Australian & New Zealand May 2006 Car Sales Results

[JoeT]

Car Market Down Slightly in May

Federal Chamber Of Automotive Industries
5 June 2006
www.fcai.com.au

The Australian motor vehicle market remained slightly softer in May, with sales finishing just 0.6 per cent down on the record for the month set last year.

According to figures released today by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) a total of 83,457 cars trucks and buses were sold last month – just 497 vehicles or 0.6 per cent down on May 2005.

"When considered against the backdrop of recent high fuel prices and last month's interest rate rise, the performance of the motor vehicle market is very encouraging," said the Chief Executive of the FCAI, Peter Sturrock.

Mr Sturrock said that despite these adverse factors the projected annual sales total for 2006 is still tracking very close to the Chamber's forecast of 980,000 – slightly down on last year's all-time record.

Year-to-date sales totalled 383,712 at the end of May – down 11,221 vehicles or 2.8 per cent on the same period last year.

"The consumer appetite for new cars – particularly new small cars – remains very healthy and we could see the motor vehicle market regain a little ground in the second half of the year when the recently announced tax cuts take effect," said Mr Sturrock.

Fuel prices continued to influence buying patterns last month, with sales of Light cars up 29.2 per cent and Small cars up 9.9 per cent on May last year.

Year-to-date Light car sales have grown more than any other segment of the market – up 8553.

Sales of Sports Utility Vehicles are down 6729 or 8.8 per cent year-to-date while the Large car segment is down 15,106 or 21.6 per cent.

In contrast to the general market trend towards smaller, more economical vehicles, sales of four-wheel-drive utes are growing strongly.

The Pick-up/Cab-chassis 4x4 segment was up 12.1 per cent in May and year-to-date is up 10.2 per cent or 2466 vehicles.

"The strong sales of four-wheel-drive utes indicates both the continuing confidence of the business community but also that a lot of these vehicles are being bought with a view to personal recreational use," said Peter Sturrock.

Toyota was the top-selling brand in May with 18,310, followed by Holden with 12,012 and Ford with 11,145.

Year-to-date Toyota now leads Holden by 21,435.


VFACTS INDUSTRY SUMMARY- MAY 2006

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries issues the following summary for the retail sales performance of the automotive industry for May 2006, based on the industry's standard retail report, VFACTS.

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries advises that the forecast for 2006 is 980,000 vehicles.

The May 2006 industry volume of 83,457, is down, 497 vehicles or 0.6% on May 2005. May 2006 (26.7) had 1 more selling day than May (25.7) 2005, resulting in a decrease of 141. vehicles per day or 4.3%.
The May 2006 market is up 14,807 (21.6%) on April (68,650 vehicles). May (26.7) had 4.7 selling days more than April (22.0), resulting in an increase of 5.6 vehicles per day or 0.2%. The May volume equates to a SAAR of .979 Million vehicle sales.
The Passenger Vehicle Market rose by 220 vehicle sales (0.4%) over the same month last year, the Sports Utility Vehicle Market, fell by 614 vehicle sales (-4.%), the Light Truck Market, fell by 111 vehicle sales (-0.7%) whilst the Heavy Commercial Vehicle Market rose by 8 vehicle sales (0.3%) over May 2005.
Toyota was market leader in May, followed by Holden and Ford. Year-to-date Toyota leads Holden with a margin of 21,425 vehicle sales, or 5.6 market share points.

The year-to-date 2006 market of 383,712 vehicles is running below the same period in 2005 by 2.8% or 11,221 vehicle sales. With the same number of selling days as 2005, the daily selling rate decreased by 91. vehicle sales per day. This equates to a YTD SAAR of .981 Million vehicles.

The Passenger Market at 238,422 vehicles is down by 5,689 vehicles (-2.3%). This equates to a YTD SAAR of 0.604 Million vehicles. Mixed results by segment show that, whilst increases were returned by, the Light car segment up, 8,553 (22.8%); the Small car segment up, 1,856 (2.2%) and the People mover segment up, 333 (5.6%), the Large car segment down, 15,106 (-21.6%); the Sports car segment down, 709 (-9.2%); the Medium car segment down, 505 (-1.4%) and the Upper Large car segment down, 111 (3.9%), failed to improve on their volumes for the same period last year.

The Sports Utility Vehicle Market at 69,370 vehicles is down by 6,729 vehicles (-8.8%), in year-to-date terms. This equates to a YTD SAAR of 0.172 Million vehicles. All segments except the SUV Luxury segment which is up, 897 (14.4%), failed to improve on the same period in 2005, with the SUV Medium segment down, 3,593 (-12.5%); the SUV Large segment down, 2,531 (-28.7%) and the SUV Compact segment down, 1,502 (-4.7%). The Light Truck Market at 67,001 vehicles is running 843 vehicles (1.3%) ahead, in year-to-date terms. This equates to a YTD SAAR of 0.172 Million vehicles.

Mixed results are being returned by segment, with the Pick-up/Cab Chassis 4X4 segment up, 2,466 (10.2%); the Light bus segment up, 445 vehicles (72.5%) and the 2.5 Tonne truck segment up, 10 vehicles (1.5%), are experiencing growth, whilst the Pick-up/Cab Chassis 4X2 segment down, 1,631 vehicles (-5.2%) and the Van segment down, 447 vehicles (-4.9%), failed to improve on their 2005 volumes. The Heavy Truck Market at 11,919 vehicles is up on the same period in 2005 by, 354 vehicles or 3.1%.

MONTHLY RESULTS

The May result fell just short of the all time record May month set last year. The Passenger Vehicle Market is up 220 vehicle sales or 0.4%. The PMV market volume equates to a SAAR of 0.611 Million vehicle sales. The polarisation of the market continues with improved performances shown in the Light car segment, up 2,268 vehicle sales (29.2%); the Small car segment, up 1,772 vehicle sales (9.9%); the Medium car segment, up 303 vehicle sales (4.5%) and the People mover segment, up 81 vehicle sales (7.3%), whilst the Large car Segment, down 4,000 vehicle sales (-26.8%); the Upper Large car segment, down 113 vehicle sales (-17.1%) and the Sports car segment, down 91 vehicle sales (-6.7%) failed to achieve their 2005 volumes.

The Sports Utility Vehicle Market is down 614 vehicle sales or 4.0% versus May 2005. The SUV market volume equates to a SAAR of 0.168 million vehicle sales. All segments with the exception of the SUV Luxury segment, up 26 vehicle sales (1.7%), failed to achieve their 2005 volume levels with the SUV Medium segment, down 405 (-6.9%); the SUV Large segment, down 201 vehicle sales (-11.4%) and the SUV Compact segment, down 34 vehicle sales (-0.5%). The Light Truck Market is down 111 vehicle sales or 0.7% versus May 2005. The LCV market volume equates to a SAAR of 0.167 million vehicle sales.

Mixed results were returned by segment, with the Pick-up/Cab Chassis 4X4 segment, up 686 vehicle sales (12.1%) and the Light bus segment, up 6 vehicle sales (2.3%), whilst the Pick-up/Cab Chassis 4x2 segment down 616 vehicle sales (-8.5%); the Van segment, down 125 vehicle sales (-6.1%) and the 2.5 Tonne truck segment, down 62 vehicle sales (-27.6%) failed to achieve their 2005 volume levels. The Heavy Truck Market is up 8 vehicle sales or 0.3%, when compared with the same month in 2005.

TOP TEN MAKES

Toyota gained the top sales position in the May monthly market with 18,310 vehicle sales, ahead of Holden with 12,012 and Ford third with 11,145. Toyota, with a market share of 21.3%, holds market leadership in year-to-date terms. Holden's May result sees it in second position with a market share of 15.7%, with Ford's market share of 12.5% placing it third. Mazda, with sales of 5,624 and with a market share of 7.%, hold fourth position. Mitsubishi achieved 4,934 vehicle sales in May and with a share of 5.6%, is in fifth place ahead of Nissan, on 5.4% market share.

New Zealand May 2006 Car Sales Results

Motor Industry Association New Zealand
6 June 2006
www.mia.org.nz

New car sales resumed their record trend in May.

6241 units were registered during the month, 22% up on April’s figure and 3% ahead of May 2005. It was the biggest May for new car sales since 1990. New commercial vehicle sales have come slightly off their 2005 peak – although May sales of 2180 were a massive 45% up on April, they were 7.5% down on May last year. It was still the second biggest May for new commercials since 1982.

Year to date May, new car sales were 4.0% up on last year and commercials were 6.5% down.

“Despite the problems affecting the lower end of the used vehicle market, new vehicle sales are continuing at a buoyant level,” said Perry Kerr, CEO of the Motor Industry Association. “Buyers are recognising that new, more efficient vehicles are less costly to operate, and will ultimately have better resale value.”

Ford took passenger market leadership from Toyota in May, but Toyota is hanging on to year to date honours in all categories, helped by their continuing strong commercial vehicle performance.

In the individual model stakes, Falcon edged out Commodore in May, but Commodore remains in the lead year to date with Corolla second and Falcon third.


Top 8 New Zealand Brands May 2006

Toyota - 1212
Ford - 1199
Holden - 961
Honda - 638
Nissan - 584
Mazda - 555
Mitsubishi - 507
Hyundai - 349

Australian & New Zealand April 2006 Car Sales Results

[JoeT]

Buyers Shying Away From Large Cars

Tim Dornin
5 May 2006
www.drive.com.au

Large cars are on the nose in Australia, the latest sales figures confirming that buyers are turning their backs on the big Aussie six.

Large cars are on the nose in Australia, the latest sales figures confirming that buyers are turning their backs on the big Aussie six.

Demand for large cars slumped 27 per cent in May and was down 21 per cent in the first five months of 2006 as continued high petrol prices pushed consumers towards more fuel-efficient models.

Most large car brands suffered from the buyer backlash, with sales of even Australia's top-selling vehicle, the Holden Commodore, falling by 26 per cent.

Its traditional rival in the market, the Ford Falcon, also suffered a near 20 per cent slide in demand while the recently released Mitsubishi 380 continued to fall well short of its original sales forecast.

It meant six of Australia's top 10 selling models were now light or small cars, the best being the Toyota Corolla in second place with sales reaching 16,935 so far this year, an increase of seven per cent.

Other models to benefit from the sales shift included the Ford Focus with sales up a whopping 74 per cent, the Hyundai Getz up 23 per cent and the new Toyota Yaris which has attracted more than 10,000 buyers so far this year.

But it also meant a slump in demand for locally produced models with Australian-made vehicles dominating sales in the large car segment.

Over the first five months of 2006, sales of locally made cars fell by 20 per cent with imports now accounting for almost 80 per cent of all sales.

With petrol prices expected to remain high it seemed the only hope for the large car segment appeared the upcoming launch of new models, including the new VE Commodore and the Toyota Aurion in the third and fourth quarters this year.

Car companies and industry analysts said they expected the two new models to stimulate interest in the large car segment towards the end of 2006 and into 2007.

Holden spokesman Jason Laird said the company was working closely with its dealers to manage the inventory of its locally-made cars in the lead-up to the VE release.

"We are better off restricting supplies than making too many cars and leaving them in dealers' hands after we launch the new car," he said.

But he said the company was confident of lifting demand for the Commodore and its derivatives over the longer term.

"The best way to rebuild the large car market is with an all-new car and we're confident about what the future holds," he said.

Holden says large car sales should rise with the new VE Commodore's release

[mikmak]

Thanks again for your diligent posting JoeT. I'm not sure how the market can maintain such a standard of new car purchasing. We've dropped 1 pixel () compared to this time last year. Its a scarry thought that Corolla is number 2. I know it wont last long, but it helps to lock in Toyota as the number one seller of motor vehicles. Even closer still to the No.1 seller of white goods. Look out Harvey Norman!

[JoeT]

I just posted the New Zeland May car sales results.

Ford was only 13 sales behind Toyota! And Holden's sales are still slipping.

[TDi]

Holden also nearly got outsold by Ford in Australia too!!

I see now that supply issues of the Fiesta and Focus easing, has seen them sell in better number's.

In fact, Focus outsold the Astra and the Fiesta nearly knocked off the Barina!!

Ford Fiesta - 730
Holden Barina - 803

Ford Focus - 2,320
Holden Astra - 1,924

Ford Falcon - 3,388
Holden Commodore - 4,362

Holden Viva - 1,083 Viva sales are up from last month, but it still hasn't reached it's target of 1,500 unit's a month.

[Bravada]

Is this the TK Barina? If the aging, uninspired, Euro-sourced Fiesta nearly trumps the oh-so-great Kaloina, than Holden has got a problem here.

The general trend is worrying - large cars are losing not only to small cars, but also to SUVs. I hope Australia will rebound somehow and won't go the US way.

[mikmak]

Originally Posted by Bravada

Is this the TK Barina? If the aging, uninspired, Euro-sourced Fiesta nearly trumps the oh-so-great Kaloina, than Holden has got a problem here.

The general trend is worrying - large cars are losing not only to small cars, but also to SUVs. I hope Australia will rebound somehow and won't go the US way.

I couldn't agree more. SUV's are so frustrating. It seems that all the inconsiderate drivers that are normally tolerable are now creating masses of road rage because their apathy to your whereabouts is proportionately amplified by the size of their car. ie An inconsiderate driver in a Hyundai Getz (yes I'm generalising) can be avoided or dealt with swiftly. An inconsiderate driver in a Ford Territory, blocks all possiblitiy of you assessing any appropriate circumvention tactic.

That is aside from all the other things I have mentioned endlessly on other threads (size, inefficiency, poor performance, stress on components resulting in shorter MTF [Mean Time to Failure])

As for the Barina, it is the Daewoo Kalos version and Aveo Sedan. The Ford Fiesta is getting pretty good reviews here. Especially the Zetec version.

[DanCBJMS1988]

Do you guys have the Ghia versions of the Fords (and the Ghia X versions, in the case of the NZDM Mondeo)?

Anyway, I know people are crazy over Holden and Ford losing market share(my two favorite Oz brands are Holden and Ford, even though most Fords are Euro vehicles anyway, and I'm a huge fan of the Euro Fords), but look at the bright side: Holden and Ford are still in the Top 5 for both countries, and Ford is helped greatly in Australia by its Mazda subsidiary (you know, the one making the 3 (C1, aka Ford Focus/Volvo S40/V50) and the 6 (CD3, aka US Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan/Lincoln Zephyr). But honestly, if Ford sells the Euro Fusion in Australia and New Zealand, I think right away the sales would tank. Ford-Europe, if I remember correctly, is having a hard time selling the Fusion. Besides, why do individual brands anyway? In Ford's case, you should group all the brands Ford sells in Australia and New Zealand as "Ford Australia". In Holden's case, it would also be the same: Holden and then, once they are here, Hummer and Cadillac. We'll see.

[Bravada]

Ford-Europe, if I remember correctly, is having a hard time selling the Fusion.

Oh is it? I actually thought Fusion was a sales success, at least it is here in Poland and was also in Germany.

As for the Barina, it is the Daewoo Kalos version and Aveo Sedan.

So much for GM's excuse for replacing the Corsa with the J200/250. I gather Ford is importing the Fiesta from Europe, and it comes quite expensive, just like the Corsa did. And it's the old uninspired (though great riding) Fiesta, and GM's alternative was the all-new rave-generating (not if you'd ask me, but that's another thing) Corsa D.

[mikmak]

Whether it looks like this:

Or this:

Its still little more than an overrated roller skate. It is however dirt cheap and for some reason dirt cheap and a Holden badge haven't made the evil connection yet. Wait till resale time.

Still, the Barina did start out as a Suzuki Swift. 1 step forward 2 steps back. Thats the way to capatilise on a Monicker. Just change the name when they release the next gen small car. Corsa does have a nice ring to it.

[mikmak]

Sorry DanCBJMS1988, yes we do have the Ghia Spec on most ford models. The Fairmont Ghia is the highest specification of the Falcon SWB platform and the Blue ovals best luxury seller. Their LWB version, the Fairlane, has just been sent to the cellar (pun intended).

I would try to argue a case for a mid size euro in Oz but seem to be the only person who thinks its a good idea. I have rambled on endlessly about the pros of the Holden Vectra. The premium paid for such vehicles is worth it to someone who appreciates cars and the competence. Unfortunately, this is not the majority of the car market (based on my own assumptions, it could actually be that they are just ill informed).

The ZC Vectra was sold here from 2002 to the last of the dregs in dealers now. I only read 3 reputable reviews (1 of which was a good example of journalists complaining about niggles that would vanish with familiarity) which is odd for any vehicle in Australia. Usually they crop up a few times in comparisons. It was like no one had even heard about it. Tel me what you think when you drive the new Aura.

[TDi]

Originally Posted by Bravada

Is this the TK Barina? If the aging, uninspired, Euro-sourced Fiesta nearly trumps the oh-so-great Kaloina, than Holden has got a problem here.

The general trend is worrying - large cars are losing not only to small cars, but also to SUVs. I hope Australia will rebound somehow and won't go the US way.

Yes it is the new TK Barina.

The funny thing is, this time last year, Holden sold more of the old Euro Barina's (Opel Corsa) for the month of May, than they have in May of this year with the new Asian Barina (Daewoo Kalos).

The new TK Barina is also $3,000 AUD cheaper than the base model Fiesta.

Also, Austalian spec Fiesta's come from Europe and are sold in LX, Zetec and Ghia spec's, where as the Barina is only sold in one spec level.