Record high petrol prices appear to be taking a toll on Australia’s new vehicle market according to official figures released on Wednesday by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI).
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Overall sales were down 10.2% on the record for the month set a year ago.
Year to date, the Aussie market is now running 10,724 vehicles or 3.4% behind the same period of 2005.
“There are some one-off factors at play here, including Easter falling in April this year instead of March, which meant there were three fewer selling days,” said FCAI chief executive Peter Sturrock.
“It should also be noted that the automotive market has actually set sales records in two out of four months this year – so the trend is far from consistent.
“Nevertheless, you could conclude that the widespread publicity generated by rising fuel prices may have discouraged some potential new vehicle buyers.”
April results clearly show a continuation of the recent trend towards smaller vehicles of all kinds.
Against the general downturn in the passenger vehicle market, sales in the light car segment were up 17.1% while sports utility volume was down 13.8% compared to last April, but sales of relatively economical people movers (minivans or MPVs) were up 9.7%.
Light truck sales fell by 11.2% last month, although volume year to date remains slightly up (1.9%) on the record set in 2005.
“The automotive industry is trying to continue the momentum generated by four successive years of record sales growth,” added Sturrock.
“It’s probably unreasonable to expect that the market can keep growing unabated and indeed the chamber has forecast an annual total down slightly on last year.”
The FCAI’s sales forecast for 2006 is 980,000, compared to the record 988,269 set last year.
Toyota remained the best-selling brand in April with 14,712 units, followed by General Motors’ Holden (10,417) and Ford (8,372). Mitsubishi, which manufactures some cars locally like Ford and GM, was in seventh place with 3,823.
Year to date Toyota, also a local car maker and exporter, leads Holden 63,917 to 48,780.
