VFACTS September: Election has no impact as sales boom

THE Australian automotive sector has broken through the 700,000 sales mark for the first three quarters of 2004, after more than 80,000 new vehicles were sold last month.

According to VFACTS figures released yesterday, a record-breaking 710,247 vehicles were sold in the nine months ending September 30 – a five per cent (or 33,559 unit) increase on last year’s benchmark.

The 80,452 vehicles sold in September was also an all-time record for the month, up three per cent on last year’s record of almost 78,000.

According to the chief executive of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, Peter Sturrock, both records were remarkable during a federal election campaign.

"The federal election has not slowed sales at all," Mr Sturrock said. "In fact, it would appear that the mood of the Australian people is very positive and very buoyant.

"Motor vehicle demand is generally a barometer of public confidence and right now it is at an all-time high."As the passenger vehicle market fell by 3.6 per cent (or 1838 vehicles) over September last year, a massive 27 per cent increase was achieved in the sports utility vehicle market and strong growth posted with light trucks (up 8.5 per cent, or 1037 units) and heavy commercial vehicles (up 14.7 per cent, or 337 units).

Year-to-date, the passenger market is down one per cent – large cars are down 12 per cent, sports cars 22 per cent and luxury cars two per cent – while SUV demand is up 16 per cent on the back of a whopping 58 per cent increase in the medium SUV segment.

Ford’s Territory is the big contributing factor here and with 2014 sales for September it finished the month, according to Ford, as the number one selling SUV and the fifth highest selling vehicle overall on the Aussie new car market.

Luxury SUVs are also pushing the numbers with a 23 per cent rise YTD, while large SUVs are down almost six per cent and compact SUVs are running lineball with last year.

Significant growth is also being achieved with light commercial vehicles – the 4x2 pickups/cab-chassis market is up 14 per cent YTD, 4x4s 17 per cent and vans 3.5 per cent.

Toyota extended its market leadership last month with 16,934 sales, ahead of Holden with 15,083 and Ford – in its best September result in 15 years – with 12,621.

Toyota continues to hold a 21.2 per cent market share from Holden on 18.6 per cent. Ford has broken through the 14 per cent barrier for the first time this year to 14.1 per cent.