Australian & New Zealand March 2008 Sales Results: Toyota Beats Holden By 11,358!

[JoeT]

Australian March 2008 Sales Results

Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries
3 April 2008
www.fcai.com.au

Australian motor vehicle sales are continuing to run at record levels despite rising interest rates.

Official VFACTS figures released today by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) reveal that the automotive industry ended the first quarter with total sales of 263,453 – up 8,385 or 3.3 per cent on the same period in the all-time record year of 2007.

March sales were down 3,107 or 3.3 per cent, although this was most likely due to the timing of the Easter holiday, which reduced the total number of selling days during the month by three.

"We are yet to see any definitive effect on sales from the recent interest rate rises, although there was some evidence in March of fewer private buyers in the market," said FCAI Chief Executive, Andrew McKellar.

Mr McKellar said consumers displayed a strong shift away from traditional passenger cars towards Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) during the first quarter of the year.

While the Passenger Motor Vehicle market was down 4,127 sales of 2.6 per cent year-to-date, SUV sales were up by 7,544 vehicles or 16.1 per cent.

"Consumers are being lured by considerable new model activity in the SUV market, greater availability of diesel engines and a general preference for the versatility and flexibility that these vehicles offer," said Mr McKellar.

The other major driver of the market so far this year has been Light Trucks, sales of which have grown by 3,952 or 9.5 per cent year-to-date.

The Light Truck market was very strong in 2007 and continues to be buoyant in 2008 thanks to resilient demand from the business sector," said Andrew McKellar.

Toyota was the best selling brand at the end of the first quarter with 22.9 per cent of the market, ahead of Holden with a 12.9 per cent share and Ford with 10.0 per cent.

Australia's best selling car in March was Holden Commodore with 3988 sales, narrowly ahead of Toyota Corolla (3968).

Year-to-date Corolla is the most popular model with 12,002 sales, ahead of Commodore with 11,551 and Mazda’ s 3 with 8779.


Top Australian Brands March 2008

Brand - Sales - Last Month
1. Toyota - 21,669 - 1st
2. Holden - 11,211 - 2nd
3. Ford - 9,206 - 3rd

More will be posted when available


Top Australian Vehicles March 2008

Vehicle - Sales
1. Holden Commodore - 3988
2. Toyota Corolla - 3968
3. Toyota HiLux - 3529
4. Mazda 3 - 3039
5. Toyota Camry - 2332
6. Ford Falcon - 2322
7. Toyota Aurion - 2235
8. Toyota Yaris - 2171

Mitsubishi Lancer - 1902
Nissan Navara - 1660
Honda Civic - 1558
Toyota Kluger - 1446
Ford Ranger - 1431
Holden Rodeo - 1423
Mitsubishi Triton - 1422
Hyundai Getz - 1406
Toyota RAV4 - 1349
Holden Ute - 1345

Mazda 2 - 1327
Ford Territory - 1310
Ford Ute - 1291
Ford Focus - 1284
Suzuki Swift - 1151
Holden Barina - 1150
Toyota Landcruiser - 1091
Toyota Prado - 1052
Subaru Impreza - 1050
Holden Astra - 1040

Hyundai i30 - 1019
Mazda BT-50 - 1007
Nissan X-Trail - 939
Mazda 6 - 937
Honda Accord - 924
Honda CR-V - 904
Holden Captiva - 898
Mitsubishi Outlander - 818
Subaru Forester - 716
Mitsubishi 380 - 702

Ford Fiesta - 634
Nissan Micra - 620
Mazda CX-9 - 603
Mitsubishi Pajero - 572
Holden Viva - 530
Mazda CX-7 - 506
Honda Jazz - 472
Kia Canival - 394
Toyota Tarago - 358
Ford Mondeo - 356

Mitsubishi Colt - 342
Holden Epica - 319
Holden Statesman - 179
Holden Caprice - 166
Chrysler 300C - 98
Ford Fairlane - 14



New Zealand March 2008 Sales Results

Motor Industry Association New Zealand
3 April 2008
www.mia.org.nz

Press release will be posted when available


Top New Zealand Brands March 2008

Brand - Sales - Last Month
1. Toyota - 1785 - 1st
2. Holden - 885 - 2nd
3. Ford - 745 - 3rd
4. Mitsubishi - 727 - 8th
5. Mazda - 664 - 4th
6. Honda - 658 - 6th
7. Nissan - 632 - 5th
8. Suzuki - 542 - 7th
9. Hyundai - 390 - 9th
10. Volkswagen - 206 - 12th
11. Kia - 198 - 11th
12. Audi - 125 - 17th
13. Peugeot - 114 - 14th
14. Daihatsu - 113 - 14th
15. Subaru - 107 - 11th
16. BMW - 89 - 15th
17. Mercedes Benz - 83 - 16th


Top New Zealand Vehicles March 2008

Vehicle - Sales

1. Toyota Corolla - 481
2. Suzuki Swift - 433
3. Holden Commodore - 317
4. Mazda 6 - 213
5. Honda Jazz - 195
6. Honda Accord - 174
7. Honda Civic - 139
8. Mitsubishi Outlander - 138
9. Ford Mondeo - 124
10. Mazda 3 - 118
11. Toyota Yaris - 115
12= Mitsubishi Lancer - 114
12= Suzuki SX4 - 114
14. Mitsubishi Colt - 98
15. Toyota Aurion - 97

Australian & New Zealand February 2008 Sales Results

[JoeT]

March VFACTS: Corolla Knocks Off Commodore

James Stanford
4 April 2008
www.goauto.com.au

Commodore loses its mantle as Australia's favourite car - to the Toyota Corolla.

The Holden Commodore is no longer Australia’s favourite car, being outsold over a full quarter for the first time in a decade.

VFACTS figures show the Australian-made model, whose reign as number one has remained unchallenged for so long, was outsold in the first quarter of 2008 by the Toyota Corolla.

The imported Corolla has picked off the Commodore in seven individual months since 2005, but has never previously won a quarter.

Commodore might have outsold the Corolla in March, but by only 20 cars - not enough to overhaul the Corolla’s super start to the year. In the first quarter, Toyota sold 12,002 Corollas, while Holden sold 11,511 Commodores.

The contrasting trajectory of the two models is revealed when the figures for the first quarter of 2008 are compared to those of 2007. The Corolla has risen by 897 so far this year, while Commodore sales have slid a whopping 3259.

Toyota Australia sales and marketing director David Buttner said the Corolla quarterly win was an “important milestone for Toyota” but added that the small car had some help in achieving the victory.

Click here to continue article

[Aych Es Vee]

Holden really needs the Torana :p

[Quickening]

Geez. Holden and Ford are getting stomped. They need a real midsize and compact ASAP.

[menace]

Epica has to go. Torana may be it's best bet.

[samkung]

I am surprised by the number of Mondeo sold, maybe its time for Ford to have a better ad

[Ssom]

1. Toyota - 1785
2. Holden - 885
3. Ford - 745
4. Mitsubishi - 727
5. Mazda - 664
6. Honda - 658
7. Nissan - 632
8. Suzuki - 542
9. Hyundai - 390
10. Volkswagen - 206
11. Kia - 198
12. Audi - 125
13. Peugeot - 114
14. Daihatsu - 113
15. Subaru - 107
16. Mercedes Benz- 100
17. BMW- 89
18. Chrysler- 54
19. Land Rover- 47
20. Lexus- 42
21. FIAT- 34
22. Jeep- 32
23. Volvo- 31
24. Citroen- 28
25= Skoda- 27
25= Dodge- 27
27. MINI- 25
28. Ssangyong- 19
29. Alfa Romeo- 14
30. Porsche- 13
31. Jaguar- 12
32. Aston Martin- 7
33= Maserati- 3
33= Saab- 3
35= Bentley- 2
35= Renault- 2 (!)
37. Ferrari- 1


Fords passenger car sales this month were appalling, but it looks like the Commodore has market leadership. I'm backing the Accord for a podium as well.

Tiguan seems to be doing well, but the Hyundai i30 and H1 are so far surprisingly slow sellers...


Volvo and Skoda are continuing their strong runs this year (Skoda sales are up by 300 odd %)

Maserati has also sold as more cars in the last three months than they did in all of 2007.

[Odin]

Really that gap is astronomical, truly pathetic that they lead by that much.

[paul8488]

A gap of 20 vehicles between the Commodore and Corolla...

How long has the Commodore been the number-one selling vehicle in Australia? Whatever the answer, I suspect next month it ends, unfortunately. Toyota has 6 vehicles in the top 10... nothing is going to stop them. Also, if the Holden Rodeo goes away there will be sizeable drop in Holden's monthly volume (even if they import a Colorado I can't see it doing near as well as the well-known Rodeo).

[RedVee8]

Gee, remember when the Commodore was pushing 6k sales a month?

[Odin]

I seriously do not understand how the hilux can be the number three selling car out there, wtf?

[BBDOS CV8]

Commoodre's been the biggest selling car since 1997. On occasion the Corolla has overtaken it - back in the 90's the Hyundai Excel outsold it on occasion.

I am not sure Holden is too fussed in one sense - Holden dealers are not discounting Commodores which suggests they are selling stock, but a lot is going o/s. The private lease fleet market has died in the arse due to changes in PAYE taxation, but Holden was moving out of that anyhow. That's why Ford is hurting, even though their runout deals are very attractive on BF Falcons.

Takeup of the G8 seems brisk. I think Holden will send cars where they are selling at the biggest premium and they have to keep GM happy as their new customer. VE has been on the market 18 months without any major revisions, looks like it will be some for time more. They won't be concerned at one level.

OTOH, losing the no 1. seller tag is a big psychological issue. Toyota is actually discounting more than just about anyone ATM here. High Aussie dollar is helping importers, hurting local makers. Notice Mitsu bouncing back on sales of imports like Lancer which is selling nicely.

Thing is, it is not that the Corolla is selling heaps more - but small SUVs are what is creaming everything. There are bright spots - I wonder what Osborne has to say this month now that the Barina has bounced back and the Fiesta still has subterannean sales. Focus is not promising for sales and Mondeo is not exactly coming home for Ford either. Astra though is also looking sad - the good variants like the diesel are just too pricey. Who'd a thunk a 'premium' Opel being outsold by a bottom-feeder Daewoo!

Loss of the Rodeo name is going to hurt, just when it was doing handy business. A year ago it was barely half these figures.

To the Cadillac fans:

Here is where your car is supposedly going to fight for monthly sales:
16. Mercedes Benz- 100
17. BMW- 89
18. Chrysler- 54
19. Land Rover- 47
20. Lexus- 42

Even presuming you corner 10% of the $70-80K market (a pretty long shot) you're looking at 20-30 cars a month. I think it'll be half those numbers.

[mikmak]

WTF indeed. Marketing power at its best.

[mikmak]

Originally Posted by JoeT

Vehicle - Sales
1. Holden Commodore - 3988
2. Toyota Corolla - 3968
3. Toyota HiLux - 3529
4. Mazda 3 - 3039
5. Toyota Camry - 2332
6. Ford Falcon - 2322
7. Toyota Aurion - 2235
8. Toyota Yaris - 2171

It's like a freakin cancer!^^^

Clearly the guvernmint must be subsidising yoda to sell more boring ass coffins, which in turn makes the drivers miss the speed cameras because they are asleep at the wheel because they are bored to death in their boring ****ing cars! You pay for what you get yoda drivers!...erm get what you pay for? same difference.

[Kamshaaft]

Looks like Holden has priced it's luxury segment out of it's market.