VFACTS March: Car market drops 7 per cent

UPDATE (3/4/2019): Official VFACTS data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries reveals the market finished 7.1 per cent down during the month of March.

A total 99,442 vehicles were sold, according to figures, which leaves the market down 7.9 per cent year-to-date.

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Mitsubishi leapfrogged Mazda and Hyundai to claim second overall in the new-vehicle sales race in March, when the broader industry retracted for a 12th consecutive month.

Preliminary figures obtained by carsales.com.au ahead of tomorrow's release of official VFACTS statistics by the FCAI show the market finished 7.1 per cent down compared with the same time last year.

The lacklustre result arrives against the backdrop of tonight’s Federal budget and a looming Federal election, compounding softening housing prices and a dip in consumer confidence.

But for Mitsubishi -- which placed second and outsold Mazda (albeit by 25 units) in a month for the first time ever -- the last month of the Japanese financial year brought more than 10,000 sales for only the second time in history, since June 2018.

Preliminary figures reveal the Japanese marque finished with a 10.7 per cent share of the market, which was good enough to net a place between Toyota (18.2 per cent) and Mazda (10.7 per cent).

The updated Triton (2665 sales), ASX (2235) and Outlander (2070) each had a role to play, figuring inside the top 10 models and contributing to a 15.7 per cent monthly increase compared with the corresponding period in 2018.

Mitsubishi’s boom sales came despite a dearth of regular passenger cars. The soon-to-be-axed Mitsubishi Lancer secured just 450 sales -- 80 per cent more than in March 2018 -- and its only other passenger model, the Mirage, was 70 per cent up at just 85 sales.

Elsewhere, Toyota consolidated its place at the top despite an 8.4 per cent decrease in March sales. The HiLux continued its reign as Australia’s number one seller (4525), contributing solid numbers alongside the Corolla (2500), Prado (1665) and LandCruiser (1455).

Kia – the only other top-10 brand to increase its sales last month - looks set to celebrate a small win in March, with a 4.3 per cent uplift in sales on the back of strong Cerato sales.

But otherwise, it was a disaster month for the likes of Subaru (-42%), Holden (-25%), Honda (-22.5%) and Nissan (-17.5%), who were hardest hit in a declining market.

Volkswagen retained eighth position in terms of market share despite a fall of 9 per cent. Its Golf small car (1360), Tiguan (835) and Amarok ute (850) held the fort while the German car-maker awaits more SUVs; namely the new Touareg, T-Roc and T-Cross.

News of the Australian market’s third straight monthly sales decline this year comes as the industry grows increasingly cynical of reporting practices employed by some car-makers.

A recent

Toyota HiLux – 4525

Ford Ranger – 3720

Mitsubishi Triton – 2665

Mazda3 – 2640

Toyota Corolla -- 2500

Mazda CX-5 – 2415

Hyundai i30 – 2400

Mitsubishi ASX – 2235

Mitsubishi Outlander – 2070

Kia Cerato – 1875

*Preliminary figures

Tableau of official March VFACTS 2019 figures below