Passenger vehicle market down in March – up YTD

The passenger vehicle market was down 2432 vehicle sales or -4.8% last month, compare with March 2012.

This was driven by losses in the medium car segment, down 1092 (-15.0%), the large car segment down 1797 (-32.2%), the people movers segment, down 146 vehicle sales (-16.7%), and the light car segment, down 948 (-7.2%).

All other segments contributed positively with the sports car segment, up 921 (57.2%); the small car segment, up 529 (2.4%); and the upper large car segment, up 101 (45.5%) on 2012 volume levels.

* The sports utility vehicle market is up 1720 vehicle sales or 6.3% versus March 2012.

Showing lower results were the SUV upper large segment, down 199 (-12.7%) and the SUV large segment, down 570 vehicle sales (-5.3%).

Segments returning improved results were the SUV small up 2205 (41.3%); and the SUV medium segment, up 284 vehicle sales (2.9%), versus 2012 volume levels.

* The light commercial market is up 417 vehicle sales or 2.5% versus March 2012.  Strong results by the pick-up/CC 4×4, up 1094 (10.6%), were the reason for the increase. Showing losses were the pick-up/CC 4×2 down 471 (-11.7%); light buses <20 seats segment, down 31 vehicle sales (-14.0%); the van/CC 2.5t-3.5t segment, down 87 vehicle sales (-5.8%); the vans/CC <=2.5t segment, down 38 vehicle sales (-11.9%) and the light buses =>20 seats segment, down 50 vehicle sales (-38.5%), versus 2012 volume levels.

* The heavy truck market is up 79 vehicle sales or 3.1%, when compared with the same month in 2012.

Year-to-date results:

The year-to-date 2013 market of 273,048 vehicles is running 12,926 vehicle sales or 5.0% ahead of the same period in 2012.

However, the passenger market at 133,959 vehicles is down by 5620 vehicle sales (-4.0%).

Mixed results by segment were evident with the light car segment, up 1019 (3.0%); the sports car segment, up 2105 (43.9%); the small car segment, up 562 (0.9%) and the upper large segment, up 449 (78.4%), while the medium car segment, down 4800 (-23.0%); the large car segment, down 4327 (-27.8%) and the people movers segment, down 628 (-23.9%), failed to achieve the 2012 volume levels.

* The sports utility vehicle market at 82,605 vehicles is running ahead of the same period in 2012 by 9515 vehicles (13.0%), in year-to-date terms.

Segments contributing positive results were the SUV small segment, up 4235 vehicle sales (28.9%); SUV large up 2416 (8.5%); the SUV medium segment, up 3340 vehicle sales (12.9%). The only segment returning a negative result is the SUV upper large segment, down 476 vehicle sales (-11.4%).

* The light commercial market at 49,642 vehicles is running 8738 vehicles (21.4%) above the same period in 2012, in year-to-date terms.

This gain was driven by the pick-up/cab chassis 4×4 segment which is up 8763 vehicle sales (35.4), and the pick-up/cab chassis 4X2 segment, up 631 vehicle sales (6.2%).

Segments showing lower results were the vans/CC <=2.5t, down 28 vehicle sales (-3.6%);  the light bus <20 seats segment, down 132 vehicle sales (-18.6%); the van/CC 2.5-3.5t segment, down 376 vehicle sales (-8.9%) and the light bus => 20 seats segment, down 120 vehicle sales (-38.2%).

* The heavy truck market at 6842 vehicles is up on the same period in 2012 by 293 vehicle sales or 4.5%.

Top 10 makes

Toyota retains the top sales position in the March monthly market with 18,653 vehicle sales, ahead of Mazda with 9112 and Nissan third with 8408 vehicle sales.

Toyota, with a market share of 17.6%, holds market leadership in year to date terms.

Mazda’s March result sees it in second position with a market share of 9.4%, with Nissan and Hyundai tied for third with market shares of 8.6%. Holden, with sales of 8283 and with a market share of 8.5%, is in fifth position ahead of Ford, with 6.6% market share.