Australian & New Zealand September 2009 Sales Results: Commodore Takes The Lead!

[JoeT]

Australian September 2009 Sales Results

Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries
6 October 2009
www.fcai.com.au

Official VFACTS data released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) shows that 78,131 passenger cars, SUVs and commercial vehicles were sold in September 2009.

“This was a good month with a stronger than expected result,” FCAI Chief Executive Andrew McKellar said.

This September result is down 3.5 per cent (2,807 vehicles) compared to September last year but there were increases in some segments;

SUV Luxury – up 30.9 per cent
Sports Cars – up 17.1 per cent
SUV Compact – up 5.0 per cent
Light commercial vans – up 4.9 per cent
Light passenger cars – up 3.0 per cent
4x4 Utes – up 1.5 per cent
Medium passenger cars – up 1.2 per cent
“The September figure demonstrates signs of consolidation in the new vehicle market,” Mr McKellar said.

“Some areas of buyer confidence remain fragile and an interest rate rise is premature,” he said.

“Economic stimulus has resulted in positive business sales but private buyers need the confidence to return to showrooms in larger numbers,” Mr McKellar said.

Year-to-date 681,974 new vehicles have been sold, down 13.1 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Toyota remains in the top sales position for September with 16,007 vehicle sales, ahead of Holden with 9,744 and Ford with 8,427.


Top Australian Brands September 2009

Brand - Sales
1. Toyota - 16007
2. Holden - 9744
3. Ford - 8427
4. Mazda - 7205
5. Hyundai - 5484
6. Mitsubishi - 4312
7. Nissan - 4079
8. Honda - 3939
9. Subaru - 2807
10. Volkswagen - 2307


Top Australian Vehicles September 2009

Vehicle - Sales
1. Holden Commodore - 3858
2. Toyota Corolla - 3553
3. Mazda 3 - 3307
4. Ford Falcon - 2794
5. Toyota Hilux Ute - 2386
6. Toyota Camry - 2,360
7. Mitsubishi Lancer - 2033
8. Kia Cerato - 1818
9. Hyundai Getz - 1650
10. Holden Colorado - 1425

Holden Cruze - 1318
Toyota Yaris - 1280
Mazda 2 - 1270
Ford Ranger - 1238
Hyundai Tucson - 1168
Subaru Forester - 1131
Toyota Aurion - 1037
Toyota Rav4 - 1004
Toyota Kluger - 958
Ford Focus - 944

Ford Falcon Ute - 932
Toyota Prado - 904
Ford Territory - 890
Holden Barina - 883
Holden Captiva - 880
Ford Fiesta - 784
Holden Commodore Ute - 743
Ford Mondeo - 442
Holden Epica - 195
Holden Astra - 161
Holden Caprice - 112
Holden Statesman - 61



New Zealand September 2009 Sales Results

Motor Industry Association New Zealand
6 October 2009
www.mia.org.nz

Motor Industry Association CEO Perry Kerr says that the September sales are certainly heartening but the vehicle market is still vulnerable to current economic conditions.

September sales figures for new passenger cars showed that 5593 were registered, the highest month recorded thus far in 2009. September’s passenger sales were up 21% on August, though down 16% on September last year. Although still down 21% from September 2008 commercial vehicle sales showed a sharp 25% increase on this August, up to 1453 registrations.

“It is encouraging to see that September was the highest month for passenger sales in eleven months,” says Kerr. “The pick-up in the economy is starting to flow through to vehicle sales however we remain cautious until we see more of a definitive and sustained increase in sales figures” he said.

Toyota, Ford and Holden were still the top three marques in the new passenger vehicle sector with Toyota, Ford and Mitsubishi the top three in commercial sales. Year to date, Toyota leads with overall total market share of 20.15% compared to Ford with 12.35% and Holden with 9.25%.

September saw the Toyota Corolla as the top selling passenger model, followed by the Ford Falcon and in third place the Holden Commodore. Year to date figures show the Toyota Corolla still continues as the country’s best-selling model with sales of 3034 units sold, ahead of the Holden Commodore with 2145 units and the Suzuki Swift with 1804 units. ENDS.


Top New Zealand Brands September 2009

Brand - Sales
1. Toyota - 1864
2. Ford - 855
3. Holden - 610
4. Mazda - 549
5. Mitsubishi - 414
6. Hyundai - 404
7. Nissan - 366
8. Suzuki - 359
9. Honda - 210
10. Kia - 204

Top New Zealand Vehicles September 2009

Vehicle - Sales
1. Toyota Corolla - 671
2. Ford Falcon - 309
3. Holden Commodore - 290
4. Toyota Camry - 272
5. Suzuki Swift - 217
6. Toyota Yaris - 188
7. Mazda3 - 158
8. Mazda6 - 156
9. Ford Mondeo - 137
10. Toyota Highlander - 124

Australian & New Zealand August 2009 Sales Results

[mikmak]

Looks like everyone has re-sorted their finances and discretionary spending is back on.

Originally Posted by JoeT

SUV Luxury – up 30.9 per cent
Sports Cars – up 17.1 per cent

Good to see strong figures from Commodore again. Hopefully SIDI will take it over 4k next month. I see Cruze is back where Astra used to hang (even though it is due to being caught by surprise, as with Fords supply probs, it's up to the home team to sort this out ASAP....especially since my Aunty has just ordered one. A diesel would you believe ). Camry had a relatively strong month. Combined with Aurion, the twins knock off the Mazda 3 for third!

What's with Mondeo still sucking? They've got a talking German Shepard for goodness sake. What do you people want!?!


...

[derrado]

Where'd the Hyundai i30 disappear to? It was soaring up the sales charts and now it's not even in the Top 20? Good showing for the Kia Cerato, though, considering how non-existent the previous generation was.

I'm disappointed by Cruze slipping slightly, though. Still, it is holding its own fairly well for a small car with only one body style.

[mikmak]

Cruze's biggest problem at the moment is supply. I was told that they have standing orders of over 5000 for the next few months. @ 1500ish/month registrations, that takes them roughly to December.

[Rick_VT]

Originally Posted by mikmak

Cruze's biggest problem at the moment is supply. I was told that they have standing orders of over 5000 for the next few months. @ 1500ish/month registrations, that takes them roughly to December.

How is it with all the markets being down that Holden cant get enough Cruzes from Daewoo, surely they would have enough capacity to increase they amount the make for Holden so that they can get them to the customers who want them, thats just crap that they cant get more.

[BBDOS CV8]

The Cruze plant has very constrained supply, and at present supplies Chevrolet Europe, as well as home markets and Australasia. One reason they are looking forward to making them here. February at present if you want one.

Bear in mind, SIDI supplies only arrived 3rd-4th week September - that's when I got a call to test-drive one.

Very good to see the Falcon rebound in sales, too.

[isszy]

Originally Posted by Rick_VT

How is it with all the markets being down that Holden cant get enough Cruzes from Daewoo, surely they would have enough capacity to increase they amount the make for Holden so that they can get them to the customers who want them, thats just crap that they cant get more.

Lead times. Holden didn't expect it to do as well as it did, so sold up what they thought would be a good number of month's worth in the first couple of months.

You can't just get a new big order through quickly. The suppliers to Daewoo would have to ramp up, Daewoo would have to reschedule Australian spec cars, then they have to be able to get them on a boat and out here.

Car companies and their tier one suppliers are a very regimented bunch. They don't do variations very well or easily. All of the suppliers are geared up for Just In Time supply, and get big penalties if they under or oversupply. So Daewoo can't just say 'We need an extra 5000 Holden badges tomorrow' because the supplier will have been geared up to supply 1000.

[isszy]

Originally Posted by BBDOS CV8

Very good to see the Falcon rebound in sales, too.

Yeah but still sad to see the goofy looking Mazda 3 beat it.

[chinamonty]

Originally Posted by isszy

Lead times. Holden didn't expect it to do as well as it did, so sold up what they thought would be a good number of month's worth in the first couple of months.

You can't just get a new big order through quickly. The suppliers to Daewoo would have to ramp up, Daewoo would have to reschedule Australian spec cars, then they have to be able to get them on a boat and out here.

Car companies and their tier one suppliers are a very regimented bunch. They don't do variations very well or easily. All of the suppliers are geared up for Just In Time supply, and get big penalties if they under or oversupply. So Daewoo can't just say 'We need an extra 5000 Holden badges tomorrow' because the supplier will have been geared up to supply 1000.

Yes the only usual way you can ramp up quickly is with a cost penalty.
Although with some parts the subcontractor will make up a full order in one go and then just release them as per the firm zone delivery schedule. If you get in soon after your initial orders are placed increase the parts zone then things can happen as the supplier has had some warning.

[chinamonty]

What you say about Tier 1 is spot on but the level below (and further) are the ones that can move heaven and hell if they need to. I have seen it done.

[ford&holden]

Originally Posted by mikmak

What's with Mondeo still sucking? They've got a talking German Shepard for goodness sake. What do you people want!?!

Ford aims for around 500 sales a month, not sure what your point is!?

Barina and epica prove cheaper variants don't outsell the more expensive competition.

[TDi]

Originally Posted by mikmak

What's with Mondeo still sucking? They've got a talking German Shepard for goodness sake. What do you people want!?!


...

Ease up there cowboy! Yes, here I go again.....

If you look at the figures, the Mondeo is holding it's own. Isn't this the first full month the new 'updated' Mondeo has spent on the market? It's actually increased it's market share in a segment that has either declined slightly or is stagnant.

While the Camry is the biggest selling 'Mid-Size' car in the country, it's day light to second place, the Mazda 6, while the Subaru Liberty, Honda Accord Euro and the Ford Mondeo usually tossel for third, fourth and fifth positions. And look, I'm not even going to mention the Ep.....

September 2009:

1. Toyota Camry - 2,360
2. Mazda 6 - 870
3. Subaru Liberty - 556
4. Honda Accord Euro - 467
5. Ford Mondeo - 442

And like with all of Ford Australia's Euro products, supply is the biggest problem. Once Fiesta and Focus productin are switched to Thailand - I'm assuming Focus will be built there too once the new generation arrives at the end of 2010, then you should see a difference in their sales results. And yes, I know the Focus comes from South Africa, but that's been one massive headache with supplies from day one for Ford Australia. Holden is only now starting to find out what it's like to not get enough of a car they really need right now.

Ford of Europe wont supply Ford Australia with any more than the 500+ Mondeo's a month, until sales ease off in Europe, Australia is very low on the food chain when it comes to issues like this. But if we could source it from maybe a place like Thailand - I'm only throwing a country name in here, then it may do a lot better than what it's doing now.

And just to clear it up, I have no problem with cars being built in Thailand or South Korea. My problem with Holden when it switched to Daewoos instead of Opels, was that it lost that Euro look and feel of their cars, which is what I love - this is just my personal opinion, which they don't have anymore. I've never really been a fan of Asian cars and even today, there are not a lot of Asian cars that I like.

While I love the look of the front of the Cruze, it's very sharp, the back is just a blob and has already aged, again my opinion and I would never buy one. My last 3 new cars have all been Volkswagens, but since seeing the new Golf, I've been left unimpressed with the way it looks. I'm due to replace my current Golf TDi in June next year and at this stage, a new Skoda Octavia wagon is top of my list. I've also been looking at the all new Renault Megane 5dr hatch. Still, I'm not sure if I want to move into a wagon or stay with a hatch? But anyway.....

[TDi]

Originally Posted by derrado

Where'd the Hyundai i30 disappear to? It was soaring up the sales charts and now it's not even in the Top 20? Good showing for the Kia Cerato, though, considering how non-existent the previous generation was.

I'm disappointed by Cruze slipping slightly, though. Still, it is holding its own fairly well for a small car with only one body style.

The Hyundai i30 sold 1,818 units, the same as the Kia Cerato! I'm now wondering if there has been a typo with the Cerato results from Vfacts??

Also the Nissan Navara sold 1,319 units, but doesn't include the Navara 4X2 sales results, so expect at least another 100 or so more unuits to the Navara tally.

JoeT will fix up the results when he gets the time.

[mikmak]

Originally Posted by ford&holden

Ford aims for around 500 sales a month, not sure what your point is!?

Really? Sounds like the Mondeo Wagon will contend very strongly with the Holden Sportwagon then.

Oh found a quote:

Originally Posted by GoAuto

FORD hopes its new Mondeo wagon can woo at least half of all Mondeo buyers as it seeks to double sales of its Belgian-built midsized series to about 10,000 units a year.

Which equates to 833/month. I call that a draw

Originally Posted by ford&holden

Barina and epica prove cheaper variants don't outsell the more expensive competition.

Yes, they are sucking. No 2 ways about it.

Originally Posted by TDi

Isn't this the first full month the new 'updated' Mondeo has spent on the market?

The new range was released in August, so yep, you are right.

[BBDOS CV8]

I know the Aurion was on runout last month, but Toyota would have to be seriously worried about this model. If it doesn't get a big bounce from the new model it will soon slip down to 3-digit sales. At that rate you'd have to question it staying. First full month of the renewed Camry, so it might have been eating Aurion's lunch a little.