VFACTS: 2021 off to a strong start

FOLLOWING a 12 months through which the Australian new-car market recorded its lowest annual gross sales tally since 2003, the primary month of 2021 has proven some optimistic indicators with an 11.1 per cent gross sales carry in January in comparison with the identical month final 12 months.

Persevering with the momentum confirmed in November and December, January noticed 79,666 autos offered throughout the nation in comparison with 71,731 over the identical interval in 2020, with each state and territory posting gross sales will increase. 

The expansion was attributed partly to elevated demand from personal consumers to the tune of 25.4 per cent, with enterprise, authorities and rental gross sales all taking a dip.

Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) chief government Tony Weber mentioned the January outcome, together with the rise in December and November, led to a way of optimism in regards to the market.

“In the course of the previous three months gross sales had elevated by 12.4 per cent in comparison with the corresponding interval 12 months earlier,” he mentioned.

“The January gross sales numbers are indicative of optimistic shopper confidence within the home economic system. 

“With enticing rates of interest and a spread of different financial indicators encouraging consumption, we hope to see this pattern in new automobile buying proceed by 2021.”

As talked about, each state and territory noticed a year-on-year gross sales enhance, lead by the Northern Territory (up 38.7 per cent) and Western Australia (+24.9%), whereas Queensland (+18.1%) and South Australia (+17.0%) additionally noticed robust enhancements.

Whereas the brand new 12 months led to some adjustments, one factor remained decidedly the identical – Toyota’s dominance of the Australian market, with 16,819 whole autos offered in January, marking a 21.1 per cent general market share.

Additionally unsurprisingly, the best-selling automobile for the month was Toyota’s HiLux, with 3913 whole gross sales representing a 31.8 per cent year-on-year enhance, and persevering with on from the place it left of final 12 months when it chalked up 5 consecutive years of gross sales dominance.

Different robust performers for Toyota included the RAV4 medium SUV in third with 3306 models (+33.9%), the Landcruiser 70/200 Collection in fourth with 2388 models (+89.2%) and the Corolla small automobile, which offered 2062 new examples to complete sixth (-13.0%).

Second place belonged to Mazda on 8508 models with a ten.7 per cent share, up from the 6695 it managed in January 2020.

Mazda was represented within the prime 10 by the ever-popular CX-5 medium SUV, which positioned fifth general with 2081 models (+11.9%).

Hyundai completed third with 5951 models (7.5% share), helped by the i30 small automobile with 1952 models (-4.2%), ok for seventh general.

Kia (5500 models, 6.9% share) and Mitsubishi (5179 models, 6.5% share) completed fourth and fifth respectively, with the one mannequin between the 2 marques to search out its method within the prime 10 being Mitsubishi’s Triton pick-up in eighth with 1908 models (-8.0%).

Ford took sixth place with 5099 models (6.4% share), with the Ranger pick-up doing the heavy lifting as normal, bested solely by the HiLux with 3120 models, up 18.9 per cent.

Subsequent up was Nissan in seventh (3756 models, 4.7% share) and Subaru in eighth (3223, 4.0%), the previous helped by the X-Path medium SUV which completed the month in tenth place on 1593 models (+8.6%).

The highest 10 was rounded out by Volkswagen (2722, 3.4% share) and Mercedes-Benz Automobiles (2443, 3.1%), which proved to be the preferred of the premium manufacturers.

Isuzu Ute narrowly missed out on a prime 10 end with 2363 whole gross sales, nonetheless its D-Max pick-up tried its hardest to pull it over the road with 1822 gross sales for ninth place, a rise of 167.9 per cent.

Benz bested conventional rivals BMW (1701, -11.9%) and Audi (1455, -0.5%), with Mercedes gross sales for the month up 31.5 per cent in comparison with the identical level in 2020.

Robust performers to begin the 12 months included MG (2408, +162.0%) and GWM (769, +135.9%), the latter on the again of the arrival of the all-new Ute pick-up.

High 10 Manufacturers January 2020

High 10 Fashions January 2020

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