Car sales across Australia are on track to smash last year’s record by at least 50,000 units, and the official estimate of the 2003 market could prove conservative if the second half of the year finishes on a traditionally high note, writes Mike Duffy.

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A total of 92,058 cars and commercials were sold in June, eclipsing the previous record month of 89,999 set in June, 1998. This was 13,277 or 16.9% higher than June last year, the result pushing the first half tally to 443,203 vehicles – 36,237 units or 8.9% up on the same six months of 2002.

Last year’s record of 824,309 vehicles is certain to be broken.
A large number of new vehicles are scheduled for release before the turn of the year. And so the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries’ estimate of 875,000 units – revised up from 825,000 at the start of the year – is another mark likely to come under attack.
The end of a prolonged drought in most regions of Australia, an upward movement in the value of the Aussie dollar against major currencies and a housing boom brought out a record number of buyers.

The passenger car market is up 19,963 or 5.5% on last year, sports utility vehicles are 5,893 (8.5%) higher, the light truck segment is 9,133 units (14.5%) ahead and heavy trucks are 1,248 or 13% to the good.

Toyota recorded its best sales for the first half of a year with 91,627 sales for 20.7% of the market to extend its lead over Holden (86,530 sales, 19.5%) to 5,097 vehicles.

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But the GM affiliate, which has a brace of new models ready to unleash on the market, is not yet giving up hope of overhauling Toyota to win leadership for the third year in a row.

Ford Australia, buoyed by a 46% improvement in Falcon sales, claimed 61,417 registrations for 13.9% of the national market with Mitsubishi Motors the lowest ranked member of the big four with 36,900 sales (8.3%) for January-June.

The Holden Commodore was the top selling car for the 70th consecutive month and with the start of a third shift at Elizabeth in South Australia pushing daily production capacity to 780 vehicles, the brand has another reason to be optimistic of catching Toyota.

Holden’s sales of 17,120 in June may have been the company’s third highest on record, but the company still trailed Toyota by more than 3,000 units in June.

Of the importers, Audi, BMW, Citroen, Honda, Kia, Lexus, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Nissan, Peugeot, Porsche, Proton, Subaru and Volkswagen all recorded significant improvements.

But Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Daewoo, Daihatsu, Hyundai, Land Rover, MG Rover, Renault, Saab, Suzuki and Volvo suffered losses.

Toyota won the light, small and medium car segments plus people mover (MPV or minivan) sales with the Echo [Yaris/Vitz equivalent], Corolla and Camry and Tarago [Previa] respectively while Holden took the honours in the large car, sports car and prestige areas of the market with its Commodore, Monaro and Statesman. BMW’s 3 series and the Mercedes-Benz C-class shared the honours in the prestige segment and Toyota dominated the small, medium and large SUV market with the RAV4, Prado [Colorado] and LandCruiser. The BMW X5 was the most popular luxury SUV.

Top selling brands year to date:

1 Toyota 91,627 20.7%
2 Holden 86,530 19.5%
3 Ford 61,417 13.9%
4 Mitsubishi 36,900 8.3%
5 Nissan 28,144 6.4%
6 Mazda 26,066 5.9%
7 Subaru 14,788 3.3%
8 Hyundai 14,313 3.2%
9 Honda 14,112 3.2%
10 Mercedes-Benz 9,047 2%

Top models year to date

1 Holden Commodore 43,129
2 Ford Falcon 35,310
3 Toyota Camry 18,540
4 Toyota Corolla 18,031
5 Holden Astra 13,873
6 Mitsubishi Magna 10,877
7 Mazda 323 9,820
8 Mitsubishi Lancer 9,755
9 Ford Falcon Ute 9,702
10 Toyota Echo 7,949