VFACTS for May: Signs of improvement, but...
Even when new-car sales level out, they won't have returned to the record-setting figures of yesteryearVFACTS sales figures for last month show the stats are still catching up with the reality of the last 12 months. At the risk of pigeon-holing buyers, the business fleets plainly vacated the new car market earlier last year, while private buyers held out for an extra couple of months.
That is now showing more prominently in the VFACTS figures for May. Three classes (Passenger, SUV and light commercials) were all down -- 14.9 per cent in total -- but passenger-vehicle sales were down 17.8 per cent, versus a 10.1 per cent reduction for SUVs and 'just' 8.4 per cent for light commercial vehicles. In other words, private buyers were still in the market for passenger vehicles in May 2008 and that month represented a high point, against which passenger-vehicle sales for May '09 look a bit anemic.
Having said that, the drop across the whole market (14.9 per cent, remember) is an improvement of sorts against recent sales slumps of up to 20 per cent or more in a month. The market in total for May comprised 75,439 sales and the 14.9 per cent drop equates to 13,201 units less than for the same month last year. Compared with a year-to-date sales shortfall of 19.2 per cent (352,374 vehicles sold this year, so far), the monthly sales drop is not as bad and suggests that the market is beginning to build confidence once more.
Chief Executive of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, Andrew McKellar, is one who takes some solace from the new figures.
"The May figures provide a tangible indication that new vehicle sales have stabilised and indeed there are even grounds to suggest we may see signs of improvement in coming months.
"There is clear evidence that the Federal Government's business tax break is providing the market with a renewed sense of optimism and confidence. The business tax break is proving extremely effective, providing a much needed boost to vehicle sales and stimulating economic activity.
"Vehicle brands have been promoting this incentive heavily in recent few months and since the legislation has been passed there has been a perceptible increase in business sales."
The federal government incentive is likely the reason for sales to business buyers falling only 7.2 per cent during May, McKellar believes.
Audi continues to spit in the face of the GFC. Recession, what recession? The prestige importer's sales are up, both monthly and by year-to-date. For May, Audi sold 943 units (versus 824 for May '08) and A4 and Q5 made all the difference.
Dodge has been performing well in year-to-date sales, but, with 179 units sold last month, scored precisely three fewer sales than in May '08 -- but that's a fairly strong showing for the American brand, nonetheless.
As President Marin Burela has been telling us, Ford's Fiesta is well ahead, on the strength of both monthly and year-to-date sales figures; 753 vs. 575 for the month and 3599 vs. 3303 for the year to date.
Hyundai, going great guns in both year-to-date and monthly sales, boasts several models that have performed better during May '09 than in May of last year. Special mention goes to the i30 (1939 vs. 768 for the month, 7162 vs. 4246 for the year). The small car is presumably gaining substantial sales traction with the introduction of the i30cw wagon.
Jaguar, of all companies, narrowly missed out (just six units) on matching its sales performance in May 2008 -- 90 vs. 96 -- but in year-to-date sales, the prestige importer is doing quite well, with sales of 341 vs. 293 for last year. Mostly that's due to the XF, but the X-Type (pictured) is lifting its game too, outselling itself for the month and moving 10 units clear of May '08.
Mazda3 continues to enjoy what amounts to a stellar year in the current climate, although it was pipped at the post this month by Commodore and HiLux (see below). For the month, the new Mazda3 sold 3038 -- versus 2582 for May '08 -- and sales of the new car and the superseded model combined number 14,455 for the year to date. That's nearly 300 units ahead of the same period last year.
Other vehicles performing beyond the call of duty during May include Mitsubishi Triton, Nissan Navara, Peugeot 308, Renault Kangoo, Subaru Impreza, Suzuki Grand Vitara and the Volkswagen Tiguan. Since May 2008, the 308 has had the Touring model join the range, the Impreza has gained a sedan alternative to the hatch, the Grand Vitara has been upgraded and the Tiguan range has been expanded with petrol drivetrains.
For May, the top ten car companies in order were: Toyota (15,481), Holden (9177), Ford (8440), Mazda (6052), Hyundai (5178), Nissan (4582), Mitsubishi (3921), Honda (3189), Subaru (2965) and Volkswagen (2612). Of those, only Hyundai has sold more vehicles for the year to date than for the same period in 2008.
The top ten vehicles by model were as follows:
Holden Commodore 3683
Toyota Hilux 3180
Mazda3 3038
Ford Falcon 2846
Toyota Corolla 2583
Hyundai i30 1959
Nissan Navara 1946
Toyota Yaris 1655
Hyundai Getz 1429
Toyota Camry (4 cyl) 1355
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