New vehicle sales continued at record levels in Australia in August according to data issued by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI).


The FCAI said that 86,179 new cars and trucks were sold last month, some 8.8 per cent higher than the 79,224 sold in same month last year and was the best August on record.


The bumper August took sales for the first eight months of 2005 to 663,445 units, a 5.3 per cent improvement compared to the same period last year.



The top selling company in August was Toyota with 17,920 sales – ahead of Holden, which was on 15,307, and Ford on 12,157.


A record 955,229 vehicles were sold in 2004 and the FCAI has forecast 980,000 this year.


According to the FCAI, motor vehicle retailers are preparing for a strong sales push over the remainder of the year.