SUVs Drive Australia February Sales Surge

Australian new-vehicle deliveries jumped 6.0% year-on-year in February to 85,732 units, as the effects of the Thia flood eased and consumers focused on SUVs.

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries says taking into account the extra selling day in February, 25 compared with 24 in 2011 – daily sales jumped 58.3, up 1.7%.

FCAI CEO Ian Chalmers says the result also is an 11.6% improvement over January.

“The love affair between Australians and (SUVs) continues,” Chalmers says in a statement. “The SUV market has clearly made a strong connection with auto customers by meeting their diverse needs.”

February SUV sales of 23,448 units climbed 23.8% compared with year-ago, boosting the 2-month total 26.6% to 45,571.

“These impressive numbers are due to a 73.4% increase (2,148 units) in the sales of small SUVs since January, which is a 68.1% (3,767) rise in the sales of small SUVs over (like-2011),” Chalmers says.

Growth in passenger-car deliveries was depressed at 46,019 units, up 1.3% from January and falling 0.4% year-on-year to 88,574.

Light-commercial-vehicle sales dipped 4.2% in February to 13,958 units, and after two months were off 7.3% to 24,361. Total Australian deliveries were up 5.2% through February from prior-year to 162,506.

Toyota continued its market domination in February, with a 5.5% sales gain from January to 14,849 units, well ahead of GM Holden with 9,688 and Mazda with 8,689.

After the first two months of the year, Toyota had a commanding lead of more than 10,000 deliveries as the Camry, Prado and LandCruiser 200 Series SUVs, HiLux 4x2 pickup and HiAce bus topped their respective segments.

Matthew Callachor, Toyota Australia sales and marketing executive director, says the February volume appears to confirm expectations for the industry to post another million-plus-unit result this year.

“Toyota expects to benefit from at least six new-model launches as well as significant updates to other key models,” he says in a statement.

GM Holden says record February sales of its Captiva SUV and Cruze small-car contributed to a strong result.

The auto maker recorded its best-ever February SUV deliveries. Sales of the Captiva 5-seat model and Captiva 7 sales of 1,328 units. Captiva 5 sales soared 168% to a record 469, while the 7-seat Captiva rose 22% to 859.

The locally built Commodore was the second-highest-selling model for the month, taking a 60.7% segment share with 2,991 units.

The Cruze saw its best-ever February, with 2,880 deliveries claiming 15.2% of the small-car segment. It also was the fourth highest-selling-model in the marketplace.

Year-to-date, GM Holden has sold 18,749 units.

Mazda Australia continued its record-breaking start to the year with its best-ever February, with sales jumping 15.7% to 8,689 units for a 10.1% market share. It also was the company’s third-best month ever.

The Mazda3, Australia’s best-selling car in 2011, saw 3,733 deliveries in February, making it the country’s best-selling small car and best-selling car overall for the month. The Mazda2 stayed in front in the light segment, with sales increasing 15.8% to 1,771 units, while the Mazda6 saw a 16.8% improvement to 546.

A combined 1,100 deliveries of the outgoing CX-7 and all-new CX-5 put Mazda in third place in the medium SUV category.

Hyundai also had its best-ever February result as its notched its 11th consecutive month of year-on-year growth. The auto maker finished the month in fourth place, with sales increasing 12.2% to 7,412 units for an 8.6% share. Hyundai sold 5,725 passenger cars for a 12.4% share.

“In the coming months we will see a number of updated and next-generation vehicles such as (the) i20 and i30 arrive, which will again see an increase in the quality of Hyundai vehicles sold Australia,” Sales Director Damien Meredith says.

Nissan Australia enjoyed its best February as a full importer. Sales rose 11.3% to 6,227 units for a 7.3% share. The auto maker has seen three consecutive months with share of more than 7% and says it is on track for its best-ever financial-year result as a full importer.

Subaru delivered 3,225 vehicles in February as its latest model, the XV, sold 1,005 vehicles in its first full month on the market. This made it the best-selling small SUV under A$40,000 ($42,788) in the month with 20.5% of its segment.

Chrysler Australia deliveries spiked 91.4% to 1,589 units. Results for January and February have the auto maker already celebrating its best quarter ever, with March still to come.

The recently launched Jeep Compass and Patriot achieved their best-ever sales result in February. The Compass sold 348 units in its first full sales month. The Patriot, which has become available in a front-wheel-drive, increased deliveries 161%.

Land Rover Australia had a record February with sales rising 51% to 717 units. Top performers were the new Range Rover Evoque, Discovery 4 and Range Rover Sport.