VFACTS July: Corolla extends lead

Australia’s new-vehicle market set a new record in July, when Toyota’s Corolla extended its lead over the Mazda3 as the nation’s best-selling car so far this year.

According to official VFACTS figures to be released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries on Monday, about 88,400 new vehicles were sold last month – up from about 86,600 in July 2012 but down from an industry forecast of 92,500.

While year-to-date sales growth of about five per cent keeps the industry on target to set another all-time sales record in 2013, no clear trend has yet emerged from changes to Fringe Benefits Tax announced by the federal government in mid-July.

Industry analysts had forecast sales declines of between 10 and 30 per cent due to the axing of the 20 per cent flat rate for calculating FBT, but while some mainstream brands experienced sales slumps others posted sales increases.

Sales declines were recorded by market leader Toyota (down 1.9 per cent to 17,435), as well as Nissan (down 17.8 per cent to 5058), Honda (down 4.3 per cent to 2746), Ford (down 2.5 per cent to 6733) and Volkswagen, which continued its downturn following a major recall to fix DSG transmissions on June 11, with its July 2013 sales down 6.8 per cent to 3694. No figures are yet available for Hyundai.

However, leading the list of volume brands to sell more cars in July was Mitsubishi, which sold 5654 vehicles last month – 65 per cent up on July 2012.

Aided by its upgraded VF Commodore, Holden notched up 10,136 sales – up 13.4 per cent from 8936 the same month last year.

Mazda sales rose by 7.2 per cent to 8525, Kia was up 3.3 per cent to 2413 and Subaru lifted by 2.6 per cent to 3102.

Individual models selling better last month included Holden’s Commodore, which in the VF’s first full month on sale attracted 2827 buyers. While that’s almost 20 per cent up on July 2012 and its best month since March 2012, Ford Falcon sales slumped to a new low of 594.

Small cars again led the charge and the best of them was again the Corolla, which found 3945 new homes to extend its 2013 sales lead over the Mazda3 (3464 in July).

Toyota’s HiLux could not match its all-time monthly sales record of almost 5000 units in June, but was still the country’s third best selling vehicle last month with 2971 sold – just 144 ahead of Commodore.

Holden’s Cruze was fifth, about 400 sales ahead of Toyota’s similarly Australian-made Camry, with Hyundai’s small i30 hatch in between and three one-tonne utes (Ford Ranger, Mitsubishi Triton and Holden Colorado) filling out the top 10.

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