SUPPLY SHORTAGE TAKES ITS TOLL

AS manufacturers continue to feel the pinch of supply issues and microprocessor shortages, Australia’s new-car market posted its worst October result since 2002 (74,650 sales versus 72,332), a decrease of 8.1 per cent on October 2020 figures.

“Automotive manufacturers, like all those in the global manufacturing sector, are dealing with a microprocessor shortage which is leading to longer wait times to get products to market,” said FCAI chief executive, Tony Weber, of the shortage.

Despite this, the light commercial market (LCV) seems to be bucking the trend, with 192 more vehicles sold in October 2021 compared to October 2020 − quite an insight when you consider the passenger car (-1842) and SUV markets (-5877) were both down.

In fact, ute sales were the best-performing segment for the month, with a total of 16,769 sales (4x4 and 4x2 variants) registered. Drilling down further, and 14,058 of those sales were specifically for 4x4 variants.

On the 4x4 charts, sales for most vehicles in the Top 10 dipped in October. The most notable being the Prado, dropping from 2173 sales in September to 1051 in October − an obvious result of stock shortages.

The Navara posted more sales in October than it did in September (1198 versus 911), and the Pajero Sport also had a good month, replacing the Ford Everest in the Top 10 for October.

On the overall charts (4x4 and 4x2 variants combined), the Ranger was the best-selling vehicle (4135), followed by the Hilux (3961) and the Toyota Landcruiser (2031).