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Record month for Aussie vehicle sales

Posted on 05 July, 2017

Australia enjoyed its best-ever monthly motor vehicle sales in June, according to statistical service VFACTS.  Sales of new motor vehicles hit a record high of 134,171 units, a four per cent increase. The strong sales figures were led by a boom in SUVs and light commercial vehicles. SUVs were up 11.7 per cent compared to June 2016, and light commercials 12.2 per cent. However, passenger vehicle sales fell 5.9 per cent compared to June 2016. The most significant growth in June was in the medium SUV segment, up 32.6 per cent, followed by large SUVs, up 20.8 per cent, and utes, up 16.7 per cent. The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) said the demand was chiefly driven by the business sector, with sales of passenger cars rising 5.7 per cent, and SUVs and light commercials 16.6 per cent to businesses. The FCAI also attributed the sales increase to a competitive market, low interest rates and the Australian government’s instant asset write-off provision. Record-breaking sales in June means year-to-date sales are tracking 0.2 per cent the 2016 rate. Sales increased across the country except for Western Australia, which declined 5.5 per cent. Victoria led sales growth, up 8.7 per cent, followed by South Australia, up 7.9 per cent, the Northern Territory, up 7.5 per cent, Queensland, up 5.5 per cent, Tasmania, up 5.4 per cent, New South Wales, up 2.1 per cent, and the ACT, up 0.7 per cent.   Toyota remained the industry leader with an 18.3 per cent market share, followed by Mazda, on 9.3 per cent, Hyundai on 9.1 per cent, and Holden and Mitsubishi, both on 6.9 per cent. The Toyota Hilux was the top-selling vehicle in the country yet again, with 5,461 sales, followed by the Ford Ranger with 5,051 sales, the Toyota Corolla, with 3,830 sales and the Hyundai Tucson, with 3,741 sales.