The surging Australian new vehicle market has maintained its momentum into the new year with record sales in January.

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According to figures released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), 69,565 new cars, trucks and buses were sold last month – a 7.4% increase on the record set in January last year.


The boom start-of-year result follows record sales of motor vehicles in 2004.


Sales reached 955,229 by the end of the year – an increase of 5% on 2003 and the third straight annual record.


Any concern that the car industry might have a quiet start to the year has been laid to rest by the January sales total, said FCAI CEO Peter Sturrock.

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“Clearly the January tariff cut from 15% to 10% on imported passenger cars has reduced prices and stimulated sales across many brands, thus giving January a flying start,” said Sturrock.


“Sales have started the year as the Chamber predicted and we are confident that given the strong economic indicators the market will continue to trend upwards,” he added.


The FCAI is forecasting vehicle sales will top 980,000 by the year’s end.


In January, the passenger car market rose 5.8% month-on-month, demand for light trucks was up 6.1% and the sports utility vehicle (SUV) market continued last year’s sharp upward trend by rising 12.5%.


2004 sales leader Toyota was the best-selling brand in January with 13,535 sales, ahead of Holden with 12,212 and Ford with 9,122.


The big mover was Mazda which rose from sixth to fourth place for the first time with sales of 5,726 – an increase of 45.7% over January last year.


Mazda eclipsed Nissan which, after finishing 2004 in fourth place, saw its January sales fall 4.9% to 4,331 to finish in fifth.


Mitsubishi held sixth spot with 4,196 – an increase of 10.5%.


Analysis of the January results shows substantial increases in the sales volumes of small cars (up 14.6%), medium cars (22.3%) and prestige cars (23.8%).


Small to medium sized passenger cars are selling very well, boosted by the availability of several attractive new products and perhaps by the increase in petrol prices, noted Sturrock.


The medium SUV segment, meanwhile, continues to grow rapidly, with sales up 1,450 vehicles or 42.6% in January.


Family car buyers continue to be attracted in ever larger numbers to the new generation of ‘cross-over’ four-wheel drive wagons [such as Holden’s Commodore-based Adventra and Ford’s Territory], said Sturrock.










Crossover wagons like these from GM Holden and Ford are on the up Down Under