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Oh, what a top feeling
By Paul Gover
January 8, 2004
www.news.com.au
TOYOTA has beaten Holden to the number one spot in the new-car market for 2003.
The Holden Commodore was Australia's favourite car for the eighth straight year, as Holden led passenger car sales for its sixth consecutive year.
But Toyota's all-round strength - and its dominance of the 4WD and light-commercial scene - gave it overall victory in the showroom race.
Total vehicle sales reached an all-time high of 909,811 vehicles, up by a whopping 10.4 per cent over the previous mark of 824,309 in 2002, as Toyota trumped Holden by 10,958.
Nissan's sales of 58,568 gave it a clear win as leading importer, with Mazda's 53,217 sales placing it second.
"The automotive industry has clearly shifted into a higher gear and we expect it to remain there for the immediately foreseeable future," said Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive Peter Sturrock.
The 2003 results showed Australians had a growing appetite for 4WDs during 2003, as well as buying more baby and mid-sized cars, but turned away from people movers and sports cars.
Luxury cars also did well, with sales up by 17.5 per cent.
Toyota trumpeted its success but also sounded a warning to its rivals, as it aims to repeat its six years at No. 1 through the 1990s.
"We wish to maintain market leadership. It's our rightful place. We have the best cars," Toyota executive chairman John Conomos said.
He admitted Toyota had failed to accurately forecast demand during 2003 and could have added another 10,000 sales to its total if it had ordered the right vehicles at the right time.
"We got it wrong. We got the forecast wrong. I made a mistake," he said.
Holden was happy to be runner-up, despite Ford snapping at its unbeaten six-year run with the Commodore as the BA Falcon grabbed top spot for one month last year.
Holden attributed the end of its two-year reign as top car company to troubles with its European-built Barina-Astra-Vectra lineup.
"If you look at the specifics it really gets down to a couple of issues. That's pricing of European-sourced cars," said Holden's executive director of sales and marketing, Ross MacKenzie.
"That's really what hurt us. You can tie it back to exchange rates.
"Everything else was good, but you can't get around the price issue in the four cylinder market. That's what killed us."
Mr MacKenzie said Holden was planning to bounce back in 2004, and had trimmed Barina prices by $1000 as Toyota added $250 to the bottom line on its sales-leading Echo.
"I don't see why we can't get back up there (to number one)," Mr MacKenzie said.
Full Article Here
Toyota Echo:
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Holden Commodore:
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Ford BA Falcon:
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By Paul Gover
January 8, 2004
www.news.com.au
TOYOTA has beaten Holden to the number one spot in the new-car market for 2003.
The Holden Commodore was Australia's favourite car for the eighth straight year, as Holden led passenger car sales for its sixth consecutive year.
But Toyota's all-round strength - and its dominance of the 4WD and light-commercial scene - gave it overall victory in the showroom race.
Total vehicle sales reached an all-time high of 909,811 vehicles, up by a whopping 10.4 per cent over the previous mark of 824,309 in 2002, as Toyota trumped Holden by 10,958.
Nissan's sales of 58,568 gave it a clear win as leading importer, with Mazda's 53,217 sales placing it second.
"The automotive industry has clearly shifted into a higher gear and we expect it to remain there for the immediately foreseeable future," said Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive Peter Sturrock.
The 2003 results showed Australians had a growing appetite for 4WDs during 2003, as well as buying more baby and mid-sized cars, but turned away from people movers and sports cars.
Luxury cars also did well, with sales up by 17.5 per cent.
Toyota trumpeted its success but also sounded a warning to its rivals, as it aims to repeat its six years at No. 1 through the 1990s.
"We wish to maintain market leadership. It's our rightful place. We have the best cars," Toyota executive chairman John Conomos said.
He admitted Toyota had failed to accurately forecast demand during 2003 and could have added another 10,000 sales to its total if it had ordered the right vehicles at the right time.
"We got it wrong. We got the forecast wrong. I made a mistake," he said.
Holden was happy to be runner-up, despite Ford snapping at its unbeaten six-year run with the Commodore as the BA Falcon grabbed top spot for one month last year.
Holden attributed the end of its two-year reign as top car company to troubles with its European-built Barina-Astra-Vectra lineup.
"If you look at the specifics it really gets down to a couple of issues. That's pricing of European-sourced cars," said Holden's executive director of sales and marketing, Ross MacKenzie.
"That's really what hurt us. You can tie it back to exchange rates.
"Everything else was good, but you can't get around the price issue in the four cylinder market. That's what killed us."
Mr MacKenzie said Holden was planning to bounce back in 2004, and had trimmed Barina prices by $1000 as Toyota added $250 to the bottom line on its sales-leading Echo.
"I don't see why we can't get back up there (to number one)," Mr MacKenzie said.
Full Article Here
Toyota Echo:
Holden Commodore:
Ford BA Falcon:
