Modest rise in July sales
Australian new vehicle sales are up marginally in July, with 84,461 registrations recorded – a 0.4 percent or 300 unit sales increase compared with the same time last year.
During the month’s 26 selling days – one fewer than in July 2021 – an average of 131.4 vehicles were sold each day.
The majority of sales were from within various SUV segments, which boast an aggregate figure of 2684 unit sales, up 6.4 percent during the same time last year, for the month of July.
Passenger vehicle sales tallied 1596 for July, a 9.1 percent drop from the same month last year, while sales of light commercial vehicle also dropped, down 4.4 percent to 930 units.
The heavy commercial vehicle sector was up slightly to 142 unit sales, or plus 4.1 percent, versus July 2021.
On a brand-by-brand basis, Toyota again topped the domestic sales chart in July with an 11,686 unit lead from second-place Mazda.
Hyundai ranked in third place for the month.
Toyota sold 19,565 units across July ahead of Mazda with 7879, Hyundai, 6792, Kia, 6711 and Mitsubishi with 5611 units.
The Toyota Hilux was again the highest selling model with 6441 sales reported.
It led the Ford Ranger, 2934 units, Toyota RAV4 with 2437, Mazda CX-5 with 2346 and Hyundai Tucson, 2186 for the month of July.
On a state-by-state basis, and in order of the highest sales volume to the lowest, it was New South Wales that ranked in first place for July with 26,519 new vehicles sold, up 10.9 percent on July 2021.
Victorians purchased 22,076 new vehicles, down 5.8 percent, Queenslanders 18,900, down 1.1 percent, Western Australians 8059, down 9.0 percent and South Australians 5469, up 13.3 percent. Tasmania, Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory all recorded declines in sales, down 13.2 percent, 16.4 percent and 16.6 percent to 1327, 1175 and 756 units respectively.
The FCAI says July’s figures bring the year-to-date new vehicle sales total to 622,319 units overall.
Chief exexutive Tony Weber said the relatively flat result showed the market had not normalised since the beginning of the pandemic.
“Vehicle and component manufacturing operations remain affected by
plant shutdowns caused by COVID-19,” he said.
“Logistics, including shipping, remain unpredictable.
“While small growth on the same month in 2021 is encouraging, we
do not expect the supply of vehicles to Australia to stabilise in the near future. Once again Australia is following the global trend of demand for new vehicles exceeding supply.”