Australia New-Vehicle Sales Halt Slide in September

The Australian new-vehicle market rises for the first time in eight months as SUVs drive sales 2.5% higher year-on-year in September to 94,978 units.

Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries data shows SUV deliveries rose 14.6%, with light-commercial vehicle sales up 2.9% and car sales down 4.1%.

FCAI CEO Tony Weber says SUV sales have been strong in 2014, with year-to-date sales in the segment up 4.8%.

“In particular, the popularity of the small SUV segment continues to rise, with sales for the month up 31.1% compared to September 2013, and year-to-date sales up 17.4%,” Weber says in a statement.

New-car sales to the business community continued to fall, with business purchases in September down 3.8% year-on-year. Private purchases increased 6.7% and government purchases advanced 5.8%.

Business purchases were off 7.7% from like-2013, while private sales grew 1.6% and government purchases climbed 6%.

Despite year-to-date sales slipping 2% to 832,953 units, the FCAI says the industry is tracking to sell more than 1.1 million units for the third consecutive year.

Toyota continued its market domination in September, claiming leadership in eight market categories and delivering 17,880 units for an 18.8% share. Mazda followed with 9,500 units (10%), ahead of Hyundai with 8,804 (9.3%), GM Holden with 8,551 (9%) and Ford with 6,227 (6.6%).

The Mazda3 topped the month’s sales chart with 4,014 units, ahead of the Toyota Corolla (3,893), Toyota Hilux (3,430), Holden Commodore (2,616) and Hyundai i30 (2,539).

Toyota National Sales Divisional Manager Scott Thompson says strong customer demand across the board in the first month of the southern spring has the Australian motor industry poised for a sprint finish in the fourth quarter.

Toyota’s best monthly result since June took its third-quarter total to an industry leading 50,004 vehicles. Annual sales now total 151,109 units, putting the automaker on course to reach its forecast of more than 200,000 units for the year.

Thompson says he believes September marks a turning point for the industry: “All indicators are for a strong fourth quarter with substantial emphasis on the SUV growth market and key passenger-vehicle segments.”

Hyundai Australia set a record in September as it notched its 28th consecutive month of year-on-year sales growth for Hyundai. Car sales of 6,208 units gave Hyundai second place in the segment with a 13.7% market share, ahead of Mazda, GM Holden and Volkswagen.

GM Holden took consolation in growing deliveries 1.3% to 82,949 units year-to-date in a market down 2% overall.

Sales Director Peter Keley acknowledges September was a challenging month, but GM Holden continues to outperform the market and offer customers outstanding vehicles. As the automaker begins transitioning from a manufacturer to a distributor, Keley says the focus is on making the automaker the country’s most customer-focused brand.

Meantime, GM Holden gives its first clear indication of its future product strategy, confirming that more than one-third of the brand’s future models will be sourced from Europe.

Executive Vice President and President of GM Europe Karl-Thomas Neumann made the announcement at the opening of the Paris auto show.

“I’m very excited about the role our great products will play in the resurgence of the Holden brand, by being able to provide more than one-third of Holden’s future product lineup,” Neumann says.

“Spearheaded by Opel’s DRIVE! 2022 strategy, we are making significant investments in new models, engines, transmissions and testing facilities to ensure we deliver truly world-class products to our export markets like Australia.”

GM Holden Chairman and Managing Director Gerry Dorizas says three European-sourced vehicles will be launched in Australia in 2015: the Cascada convertible, Astra GTC and VXR 3-door hatches and the Insignia VXR performance sedan.

“We are absolutely committed to bringing the best possible products from GM’s global portfolio to Australian customers to support a strong and exciting future for Holden,” Dorizas says.

Another big month saw Fiat Chrysler surpass 30,000 deliveries for the second consecutive year with 2014 sales already matching the group’s entire 2013 result.

Jeep sold 2,900 units in September to make its debut in the monthly 10 best-selling brands.

September also capped Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge’s best-ever quarterly sales volume with 8,696 units, up from 6,989 year-ago and marking a fifth consecutive quarterly sales record.