Australian car buyers shrugged off the worry of war to set a new first-quarter sales record of 204,018 vehicles – almost 13,000 units more than last year’s high mark, writes Mike Duffy.
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It was an amazing result taking into account the unknown impact on the nation’s economy of hostilities in Iraq.
The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries maintained its forecast for record sales in 2003 of 825,000 vehicles, beating last year’s result of 824,309.
Sales of cars and commercials in Australia hit record levels in January and February and even though the March result failed to make it three in a row, the market remained strong.
Chief executive Peter Sturrock said strong activity in the retail sector had countered any negative effects which might have been expected from the
Middle East conflict.
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By GlobalDataA total of 76,113 vehicles were sold in March – the second highest result for the month and only 898 units less than the March record set in 1999.
Toyota increased its year-to-date lead over Holden – the market leader since 2000 – with its own January-March record of 42,453 vehicles to 39,958. Ford came third in the quarter on 28,879 sales with Mitsubishi in fourth on 16,648 registrations.
Toyota led in the light car segment with Echo (Yaris/Vitz) and in the small car segment with Corolla. It topped the medium car sales with the four cylinder Camry and led people mover (minivan/MPV) sales with Tarago (Previa/Estima).
While Ford’s BA Falcon continued to increase sales with 6,369 sales in March, Holden’s Commodore maintained its No 1 position as the nation’s best seller with 8,365 registrations for a dominant 44.8% of the large car market.
Holden also ran out first and second in the sports car market with Monaro (basis of the 2003 US Pontiac GTO) and Astra Convertible and claimed one in five sales in the prestige segment with Statesmen.
Toyota was the top selling company last month with 17,180 vehicles for 22.6% of the market, ahead of Holden on 14,891 for 19.6%.
Ford was third on 10,921 for 14.3% and Mitsubishi Motors fourth with 6,257 sales for 8.2%.
Toyota’s senior executive vice president John Conomos said the conflict in the Middle East had had no discernible impact on domestic and export demand.
In the luxury market, BMW’s 3 Series maintained the lead with 1,196 sales – but only 39 units ahead of the Mercedes-Benz C-class which had a strong month.
The only down-side in Australia was exports to the Middle East.
Toyota and Holden export significant numbers of vehicles and Mitsubishi has recently opened up sales in the Gulf region.
All three companies are hoping for a sales boost after the end of the war to make up for any fall in sales in Kuwait.
