vFacts December 2019

[Syndrome]

Year end data due today. A tough year for most. Will 2020 continue the downward trend?

[Wretched]

My industry sources indicate that this year will continue the horrid run with little to no pick up. Any continual positive uptrend is likely around 2022.

[csv8]

"The Australian new car market ended the decade with a whimper as it recorded the lowest sales total since 2011.

Last year, 1,062,867 new cars found a home. The tally is nearly 8 per cent down on the 2018 figure.

December capped off a horror year with the market down about 4 per cent compared to the previous year.


Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) chief Tony Weber said there was a multitude of reasons for buyers staying away from dealerships.

"2019 reflects a tough year for the Australian economy, with challenges including tightening of lending, movements in exchange rates, slow wage growth and, of course, the extreme environmental factors our country is experiencing," Mr Weber said.


The Ford Ranger was again the second best selling vehicle in the country behind the Toyota HiLux.
Toyota was again Australia's favourite brand, selling more than 205,000 vehicles in 2019.

The Japanese giant also accounted for four of the top 10.

Toyota Australia's president Matthew Callachor applauded the brand's rising market share in a tough market and was confident of a strong year ahead.

Our market share was 20 per cent or higher in six months of the year and was 18 per cent or above on a further four occasions, providing a level of consistency that generates confidence in consumers as well as among our dealers," Mr Callachor said.

"Forecasts for continued low interest rates and slightly stronger economic growth make us cautiously optimistic for the upcoming year."

The best-selling vehicle was again its HiLux ute (47,649 sales), which convincingly beat its long term rival and perennial sales bridesmaid, the Ford Ranger (40,960).

The Mitsubishi Triton (25,819) took out the bronze medal in the battle of the tradies.

The Toyota Corolla (30,468) was the best selling passenger vehicle, soaring past long-term rivals the Hyundai i30 (28,378) and the Mazda3 (24,939).


The Mazda3 tumbled down the sales chart in 2019.
Mazda's CX-5 was again the go-to choice for Aussie families - the best selling SUV in the country tallied 25,539 sales.

However, the Toyota RAV4 (24,260) came extremely close to overtaking the long-time bestseller - supply issues with News Corp's Car of the Year, the RAV4 Hybrid, may have robbed Toyota of the chance to eclipse its long-time rival.


The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, the 2019 News Corp Car of the Year. Picture: Thomas Wielecki
Toyota's LandCruiser (23,024) - a favourite in the bush and suburbs alike - was the ninth best selling vehicle in the country.

This is despite a range-topping LandCruiser selling for well north of $100,000.


There were very few bright spots in what was a dark year for many brands.

Kia was one of the few to end the year on a relative high, with 61,503 sales - an increase of 4.6 per cent over the previous year.

The South Korean brand's surge was led by the Cerato (21,757) small car.

Sales of Volkswagen's sibling brand Skoda jumped an impressive 20 per cent to 7000 for the year.

Luxury car brands Lexus, Porsche and Volvo had a good year, but all still sell less than 10,000 cars annually.

And low-volume budget Chinese brands, including MG and LDV, experienced massive sales growth as buyers chased value over badge prestige.

A lowlight of 2019 was the continued decline of Holden.

As the brand finally cut ties with the Commodore nameplate, sales dropped by nearly 30 per cent on the previous year.


Holden sold just 5915 examples of the European-built Commodore in 2019 - a far cry from the 95,000 it sold in 1998 when it was the best selling car in the country.

It wasn't alone in having a horror year. Established mainstream brands Mazda, Nissan, Subaru and Volkswagen experienced double-digit sales declines and even Toyota fell by 5 per cent.



Top 10 sellers in 2019

Toyota HiLux - 47,649

Ford Ranger - 40,960

Toyota Corolla - 30,468

Hyundai i30 - 28,378

Mitsubishi Triton - 25,819

Mazda CX-5 - 25,539

Mazda3 - 24,939

Toyota RAV4 - 24,260

Toyota LandCruiser - 23,024

Kia Cerato - 21,757



Top 10 brands in 2019

Toyota - 205,766

Mazda - 97,619

Hyundai - 86,104

Mitsubishi - 83,250

Ford - 63,303

Kia - 61,503

Nissan - 50,575

Volkswagen - 49,928

Honda - 43,868


Holden - 43,176
https://www.couriermail.com.au/motoring

[Bossxr8]

So december was down 4%. Is the drop off starting to level out now?

Most months were down 8-9%. Credit is getting back to being easier to obtain which must be helping.

[nstg8a]

It’s crazy that in a country of 20 ish million more than one million new cars are sold every year.
I wonder how many second hand ones are sold?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by nstg8a

It’s crazy that in a country of 20 ish million more than one million new cars are sold every year.
I wonder how many second hand ones are sold?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

There was a story in 2017 and I think Roy Morgan estimated between 2 million and 2.5 million sales including 1.1 million new vehicles

[buggerlugs]

Kia on the march. Seems to be improving as Hyundai did a few years ago...........
Mazda must be kicking themselves re the Mazda 3..........

[Syndrome]

Originally Posted by buggerlugs

Kia on the march. Seems to be improving as Hyundai did a few years ago...........
Mazda must be kicking themselves re the Mazda 3..........

Every 20 years Mazda shoot themselves in the foot.

[naddis01]

https://www.unsealed4x4.com.au/austr...-just-in-2019/

AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR SALES HIT 1 MILLION (JUST) IN 2019
BYISAAC BOBER•JANUARY 6, 2020
•1 MINUTE READ
Australian new car sales hit 1 million (just) in 2019
Australians purchased 1,062,867 new vehicles in 2019 which is a staggering 7.8% drop on the year before and the lowest result since 2011. So, what did we buy?
Australian new car sales in 2019 managed to exceed the magical 1 million mark, but only just (1,062,867) with SUVs leading the charge despite a slight drop of 2.5% compared to 2018 realising a total market share of 45.5%. Light commercial vehicles continued their charge, finishing the year with 0.6% growth and 21.2% market share. Passenger vehicles fell by 3.1% to 29.7%.


In terms of sales in December, the year finished down 3.8% totalling 84,239 vehicle sales compared to sales in 2018.

Releasing the VFACTs figures, Tony Weber, chief executive at the FCAI, said: “First and foremost, and on behalf of the entire automotive industry, the Chamber would like to offer our condolences to those affected by the devastating bushfires that have ravaged Australia over the past weeks. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.

“Regarding the actual new vehicle sales results: 2019 reflects a tough year for the Australian economy, with challenges including tightening of lending, movements in exchange rates, slow wages growth and, of course, the extreme environmental factors our country is experiencing,” Mr Weber said.

Here’s what we bought in 2019. Toyota HiLux (4×4 and 4×2) sold 47,649 vehicles, the Ford Ranger (4×4 and 4×2) was number two in the market with 40,960 sales, followed by the Toyota Corolla (30,468), the Hyundai i30 (28,378) and the Mitsubishi Triton (25,819). However, in terms of 4×4 sales, the Ford Ranger finished top dog in 2019 with 37,004 sales, the HiLux was second with 36,325 and the Mitsubishi Triton was third with 22,681 and the Holden Colorado was fourth with 15,560 sales.

[naddis01]

https://www.caradvice.com.au/817276/...-in-australia/

Ford Mustang posts lowest sales since it arrived in Australia

Joshua Dowling
NATIONAL MOTORING EDITOR
45
Have Baby Boomers had enough of the Ford Mustang? The iconic US muscle car has just posted its lowest sales result since it arrived four years ago.

6 SHARES
The reins have been pulled on the Ford Mustang after an initial sprint in the sales charts.

Sales of the Ford Mustang muscle car have halved in three years and dropped by a third last year, proving that even icons can lose some of their lustre.

Industry analysts believe there are several reasons behind the decline: Ford has raised prices three times since the vehicle launched in 2015, the safety score was lifted from a low two stars to a poor three-star rating mid-way through the model’s lifecycle, but dealers believe there is a simpler explanation.

“Everyone who wants one has got one,” said a veteran Ford dealer, who asked not to be named.

“They’re a great car and some people have come back to buy a second one when the update came out, but sports cars and icon cars tend to have a short shelf life unless you do something like special editions.”


Ford imported a batch of 700 Bullitt Mustangs last year and is about to ramp up production of the locally-developed supercharged V8 Mustang R-Spec, of which 500 will be built (pictured below).

Limited editions are intended to breathe new life into the Mustang as it approaches the end of its model cycle. An all-new model is due within two to three years and is on-track for Australia.


While there was a waiting list for Mustang of up to 12 months in its first full year on sale in 2016, there is ready supply of Mustangs at Ford dealerships across Australia.

Ford initially thought it would sell only 1000 Mustangs a year in Australia but almost 10,000 were delivered in 2017 after orders placed in 2016 began to come through.

Ford wasn’t able to increase production overnight because there are 105 unique parts to build the right-hand-drive models, and each of those suppliers had to ramp up production.

Despite the recent sales slump, the Mustang was still Ford’s third best selling model last year behind the Ranger ute and Everest SUV – and ahead of Focus and Escape.

However, historical data shows Ford’s 2019 sales result of 63,303 vehicles is its lowest result since 1968 – less than half its annual tally of 20 years ago. And the Ford Ranger ute now accounts for 64 per cent of the brand’s sales.

Ford Mustang sales in Australia:

2015: 121 (one month of sales only)

2016: 6208 (first full year of sales)

2017: 9165, up 47.6 per cent

2018: 6412, down 30 per cent

2019: 3948, down 38.4 per cent

Source: Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries.

[naddis01]

https://www.caradvice.com.au/817257/...es-in-decades/


Holden posts lowest sales since 1954, Ford drops to 1968 levels

Joshua Dowling
NATIONAL MOTORING EDITOR
49
Former favourites Holden and Ford continue to struggle since closing their Australian factories.

7 SHARES
Holden has posted its lowest annual sales since 1954 – after a year that produced six of the slowest months since the brand was established in 1948 – while Ford wound the clock back to 1968.

Both brands have struggled since shutting their local factories in 2016 (Ford) and 2017 (Holden), but vow to turn around their fortunes.

Australian new-car sales in 2019 (1,062,867) were down by 7.8 per cent compared to the previous year following the 21st month in a row in decline – the longest slump since the Global Financial Crisis a decade ago – bringing sales back to 2011 levels.

However, the decline was more pronounced for Holden and Ford.

Research by CarAdvice has found Holden’s tally of 43,176 sales in 2019 was the lowest since 1954, when Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed it sold 39,600 cars before climbing to 44,500 in 1955.

The historical data also shows Ford’s 2019 sales result of 63,303 vehicles is its lowest result since 1968 – less than half its annual tally of 20 years ago.

Holden sales have halved in just two years – slashed by more than 50 per cent – since the end of its Australian manufacturing operations.

However, Ford’s decline has been slightly less dramatic, slipping by 22 per cent over three years.


Holden’s December sales and annual result were down by about one-third compared to the previous year, which at the time was another low point.

Just one model – the top-selling Toyota HiLux (47,649) – outsold Holden’s entire line-up last year (43,176).

The 2019 sales result was the ninth year in a row of decline for Holden and the third year in reverse for Ford.

The historical Holden versus Ford rivalry has now taken a new turn, especially now that the Commodore is due to be axed along with the Falcon's replacement, the Mondeo.

Ford overtook Holden for the first time in 21 years in 2018 and has managed to maintain its lead ever since – but it was for first or second place.

Ford now consistently ranks in fifth place while Holden is struggling to stay inside the Top 10, scraping in at the end of the year after some months when it didn’t make it.

Holden had never been outside the Top Two from its inception in 1948, to the end of 2014.

In 2015 Holden slipped to third and spent the following two years in fourth place (2016 and 2017) before slipping to sixth place in 2018 and 10th place in 2019.

In the mid 1950s, Holden accounted for one-in-three new vehicles, but by 1958 every second car sold was a Holden. Today Holden accounts for just four new cars out of every 100 sold.

The biggest selling models in the Ford and Holden line-ups are now utes. The Ranger (pictured below) accounts for 64 per cent of Ford’s sales; the Colorado makes up 40 per cent of Holden’s sales.


2019 Top 10 car brands
Toyota: 205,766, down 5.2 per cent (lowest result since 2014)
Mazda: 97,619, down 12.3 per cent (lowest result since 2011)
Hyundai: 86,104, down 8.6 per cent (lowest result since 2010)
Mitsubishi: 83,250, down 2.0 per cent (lowest result since 2017)
Ford: 63,303, down 8.4 per cent (lowest result since 1968)
Kia: 61,503, up 4.6 per cent (record)
Nissan: 50,575, down 12.3 per cent (lowest result since 2001)
Volkswagen: 49,928, down 11.8 per cent (lowest result since 2011)
Honda: 43,868, down 14.9 per cent (lowest result since 2016)
Holden: 43,176, down 28.9 per cent (lowest result since 1954)

Tale of the last three Australian car manufacturers
Holden: 9 years in decline (2009 and 2010 show last climb)
2009: 119,568
2010: 132,923
2011: 126,095
2012: 114,665
2013: 112,059
2014: 106,092
2015: 102,951
2016: 94,308
2017: 90,306
2018: 60,751
2019: 43,176

Ford: 3 years in decline (2015 and 2016 show last climb)
2015: 70,454
2016: 81,207
2017: 78,161
2018: 69,081
2019: 63,303

Toyota: lowest result and first decline in 5 years
2013: 214,630
2014: 203,501
2015: 206,237
2016: 209,610
2017: 216,566
2018: 217,061
2019: 205,766

Source: Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, Australian Bureau of Statistics.

[Sprintey]

Mustang would sell more if it had a 4 door version, and a ute version, and a wagon version, and a panel van...

[Sprintey]

“Everyone who wants one has got one,” said a veteran Ford dealer, who asked not to be named.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ea8GyscSFaQ

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

“Everyone who wants one has got one,” said a veteran Ford dealer, who asked not to be named.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ea8GyscSFaQ

This is the type of car it is. It is a niche vehicle and only a small percentage of those buyers would pony up(pun) for every new model.

[Windsor220]

How many FPVs did they sell a year? Would probably be comparable to Mustang.

[hayseed]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

“Everyone who wants one has got one,” said a veteran Ford dealer, who asked not to be named.

Considering Most Lease/Finance contracts are over 60 Months. It'll be next year when they start maturing before they will sell any numbers (I think) of second hand Ones of the used Market or People rolling over into a New one (Or not).

it will be interesting to see what happens, whether people will.

A) Keep what they have..
B) Rollover into another One... or
C) Get something else because the Novelty's worn Off..


Considering most of the Ones i see are driven By Older Blokes Who (most likely) lusted after one (But couldn't afford It) back in the 70's.. I reckon Options "A" & "C" will be Pretty Popular.......

[deesun]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

Mustang would sell more if it had a 4 door version, and a ute version, and a wagon version, and a panel van...

And a V10.

[Yellow_Festiva]

If Hyundai sold the Elantra as an i30 sedan they would have easily blown Corolla out of 3rd place and possibly even overtaken the Ranger for second.

Any idea on Elantra sales??

Corolla and Cerato have a sedan, yet i30 is hatch only with the sedan being called by a different name.

Makes no sense - wouldn't bragging rights alone be incentive enough to call the Elantra an i30 sedan??

[unkey]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

If Hyundai sold the Elantra as an i30 sedan they would have easily blown Corolla out of 3rd place and possibly even overtaken the Ranger for second.

Any idea on Elantra sales??

Corolla and Cerato have a sedan, yet i30 is hatch only with the sedan being called by a different name.

Makes no sense - wouldn't bragging rights alone be incentive enough to call the Elantra an i30 sedan??

Funnily enough in the USA the i30 is called the Elantra GT,and sales figures are added to the normal Elantra sedan.

2644 new Elantras were sold last year,so a combined figure would be 33666.

Toyota however had a good Corolla month last month ,as it was the first full month of new sedans.
With hybrids selling out already ,I think the Corolla will be the range to watch in 2020.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by unkey

Funnily enough in the USA the i30 is called the Elantra GT,and sales figures are added to the normal Elantra sedan.

2644 new Elantras were sold last year,so a combined figure would be 33666.

Toyota however had a good Corolla month last month ,as it was the first full month of new sedans.
With hybrids selling out already ,I think the Corolla will be the range to watch in 2020.

Thanks for that - so enough to easily take out the Corolla but nowhere near enough to take out the Ranger.

[BENT_8]

December...

https://performancedrive.com.au/aust...the-year-0620/

[Eurotrash]

I'm predicting Ford will slip to 6th place overall in 2020, with the Top 5 being all Asian brands. Toyota will keep their Number 1 title, but I think Mazda could be replaced by either Hyundai or Mitsubishi for second.

If the Mazda CX-30 (stupid name) sell's up a storm, then Mazda will keep their Number 2 position, but if it doesn't, I'm expecting Hyundai or Mitsubishi to take their place. Mazda's move upmarket is hurting them. Both the facelifted Mazda 2 and new generation Mazda 3 have seen at least a $4,000 price hike over their predecessors, you now can't buy a Mazda under $20,000 +ORC and together with awkward styling on the Mazda 3 hatch (my opinion), sales are dropping fast.

Mazda, Mitsubishi and Hyundai will battle it out for 2nd, 3rd and 4th, but it'll be Kia that will move up into 5th. Their cars aren't anything special (my opinion) but Australians are happy to buy them and buy them in big numbers they are. The Kia Seltos will be their big mover this year. Personally, I don't like it, have been inside of one and driven one and I don't see the attraction. In 'GT Line' spec it's OK, but the base spec 'S' is just rubbish.

Volkswagen, Nissan and Subaru will hold down 7th, 8th and 9th, while Honda, Mercedes-Benz or even Isuzu could take out 10th. Big call I know with Isuzu, but if the D-Max goes gangbusters, they'll be knocking on the Top 10 door.

Holden will be battling it out for 12th or 13th place and by the end of 2020, GM will have had enough and Holden will be gone.

[Brazen]

I think Ford could do well with new Escape, if it’s priced right and marketed well.

Mitsubishi could struggle this year if they are forced to pass on price rises, as the vehicles will struggle at higher prices.

Kia Seltos will do well but there will be a hell of a lot of substitution with Cerato and Sportage.

Subaru will struggle with an ageing lineup and new Outback still a year away.

Actually think Holden will hit 9, at least overtake Honda.

Isuzu fell for the first time in a decade last year, and that’s with a lot of registrations in December. I think they will remain flat

Still reckon Ford has the most potential out of all brands

[EBSXR6]

[QUOTE=Eurotrash;6385761
If the Mazda CX-30 (stupid name) sell's up a storm, then Mazda will keep their Number 2 position, but if it doesn't, I'm expecting Hyundai or Mitsubishi to take their place. Mazda's move upmarket is hurting them. Both the facelifted Mazda 2 and new generation Mazda 3 have seen at least a $4,000 price hike over their predecessors, you now can't buy a Mazda under $20,000 +ORC and together with awkward styling on the Mazda 3 hatch (my opinion), sales are dropping fast.

Holden will be battling it out for 12th or 13th place and by the end of 2020, GM will have had enough and Holden will be gone.[/QUOTE]

As others have written Mazda keep on making the same type of mistake.
If they get into Big Trouble I can't see another benefactor bailing them out as Dearborn did.

Good call on Holden, contradictory press releases from Fishermans Bend and a person who is not well liked in here has made the same call.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

If Hyundai sold the Elantra as an i30 sedan they would have easily blown Corolla out of 3rd place and possibly even overtaken the Ranger for second.

Any idea on Elantra sales??

Corolla and Cerato have a sedan, yet i30 is hatch only with the sedan being called by a different name.

Makes no sense - wouldn't bragging rights alone be incentive enough to call the Elantra an i30 sedan??

Well..... what do you know

Hyundai reveals new small sedan, to at last adopt the 'i30' name in Australia to take the fight to Toyota's Corolla range.

Hyundai has unveiled its new-generation Elantra sedan, due in Australia later this year as the 2020 Hyundai i30 Sedan.

Market observers have long held the i30 badge could top Corolla sales in Australia if it had the same advantage enjoyed by the small Toyota and others: five-door hatch and four-door sedan wearing the same badge.

Now, after generations apart, the two will come together in the second half of 2020 – albeit with distinctly different looks (despite the newly facelifted i30's makeover).

In some ways, this locally rebranded Elantra replacement fills a space that could have been occupied by the i30 Fastback if it had been made available here below the N tier – but that model, despite its coupe-sedan look, is also a 'liftback' hatch offering.......

https://www.caradvice.com.au/835472/...ntra-revealed/

[Oldbugger]

In the last 6 years of production 4553 FPV's were produced. This is 2009 to 2014 FG and FG2. Of those 3646 were V8 incl GS and 909 F6 and F6E. This is sedan only. Even in it's heyday XW 2900+ units, XY 1800+ units and XA 2700+ units. There volumes were a lot less than Mustang.

[Syndrome]

Originally Posted by Oldbugger

In the last 6 years of production 4553 FPV's were produced. This is 2009 to 2014 FG and FG2. Of those 3646 were V8 incl GS and 909 F6 and F6E. This is sedan only. Even in it's heyday XW 2900+ units, XY 1800+ units and XA 2700+ units. There volumes were a lot less than Mustang.

Australia's population in late 60s/early 70s was half of what it is today. So double the XW/XY/XA numbers to do a like-for-like comparison.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

Australia's population in late 60s/early 70s was half of what it is today. So double the XW/XY/XA numbers to do a like-for-like comparison.

You have to also factor in far more choice in that population doubling...how many more brands and models came in as the population doubled?

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by jpd80

What Ford has done here with pricing, they're starting to do in the USA
with Explorer and Escape prices.....and sales are starting to turn to poo.

Good news though, the Ranger has soared to 14,400 sales last month
clubbing Colorado down to 8,800. F Series, over 89,000 sales in December.

I did read that this morning, that new Escape and Explorer hadn't improved in sales. Some people think the styling is also a factor. Maybe moreso with the Escape as it looks a bit bland imo.

Originally Posted by jpd80

Clearly, Ford's sales strategy with other models is not working so well,
why not back Ranger in for the win and see how wide the net can be cast,
put some pressure on Hilux's 4x2 tradie sales and see what happens.

Special additions are where it's at. Currently with FX4, with more stuff to come to try to boost sales.

Slowly chipping away at Hilux. It dropped something like 7-8% last year while Ranger dropped 3-4%.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

I did read that this morning, that new Escape and Explorer hadn't improved in sales. Some people think the styling is also a factor. Maybe moreso with the Escape as it looks a bit bland imo.

I do know that Equinox and RAV4 have been selling the house down while Ford has been struggling to move Escape and Explorer but big Expedition sales are up.

Special additions are where it's at. Currently with FX4, with more stuff to come to try to boost sales.

Good to see FX4 in there.

Slowly chipping away at Hilux. It dropped something like 7-8% last year while Ranger dropped 3-4%.

Interesting to watch if temporary or continuing trend..tough times.