A further sign that things automotive and economic are beginning to look brighter is today’s news from VFACTS that 78,131 vehicles were sold last month. That’s an increase of 4,844 sales compared to the August results.
However, so we don’t forget where we are coming from the 2009 figures for September are down by almost 3,000 vehicles against September 2008. The big improver on last year’s results continues to be the luxury SUV segment (up 30.9%), joined by sports cars (up 17.1%) and compact SUVs (up 5.0%).
FCAI Chief Executive Andrew McKellar said, “The September figure demonstrates signs of consolidation in the new vehicle market.”
Overall year-to-date figures are down 13.1% with 2009 new car sales so far totalling 681,974. Toyota continues to be the country’s best seller (16,007), ahead of Holden (9,744) and Ford (8,427).
Chest pumping from BMW, Mazda, MINI and Toyota can be read after the jump (more ikely to be available tomorrow).
FURTHER SIGNS OF CONSOLIDATION IN THE NEW VEHICLE MARKET
Official VFACTS data released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) shows that 78,131 passenger cars, SUVs and commercial vehicles were sold in September 2009.
“This was a good month with a stronger than expected result,†FCAI Chief Executive Andrew McKellar said.
This September result is down 3.5 per cent (2,807 vehicles) compared to September last year but there were increases in some segments;
- SUV Luxury – up 30.9 per cent
- Sports Cars – up 17.1 per cent
- SUV Compact – up 5.0 per cent
- Light commercial vans – up 4.9 per cent
- Light passenger cars – up 3.0 per cent
- 4×4 Utes – up 1.5 per cent
- Medium passenger cars – up 1.2 per cent
“The September figure demonstrates signs of consolidation in the new vehicle market,†Mr McKellar said.
“Some areas of buyer confidence remain fragile and an interest rate rise is premature,†he said.
“Economic stimulus has resulted in positive business sales but private buyers need the confidence to return to showrooms in larger numbers,†Mr McKellar said.
Year-to-date 681,974 new vehicles have been sold, down 13.1 per cent compared to the same period last year.
Toyota remains in the top sales position for September with 16,007 vehicle sales, ahead of Holden with 9,744 and Ford with 8,427.
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BMW Sales Continue to Rebound
Sales of new luxury BMW’s rose for the third month in a row in September.
BMW delivered 1,745 vehicles last month, the third strongest sales month in the company’s thirty year history in Australia.
The result was also the strongest September sales result ever recorded by the German premium brand.
The September performance was significantly up on the same month last year (+ 35 per cent) and 15 per cent up on the same month in 2007, which previously held the record for strongest September sales.
The monthly gain comes after a 2.1 per cent sales increase in August and 5 per cent increase in July, compared to the same months last year.
BMW is the best-selling luxury brand in Australia, even though year-to-date sales are trailing last year’s record tally by 5.7 per cent because of a contraction in the total luxury market. BMW’s share of the total market is higher than it was last year however.
Stavros Yallouridis, managing director of BMW Group Australia, says he is cautiously optimistic about luxury car sales in the final quarter of the year.
“With the arrival of 15 new models as part of BMW’s EfficientDynamics offensive, we are well placed to capitalise on any upswing in luxury car sales,†he said.
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Solid September for Mazda
- Record 9.2% September share
- 2009 sales target increased 3% to 74,000
- Mazda3 sales up 3.6% year-to-date
Mazda Australia has decided to revise up its 2009 sales forecast, after achieving a record sales share of 9.2% for the month of September.
According to VFACTS figures released today, Mazda sold 7,205 new vehicles last month and bettered its previous September record share of 9.1% set in 2008.
Consistent sales across Mazda’s award-winning passenger and light commercial range has given Mazda Australia the confidence to increase its expected 2009 sales target by almost 3% to 74,000.
Year-to-date Mazda is still the country’s top-selling importer, with 57,695. The company has an 8.5 percent share in Australia’s new vehicle market. That’s up 0.54 percentage points on the same time last year.
The extremely popular New Generation Mazda3 sedan and hatch was the third best-selling car in the country last month and its year-to-date sales are up 3.6% on last year.
Managing director Doug Dickson is confident Mazda Australia will achieve its revised sales forecast.
“It’s a pretty exciting time for Mazda at the moment,†he said. “We’ve just launched a refreshed CX-9 range, and its smaller sibling CX-7 will also get a makeover later this month adding two new economical powertrains to the range; an all-wheel drive turbodiesel and a front-wheel drive naturally aspirated petrol.
“We’ve just had a really solid sales month, and really given the current climate, we couldn’t ask for more than that,†said Dickson. “For as long as we’re maintaining our momentum, I am confident we can achieve our revised target of 74,000.â€
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MINI Sales Climb 35 Per Cent in September
MINI sales grew by 35 per cent in September when compared to the same month last year.
With 227 customer deliveries, it was the strongest September on record and the second best month ever recorded by the brand in Australia since its rebirth in 2002.
The best month, in terms of sales, was set in August 2007 when 240 new vehicles were delivered.
Nearly one-in-four Hardtop (R56) customers in September opted for diesel power thanks to the frugal MINI Cooper D.
MINI’s high performance brand John Cooper Works has also had a successful year, accounting for approximately 11 per cent of total sales.
So far this year MINI has delivered 1,476 vehicles to Australian customers, 9.6 per cent down on the previous year.
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TOYOTA READY FOR END-OF-YEAR SALES SURGE
Toyota Australia is anticipating its sales in the last quarter to exceed 50,000 for the first time this year, as the company is holding substantial forward orders and is gearing up for a strong final quarter of sales demand.
Toyota delivered 16,007 vehicles in September, 6263 ahead of its nearest rival, according to VFACTS figures released today by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries.
The company was clearly the market leader in the third quarter sales results, with 48,665 deliveries ahead of its nearest rival’s 29,515.
Toyota has led each quarter with total sales of 44,309 in the first quarter, and 49,924 in the second.
Toyota Australia’s senior executive director sales and marketing, David Buttner, said stock shortages caused by strong end of financial year demand had impacted the company’s third-quarter results.
A second wave of demand is expected as businesses take advantage of the end of year Federal Government investment allowance, Mr Buttner said.
“Toyota is holding a very substantial order book into October, and it is gearing for an end-of-year rush from the business sector, “Mr Buttner said.
Mr Buttner said stock shortages had held back its top-selling HiLux range, but this had now been rectified.
“The star performer has been locally manufactured Camry,” he said.
“The recently upgraded Camry has captured more than 40 per cent of the medium-sized passenger vehicle market for the third successive month.
“Its increasing take up by private owners is particularly encouraging, especially in the lead up to the launch of Hybrid Camry in early 2010.”
Toyota delivered 2360 Camrys in September, 11.6 per cent more than in the same month last year.
Successful run-out of Toyota’s rugged, medium-size market-leading LandCruiser Prado would leave the company substantially without stock until the new model was launched late November, Mr Buttner said.
“Toyota delivered 904 Prados in September – virtually our entire remaining holding.
“Anticipation for our new model has resulted in a very healthy order bank,” he said.