Sales up 6.2% in August to 93,522 vehicles

The bull run of the Australian new vehicle market continued in August, with 5470 more vehicles (up 6.2%) sold than in the same month a year ago.

A total of 93,552 new vehicles are retailed in August, compared with 88,082 a year earlier, says the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI).

This is also up 8% (6911 vehicles) on July, when 86,641 vehicles were sold.

Passenger car sales were actually down this August (-1811 units or -3.7%), but they were more than offset by SUV sales – up 4105 vehicle sales, or 18.6% – light commercial sales – up 1896 vehicles or 19.1% – and heavy commercials  – up 280 sales or 11.7%) – on August 2011

Toyota was market leader in August, followed by Holden and Ford. Toyota leads Holden with a margin of 6725 vehicle sales, or 7.2 market share points.

The year-to-date 2012 total market of 728,047 vehicles is running 62,738 vehicle sales or 9.4% ahead of the same period in 2011. This equates to a YTD figure of 1,092,000 vehicles.

Vehicle market – year-to-date:

At 376,084 vehicles, passenger car sales are up by 4482 vehicle sales (1.2%). Mixed results by segment were evident with the medium car segment up 7253 vehicles  (+14.8%); the sports car segment up 5150 (+56.2%), the small car segment up 3640 (+2.3%), the light car segment up 777 (+0.9%) and the people mover segment up 279 (3.7%), whilst the large car segment was down 12,226 (-22.9%) and the upper large car segment down 391 (-18.7%), failed to achieve the 2011 volume levels.

The SUV market at 203,316 vehicles is running ahead of the same period in 2011 by 46,907 vehicles (+30.0%), in year-to-date terms.

All segments contributed with the SUV small segment up 15,637 vehicle sales (+61.5%); SUV large up 16,161 (+25.3%); the SUV medium segment up 13,467 vehicle sales (+23.0%) and the SUV upper large segment up 1642 (+19.3%), all returning improved results on the 2011 volumes.

The light commercial market at 128,945 vehicles is running 9931 vehicles (+8.3%) ahead of the same period in 2011, in year-to-date terms. The only loss occurred in one segment, the pick-up/cab chassis 4X2 segment, down 4183 vehicle sales (-11.7%). The other segments returned improved results over the same period last year with the pick-up/cab chassis 4×4 segment, up 13,162 vehicle sales (+19.6%), the van/CC 2.5t-3.5t segment up 180 vehicle sales (+1.5%), the light bus <20 seats segment, up 357 vehicle sales (+21.4%); the van/cc <2.5t segment, up 187 vehicle sales (+9.0%) and the light bus 20+ seats segment up 228 vehicle sales (+47.4%).

The heavy commercial market at 19,702 vehicles is up on the same period in 2011 by 1418 vehicle sales or 7.8%.

Vehicle market in August:

Passenger vehicle sales were down 1811 vehicle sales or -3.7% compared to August 2011, with the light car segment, up 214 (+1.9%); the sports car segment, up 827 (+70.4%); the upper large car segment up 131 (+53.0%); and the people mover segment, up 12 (+1.2%); whilst the medium car segment, down 290 (-4.3%); the large car segment, down 1782 (-25.4%), and the small car segment, down 923 (-4.4%) showed a loss versus August 2011 volume levels.

The SUV market is up 4105 vehicle sales or 18.6% versus August 2011. All segments but the SUV upper large segment, down 207 (-14.6%), produced improved results with the SUV medium segment, up 1239 (+14.9%); SUV large segment, up 1078 vehicle sales (+11.9%); and the SUV small segment up 1995 (+61.0%), versus 2011 volume levels.

The light commercial market is up 2896 vehicle sales or 19.1% versus August 2011.  Most segments lost ground with the van/cc 2.5t-3.5t segment, down 115 vehicle sales (-7.1%), the pick-up/cab chassis 4×2 segment, down 153 vehicle sales (-3.3%); the light bus 20+ seats segment, down 7 vehicle sales (-8.5%); and the light bus <20 seats segment, down 71 vehicle sales (-21.2%); only the van/cc 2.5t segment, up 82 vehicle sales (+30.9%); and the pick-up/cab chassis 4X4 segment up 3160 vehicle sales (+38.2%), showed gains versus 2011 volume levels.