SEEMINGLY limitless manufacturing and transport delays proceed to depress world automotive markets, with Australian passenger automotive and SUV gross sales within the first six months of 2022 down 6.5 per cent in contrast with the identical interval in 2021.
But some manufacturers on the prime finish of the pecking order have risen above this era of market mediocrity.
Aston Martin, for instance, has offered 68 models within the first half of 2022. It’s normally the SUV fashions that carry the load when issues go a bit pear-shaped for unique manufacturers however in Aston’s case, coupe and convertible fashions have doubled the gross sales of its SUV, the DBX.
Mixed gross sales of coupes and convertibles within the Vantage, DB11 and DBS line-ups reached 45 models within the first half of 2022, up 21.6 per cent on 2021, whereas the DBX discovered solely 23 patrons (down 25.8 per cent on the earlier interval) attributed to produce points.
This whole of 68 gross sales for the six months included a 171.4 per cent increase to the month in contrast with June 2021, however no change to the overall gross sales on a year-to-date foundation.
A British counterpart that shares the same rarified air of costly costs, Bentley, carried out higher with 119 gross sales and a 14.3 per cent improve in first-half gross sales.
In contrast to the Aston Martin situation, Bentley’s gross sales weight was firmly with its SUV, the Bentayga. This wagon discovered 58 patrons, a forty five per cent improve on final 12 months, whereas the Flying Spur sedan offered to 12 individuals (down 25 per cent) whereas Continental V8 and Pace coupes offered 49 models, down a modest 5.8 per cent.
Excessive flyers from Italy had related success. Ferrari gross sales are up 21.8 per cent this 12 months so far with 106 deliveries, sourced from the Roma, 296GTB, F8 Tributo, 812 Superfast and SF90 coupes, in addition to the Portofino and F8 Spider convertibles.
Maserati confirmed success with its new MC20 discovering 13 patrons, up from a single sale of the outgoing GranTurismo coupe and convertible vary within the first half of 2021.
The model was additionally buoyed by its sole SUV, the Levante, that offered a whopping 234 models this primary half, up 11.4 per cent, offset by the 5 gross sales of the flagship Quattroporte sedan (down 44.4 per cent on 2021) and 61 gross sales of the smaller Ghibli sedan, down 15.3 per cent.
Unique manufacturers apart, there was nothing speedy in regards to the broader sportscar class, which was down a hefty 32.9 per cent within the first six months in contrast with the identical interval in 2021.
Since final 12 months, the fashions not out there embody the Audi A3 convertible, Hyundai Veloster, Nissan 370Z and Toyota 86 – all of which as soon as boasted first rate gross sales. The Veloster alone offered 147 models within the six months of 2021 because it ended its run and the 86 discovered 201 new garages.
In 2020, the Veloster and MX-5 offered 639 and 457 models respectively in order that they had been an vital contributor to the underside line of their manufacturers.
Ford Mustang gross sales have plunged, falling 57.6 per cent this 12 months (760 gross sales) in contrast with 2021 (1792) whereas the extra reasonably priced Mazda MX-5 is down 55.9 per cent (444 new patrons in 2021 in contrast with 196 this 12 months).
All sectors besides heavy vans (industrial automobile knowledge not included right here) are down. Automobile and SUV gross sales to Jun whole 386,328 models, down from final 12 months’s 413,229, with sub-sectors holding their heads above water being the medium and enormous class of each vehicles and SUVs.
The remaining are taking various levels of ache with essentially the most battered being the micro (section favorite Kia’s Picanto was down 43 per cent), small (the Mazda3, Honda Civic, Ford Focus and Kia Cerato all fell) and higher giant automotive segments, and the small (Kona, ASX and Vitara specifically) and upper-large (Land Cruiser down 49 per cent) SUVs.
A lot of that’s attributed to the COVID-related points – together with labour pressure slowdowns, uncooked materials shortages, element shortages equivalent to semiconductors, and transport and distribution.
