 64.8 per cent on the same month last year, and resulting in the highest August Barina sales
on record.
Hyundai
Hyundai has posted a sales result of 6,560 units, its best ever August result since the brand started
selling cars in Australia in 1986, achieving a monthly market share of 8.0%.
Hyundai ranked fourth for the month (fifth August YTD) in total sales and third for the month (third
August YTD) in passenger car sales.
“The team at Hyundai and the Hyundai Dealer network are delighted with the Hyundai brand’s best
ever August sales result,” said Damien Meredith, Hyundai’s Director of Sales. “In August, we
expanded our roadside assistance programme to include all our models and along with Hyundai’s five
year/unlimited kilometre warranty, this programme will give Hyundai customers unrivalled peace of
mind.”
Overseas, Hyundai Motor Company’s global sales increased +17% (August 2010 v. August 2009) to 288,313
units. Hyundai Motor America posted its best ever August retail market share result of 5.3%. Year to
date, Hyundai Motor America sales are up +17% compared with 2009.
Hyundai’s Australian highlights include:
- Getz ranked first in the light car segment achieving 1,789 vehicle sales and a 15.4% market share.
- The i30 range ranked third in the small car segment achieving 2,496 vehicle sales and a 13.7% market
share.
- iMax ranked second in the people mover segment, after posting a sales result of 176 units and an
18.9% market share.
- iLoad ranked second in the van segment after posting a sales result of 428 units and a 23.8% market
share.
Kia
Kia Motors Australia is continuing to demonstrate its growing impact on the Australian car market
with exciting product, leading-edge styling and focussed dynamics leading their exceptional sales
growth.
Year-to-date sales figures of 16,182 units show a 23.8 per cent jump compared to the same period last
year, according to Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries VFACTS figures released on Friday.
Kia’s impressive August figures, up 17.1 per cent on the same month last year, were boosted by demand
for the just-launched Sportage compact SUV.
With the benefit of a localised ride and handling flavour the new Sportage has posted a massive 159.4
per cent increase in the ‘Compact SUV’ segment compared to August, 2009. The Kia Sorento was also up on
the same period last year with a 48.2 per cent increase in the ‘medium SUV’ segment.
The Kia Carnival continued its title as Australia’s most popular people mover capturing a massive
30.3% per cent share of its segment, an increase of 48.3% per cent compared to August 2009.
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Tony Barlow, the newly appointed Chief Operating Officer of Kia Motors Australia, said the continued
sales growth was clear evidence that Kia was on an upward trend and benefitting from a renewed focus on
exciting and stylish product.
“Kia’s August and year-to-date sales figures show clearly that the direction in which we are going
has caught the imagination of Australian car buyers,” Mr Barlow said. “With what is yet to come
there is every reason to believe that Kia will continue to excite and entice buyers.”
“The all new Sportage is just a beginning. The products we are going to introduce over the next 18
months will continue our commitment to exceptional value, great quality, uncompromising safety, new
technology and a driving enjoyment tailored to the everyday Australians.”
Mercedes-Benz
Global sales of Mercedes-Benz vehicles continue to increase. In August, the brand posted double-digit
growth for the tenth month in a row. Sales were up by 22 per cent, and deliveries to customers around
the world amounted to 81,000 units last month (August 2009: 66,200). Since the beginning of the year,
Mercedes-Benz has now sold 735,400 passenger cars, an increase of 16 per cent from the figure recorded
during the same period in 2009.
“The growth recorded by Mercedes-Benz in August marks a continuation of the current positive
trend,” says Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Cars.
“We boosted sales in nearly all the regions we operate in and also posted strong growth in August in
Germany, which is our biggest sales market. We expect sales to continue to develop favourably in the
coming months as well. Worldwide, we want sales at Mercedes-Benz to grow at a double-digit rate in
full-year 2010.” The brand’s growth continues to be driven primarily by the E-Class and S-Class, as
well as by sales increases in China and the U.S. “We will be presenting a further highlight of our
product range at the Paris Motor Show, where we will present the all-new generation of our styling icon,
the CLS. The
car will set new standards, thanks to its fascinating design, comprehensive range of safety features,
and the new, fuel-efficient V6 and V8 BlueDIRECT gasoline engines.”
Mercedes-Benz recorded sales growth in its three main markets of Germany, the U.S., and China in
August. Developments were particularly pleasing in the brand’s largest market, Germany. Here
Mercedes-Benz bucked the overall downward trend (minus 27 per cent) with a significant increase in sales
of 17 per cent, leading to total deliveries of 15,800 passenger vehicles to customers last month (August
2009: 13,500). The E-Class, the E-Class coupe, the C-Class, and the smart fortwo all had the largest
number of new vehicle registrations in their respective segments in Germany.
The United States remains the second biggest market for Mercedes-Benz, and thus a key contributor to
the brand’s sales success. Sales in the U.S. rose ten per cent last month, leading to customer
deliveries of 18,800 units (August 2009: 17,100). Year-to-date unit sales for Mercedes-Benz in the U.S.
now total 139,900 vehicles, up 18 per cent compared with the same period last year (118,400). This
result makes Mercedes-Benz the best-selling German premium brand in the country this year. Mercedes-Benz
posted record sales of 2,100 vehicles in Canada, an increase of five per cent compared to August 2009.
Mercedes-Benz also continues to perform well in the BRIC markets. The brand more than doubled its
sales in China (incl. Hong Kong), achieving a 113 per cent increase to 13,400 passenger vehicles (August
2009: 6,300). Sales growth in Brazil totaled 48 per cent, while the brand increased its sales in Russia
by 63 per cent and in India by 91 per cent. An extremely dynamic increase was recorded in the South
Korean growth market, where Mercedes-Benz boosted sales by 188 per cent to 1,600 vehicles. Sales in
Japan were up 12 per cent. A total of 23,000 customers purchased a car with the three-pointed star
throughout the entire Asia/Pacific region in August (up 73 per cent).
Mercedes-Benz’ unit sales in the entire region of Western Europe increased eight per cent to 29,000
vehicles last month (August 2009: 26,900). Significant increases in the region were recorded by the UK
(up 37 per cent), the Netherlands (up 46 per cent), Sweden (up 45 per cent), and Denmark (up 96 per
cent).
The E-Class and S-Class model series were the platform of growth once again in August, with sales
of the E-Class sedan and estate increasing by 38 per cent. While sales of the E-Class sedan rose by 25
per cent to 15,700 units, sales of the estate almost quadrupled in August compared to the same month
last year (up 286 per cent). A total of 5,100 customers bought an S-Class sedan (August 2009: 3,600),
representing an increase of 41 per cent.
The C-Class also recorded sales growth in August, with 18,900 C-Class sedans delivered to customers
(up 21 per cent). A total of 4,400 estates from the current C-Class model series were also delivered
in August (up 27 per cent). The SUV segment also posted growth, with sales totaling 14,500 units (up 13
per cent). The GLK recorded deliveries of 6,200 units, an increase of 35 per cent on the figure for
August 2009.
The A-Class (now discontinued in Australia) and B-Class also performed well in August, with deliveries
increasing by 18 per cent to 12,100 units.
Toyota
Podium finishes for Toyota's HiLux and Corolla in August have helped the company extend its Australian
sales leadership so far this year to more than 50,000 vehicles.
Toyota entered spring this week having sold more than 141,000 new cars, SUVs and light-commercial
vehicles in 2010. This puts Toyota more than 56 per cent ahead of Holden, its nearest rival, which has
sold over 90,000 vehicles.
HiLux remains Toyota's best-selling vehicle in 2010 with almost 3,000 sales in August, lifting its
2010 total beyond 27,400. Corolla did even better in August, topping 3,500 sales for a year-to-date total
in excess of 26,000.
Other Toyota vehicles that led their respective segments in August were Camry, Land Cruiser 200 Series,
HiLux 4x4, HiAce van and HiAce bus.
Toyota is on track for its eighth straight year of market leadership and its seventh year in a row in
which it has exceeded 200,000 sales.
The company's vehicles have headed the sales charts in each of the past 65 months - an unbroken run
stretching back to early 2005.
Toyota Australia senior executive director sales and marketing David Buttner said the results were due
to Toyota's wide range and high quality of vehicles, a customer-focused dealer network and competitive
marketing offers. "The improving economy, supported by solid business and consumer confidence, was
also significant," he said.
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