A record March result of 106,988 sales delivered a strong 4.4% first quarter growth for the Australian new vehicle market according to the motor industry's official statistical service VFACTS.

Australia's new vehicle market grew 1.5% in March, compared with the same month last year. It marked the ninth month of record industry sales in the past 11 months and brought the year to date total to 291,538 sales.

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The March result was boosted by notable sales gains in small and medium SUVs, light and micro passenger cars.

Small SUVs climbed 32.8% compared with March 2017, while medium SUVs increased sales by 10.1%. The micro car market jumped 47.2%, while light cars gained a healthy 6.9%.

SUVs provided the market's firm support during March with private sales up 7.6% and business sales up 0.4% in a segment which increased 9.7% overall compared with the same month last year. SUV sales grew progressively during the first quarter to now represent 42.3% of the total market. 

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The light commercial market dipped slightly overall (down 0.4%) in March, although sales of 4WD utes and cab chassis models were still up 3.2% compared with the same month last year. The LC segment grew over the March quarter however, and now represents 19.7% of the total market.

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The chief executive of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, Tony Weber, said that the healthy first quarter growth demonstrated that consumers were attracted by the diversity of product and the value on offer.

"To have the market at 4.4% ahead of last year's record total is a clear vote of consumer confidence in the economy's stability and low interest rates, both key factors which encourage private buyers and businesses into new vehicles," he said.

"The continued growth of SUVs in our market comes in the same week as the US Environmental Protection Agency indicated it would adopt less stringent and more realistic emissions targets into the future."

Toyota was the market leader for March with a 17.6% share, followed by Mazda with 9.1%, Mitsubishi with 8.2%, Hyundai (7.9%) and Ford (6.3%).

The Toyota Hilux, which led the market last year, maintained its top-seller position in March with 4,348 sales, followed by the Ford Ranger (4,064 sales), Toyota Corolla (3,218), Mitsubishi Triton (3,109) and the Mazda 3 (2,780).