New-Car Ownership Woos More Australians, Survey Says

Some 2.2 million Australians – 9% of the country’s population – intend to buy a new car by 2020 and a new survey says this includes 585,000 taking the keys by the end of this year.

Roy Morgan Research says the number of Australians who intend to buy a new car in the next four years has recovered slightly over the summer after decreasing throughout most of 2015.

The agency says the 4-year intention now is back above the long-term average since 2002.

Near-term intention to buy a car in the next 12 months also showed signs of recovery in the last two months after weakening from June to November last year.

Toyota and Mazda are the two brands that appear to be the big winners from the recovery.

Roy Morgan Research Automotive Industry Director Jordan Pakes says car-buying intentions have increased in line with sales.

He says in a statement the Australians in the market for a new car in the next four years is marginally down from 12 months ago, but remains above the long-term average of 2.13 million.

“About 30% of Australia’s new car-intenders plan to buy either a Toyota or Mazda in the next four years – up almost 3 percentage points compared with a year ago,” Pakes says.

“So although there are still slightly fewer intenders in the market overall, these top two makes have actually gained about 50,000 potential buyers between them. Other volume makes with more potential buyers now than a year ago include Ford and Hyundai.”