Resurgent Toyota Sets Pace for Record May in Australia

Australians continued flocking to dealer salesrooms in record numbers in May, with sales jumping 24.1% to 96,096 units.

It was the best-ever result for the month, despite continuing economic and political uncertainty with the minority federal government.

The big year-on-year increase followed May 2011’s disrupted supply issues after the massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan and widespread destructive floods in Thailand.

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries says the latest result raised year-to-date sales 8.8% to 435,288 units.

A survey by GIO Insurance perhaps explains the continuing sales boom Down Under, finding Australian drivers rate the pleasure of owning a new car ahead of a new house, new technology such as an iPad, a new relationship or even a new child.

GIO spokesman Duncan Bone says in a statement the survey results suggest people view a new car as a simpler, more unmitigated pleasure than the other new additions to their life.

The FCAI data singles out SUV sales that surged 56.6% to 26,863 units in May, boosting the segment’s 5-month total 30.3% to 121,638.

Passenger-vehicle sales rose 13.9% in May to 48,448 units, nudging that category’s year-to-date total up 2.5% to 228,679.

Light-commercial-vehicle deliveries climbed 19.8% to 18,185 units, leaving the year’s running total of 73,557 virtually unchanged from like-2011.

Toyota remained Australia’s market leader with May sales of 20,443 units, more than GM Holden’s 9,017 and Mazda’s 8,346, combined. Toyota’s May market share was 21.3%, and none of its rivals reached double figures.

Toyota’s result was up 85.1% from the disaster-affected prior-year month and was driven by a market-leading performance by its HiLux pickup truck, which for a second straight month was the country's best-selling vehicle with 4,626 deliveries.

Sales and Marketing Executive Director Matthew Callachor says Toyota fielded market leaders in eight segments. These include the Yaris, Camry, LandCruiser Prado, LandCruiser 200, HiAce van, HiAce bus, HiLux 4x2 and HiLux 4x4.

Through May, Toyota sales were up 16.2% to 84,386 units.

GM Holden, still hampered by stock shortages of its popular Barina small car and Colorado pickup, ended the month with a 9.4% market share.

The new-generation Barina hatchback and sedan sold 1,000 units last month, its best May since 1996. The locally built Cruze was GM Holden’s top-selling car and fourth in the overall market with 2,860 deliveries. The Commodore large car sold 2,521.

GM Holden Sales Director Philip Brook says the Barina and Colorado shortages are expected to ease with this month’s launch of the all-new Colorado.

Nissan Australia posted its best-ever May result with 6,966 deliveries and leapfrogged Hyundai to be the fifth-highest-selling brand for the month with a 7.3% market share.

Subaru had both a record May with 3,803 sales and 5-month total of 17,240 units year-over-year.

The Forester cross/utility vehicle topped Subaru deliveries with 1,109 units, while the new-generation Impreza small car jumped 50.1% to 1,033. Subaru says it sold 704 XV models, but volume was held down by short supplies of the small SUV.

Fiat Chrysler Group reports its Jeep brand saw May sales spike 93.8% to 1,335 units, lifting the year-to-date total up 139.9% to 6,726.

Group Managing Director Clyde Campbell says the star performer was the Jeep Grand Cherokee, up 305.6% for the month to 657 units and up 359.2% this year to 2,833 units.

The group says because of systemic issues stemming from the changeover from local distributors Ateco Automotive to the Fiat Chrysler factory group, no sales were registered with FCAI for the Fiat or Alfa Romeo brands during May. It says the results will be included in the June sales report.

Suzuki saw its best-ever May result with 2,450 units. Suzuki Australia General Manager Tony Devers says the addition of Swift Sport has given the auto maker a full model lineup in the light-car segment.

“The Sagara plant is now back operating at full capacity, and we are seeing the figures we anticipated from Swift and a return to expected sales of Grand Vitara,” Devers says in a statement.

Renault Australia, with 420 deliveries in May, posted its biggest sales month since the launch of a company-wide turnaround plan that included the start of an across-the-board new-model offensive and change of management.

The month’s result was the best in a decade for Renault in Australia with improved sales of passenger cars, high-performance sport models and commercial vehicles.