It might have been finals fever in the sporting world, but there were few points for celebration in September.
According to VFACTS sales data provided by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, passenger sales, light commercials, and all states and territories bar Tasmania dropped the ball.
Passenger sales slipped 5.5% with 5489 fewer sales year-to-date than September 2017, with the monthly sales figures for September 2018 also down a substantial 20% than when the Richmond Tigers won the premiership in September 2017.
Light commercials failed to deliver on September 2017’s efforts this month, down 2.3% or 7660 individual sales.
Ford’s Ranger and Mazda 3 were the biggest losers, down 25.2% and 33.6% respectively (although with no disrespect), compared to their September 2017 sales efforts, and the Toyota Corolla also uncharacteristically lost ground some 4.5%.
Four of the top ten manufacturers scraped a knee this September, including Mazda in second which grazed 31.5% off their September 2017 figures, Hyundai stubbed a toe down 0.2% and Holden took one to the face – down 32.4% and 27.1% down on their year-to-date sales of September 2017. Mazda is 4.2% behind their year-to-date scorecard and likewise Hyundai, also bereft 0.2% year-to-date sales compared with this time last year.
Every state and territory managed to kick sales figures out of bounds, except for Tasmania which holds a decent 21.9% margin over its September 2017 efforts. NSW was down 9.4%, Victoria fumbled 4.9%, Queensland was deflated 4.6% and South Australia dropped 5.1% over September 2017 figures. WA hit the post, down 1.1%, the ACT was touched, down 0.6% and the Northern Territory kicked an own goal, down 6.5%.
It’s not all bad news however, with SUV sales keeping spirits up with a 6.2% improvement over September 2017, although that’s just 2417 vehicles.
Toyota is a skin graft ahead of September 2017’s monthly efforts – just 0.1% – and only 1.3% up on it’s year-to-date sales.
Mitsubishi has runs on the board with a 7.9% boon over September 2017, and keeps the momentum with 8.5% margin in year-to-date sales, breaking into the top four brands and pushing Ford to fifth, Holden to sixth, holding Kia to a consistent seventh place, while Nissan resides in eighth, ahead of Volkswagen in ninth and Honda in 10th.
Subaru, despite a 2.5% win in September 2018, 39,447 year-to-date sales (down 3%) keeps it a stone’s throw from the top 10.
FCAI chief executive Tony Weber says September 2018 had one less day with dealer doors open, losing 64 vehicle sales per day, but the market held its ground at 94,711 sales this year despite having cracked 100,200 sales by the end of September 2017.
“After a record 2017, year to date sales in 2018 are sitting just 0.9 per cent below last year’s numbers,” he explains.
“This demonstrates the inherent strength of the slightly slowing market; the industry has produced five years of record sales over the past six years,” he reminds.
“The decline in passenger vehicle sales and corresponding growth in SUVs also shows that the traditional family car continues to evolve in Australia,” Weber adds.
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