Small cars sales surge
From: AAP
September 05, 2005
SOARING petrol prices have not deterred car buyers, with sales continuing at record levels in August, led by small cars.
The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) said today 86,179 new cars and trucks were retailed last month, an 8.8 per cent rise on the 79,224 sold in the same month last year.
It was the best August on record and left the industry on track for another record year, the fourth in a row.
The FCAI said demand for the first eight months of 2005 had reached 663,445, a 5.3 per cent improvement compared to the same period last year.
It left the full-year forecast at 980,000 units, well ahead of the record 955,229 sold last year.
FCAI chief executive Peter Sturrock said the strength in the vehicle market this year had defied predictions that high house prices and rising petrol costs would dampen demand.
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"Fuel prices are not discouraging people from buying motor vehicles, although they do seem to be influencing the type of vehicles being bought, Mr Sturrock said.
"Of the more than 5000 extra passenger cars sold in August, 4600 were in the small segment."
Sales of small cars rose 33 per cent last month following a 26 per cent jump in July. Demand for large cars was down 5.3 per cent after a 13 per cent slide last month.
The top-selling company in August was Toyota, with 17,920, ahead of Holden on 15,307 and Ford on 12,157.
Toyota also led on a year-to-date basis with 132,311 units compared to 119,585 for Holden and 88,239 for Ford.
But in the battle for the top selling car, Ford upset Holden last month, the Falcon coming out on top of the Commodore with 5,826 units compared to 5,618.
Ford president Tom Gorman said the Falcon had its best month since June last year, a good result for the company as it prepared for the release of the new BF model in October.
"Achieving leadership of the large car segment in August is a great accomplishment for the company and our dealers," he said. "The large car market remains extremely important and continues to attract a wide variety of Australian consumers.
"Competition for share of this segment is only going to heat up over the coming months."
Emphasising the impact of rising petrol prices, the small Toyota Corolla also had a great month, retailing 4783 units.
Other top selling vehicles included the Holden Astra (3290), the Toyota Camry (2982), the Mazda 3 (2074), the Ford Falcon Ute (1823), the Holden Ute (1788), The Ford Territory (1735) and the Toyota Hi-Lux 4X4 (1593
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