MAZDA 3 Outsold Commodore in January!!!

[csv8]

January was a month to forget for the local car industry, with the imported Mazda3 small car knocking the Holden Commodore off its perch as Australia's top-selling car - and Mazda outselling Ford for the first time.

Official figures are yet to be released, but the car companies exchange information at the end of each month and an industry insider with access to the figures has confirmed the sales boil-over to Drive.


The local industry has been under siege from imported cars in recent years and the once dominant Commodore has now been outsold by three imported cars in the past twelve months, with the Toyota Corolla and HiLux both snatching the monthly sales crown during 2008.

January is believed to be the first time an import-only brand has landed in the top three selling car makers in the country.

The local car makers traditionally have trouble selling cars in January because they sell mainly to fleet buyers, who don’t usually change over their cars over the holiday period.

But the result will still send shockwaves through Ford’s Broadmeadows headquarters, which is struggling to deal with critically low sales of its bread and butter large vehicles, the Falcon sedan and ute and the Territory off-roader.

Falcon sales were up by about 400 units on last January’s dismal 1252 sales, but Territory sales dipped by roughly 40 per cent.

Spokeswoman Sinead McAlary says the company has seen preliminary sales figures for January but won’t discuss its result until the official figures are released on Wednesday.

Mazda also declined to comment until the figures were released.

The result reflects the enormous challenge facing the country's three manufacturers. With the global car industry in freefall, sluggish sales of Australian-built cars threaten the viability of the local industry.

Australia's car plants already operate on low volumes by world standards and all three manufacturers are planning to introduce new model lines to improve their chances of survival in a shrinking market.

No-one in the industry is likely to be rejoicing this month, with initial figures indicating sales are down by roughly 18 per cent on last January.

One car maker who has bucked the trend is Hyundai, which appears to have discovered a silver lining in the current economic gloom.

Spokesman Ben Hershman says the maker’s sales are up by close to 17 per cent and he believes recession-hit consumers are looking for a bargain.

“We have responded to the fact that people are looking to tighten their belts with some great deals and I guess people recognise us as a value-for-money brand,” he says.

The result continues a trend away from large, locally-built vehicles to small imports. Market leader Toyota is also struggling to sell its locally-built cars, the Aurion and Camry.

Last year, the Toyota Corolla came close to claiming the annual sales crown from the Commodore, while the Mazda3 small car was the top selling vehicle to private buyers.

Holden also struggled to make an impact in January, with sales reportedly down by about 15 per cent, while market leader Toyota had a horror start to the year with sales down by roughly 25 per cent.

www.drive.com.au

[Rodp]

At least it wasn't a Corolla.

[Deech]

I wonder if (based on the fact that everyone seemed to buy one) the Mazda 3/6's will be the next big resale grenade, in the same vein as the B-series?

If so many are sold at the same time, there are more cars than buyers, and the more up-spec models may not translate to increased secondhand desirability (like the XR6 was), how will this pan out in a couple of years when they start to reappear as trade-ins and secondhand sales?

Thoughts?

[Peter B - CV8]

Originally Posted by Deech

I wonder if (based on the fact that everyone seemed to buy one) the Mazda 3/6's will be the next big resale grenade, in the same vein as the B-series?

If so many are sold at the same time, there are more cars than buyers, and the more up-spec models may not translate to increased secondhand desirability (like the XR6 was), how will this pan out in a couple of years when they start to reappear as trade-ins and secondhand sales?

Thoughts?

Having purchased the wife a used Mazda 6 last year (a six month old model), I can honestly say that they aren't a bad little car. Their popularity should overcome any "market saturation" over the next few years - look at Toyota Corollas etc & how they have faired over the years.
However, the secondhand car sales market is dead at the moment & doesn't show any immediate prospects of recovery (in fact it will probably get a lot worse).

[Iggypoppin']

Hear what your saying r.e the resale of xr6's! They're as common as sin and oh so cheap...

[Pedro]

I bought my wife an SP23 in 2005 and my BF F6 in 2006.

My BF departed last October with 36,000kms and many, many warranty jobs were carried out in it's lifetime. The SP23 is nearing 60,000kms and has never had anything than a regular service.
Nuff said.

[ieatsports_cars]

Originally Posted by Pedro

I bought my wife an SP23 in 2005 and my BF F6 in 2006.

My BF departed last October with 36,000kms and many, many warranty jobs were carried out in it's lifetime. The SP23 is nearing 60,000kms and has never had anything than a regular service.
Nuff said.

that was a bit off bad luck ! my uncle got a 06 mazda 6 and it had problems as well motor had to come out due to oil leaks from motor and hoses ! i guess it happens but they still love their 6 though

[Iggypoppin']

Hear what your saying r.e the resale of xr6's! They're as common as sin and oh so cheap...

[Gobes32]

I love the subtle dig at ford, sales were up on the Falcon but they turned it into a negative, and no one bought a Territory because a new one is out in less than 8 weeks. And the icing on the cake was at the very end of the article "Holden down 15%", why was this not mentioned at the top of the article where they were getting stuck into Ford?

[Paxton]

Originally Posted by Gobes32

I love the subtle dig at ford, sales were up on the Falcon but they turned it into a negative, and no one bought a Territory because a new one is out in less than 8 weeks. And the icing on the cake was at the very end of the article "Holden down 15%", why was this not mentioned at the top of the article where they were getting stuck into Ford?

Care to elaborate. I know a little about 111, but anything else you can share (via PM) would be great.

Six Weeks...

[SSbaby]

Originally Posted by Paxton

Care to elaborate. I know a little about 111, but anything else you can share (via PM) would be great.

Six Weeks...

http://blogs.drive.com.au/2009/02/ni...or_ageing.html

[Paxton]

Originally Posted by SSbaby

http://blogs.drive.com.au/2009/02/ni...or_ageing.html

Actually tells me less than I already know. There are some minor sheet metal changes, however the tailgate is getting a proper makeover, which will make it look (and feel) better made. There are a few surprises in store as well.

Drive have never had a pleasant word to say about Ford, so their inputs are always taken with a grain of salt.

Edit: Buggerlugs - the Mazda is loads better than the Corolla. From driving to quality, to looks, and value. The Corolla just moves on Toyota's reputation, not the car's merits.

[irlewy86]

Originally Posted by SSbaby

http://blogs.drive.com.au/2009/02/ni...or_ageing.html

Appropiate link for the thread, but that is the last time I ever visit that *&^%$#@#$%^&*(*(*&^%$$#@@#$%%^&^*&*(( website

[BadMac]

Originally Posted by Gobes32

I love the subtle dig at ford, sales were up on the Falcon but they turned it into a negative, and no one bought a Territory because a new one is out in less than 8 weeks. And the icing on the cake was at the very end of the article "Holden down 15%", why was this not mentioned at the top of the article where they were getting stuck into Ford?

Your kidding right?

Falcon is up 400 units. Jan 08 was BFII on runout (ie stalled sales), Jan 09 is FG in full production and it can only do 400 units better? thats not good news, thats an obituary.

Holden down 15% wasn't the point, the story was how Mazda3 is number 1, why does everything have to bash Holden, oh thats right its a Ford forum and thats what we do. By the way, the article says overall market down 18% and Holden down 15% so actually Holden was 3% better off than its competition. Given Hyundai and Mazda increased, its gunna be sad for some of the others.

Finally to help when the figures come out, here is the Jan 2008 result.
1. Toyota Corolla - 3,843
2. Holden Commodore - 3,210
3. Toyota Hilux Ute - 3,020
4. Mazda 3 - 2,015
5. Toyota Yaris - 2,433
6. Ford Focus - 1,823
7. Honda Civic - 1,777
8. Honda CR-V SUV - 1,575
9. Mazda 2 - 1,442
10. Mitsubishi Lancer - 1,410

[Gobes32]

Originally Posted by BadMac

Your kidding right?

Falcon is up 400 units. Jan 08 was BFII on runout (ie stalled sales), Jan 09 is FG in full production and it can only do 400 units better? thats not good news, thats an obituary.

In this sales climate, anything is a win.........

Come on, always look on the bright side of life!

[Windsor220]

Wasnt the Ford factory closed for most of the month? They probably had no Falcon stock.

[BadMac]

Originally Posted by BadMac

Finally to help when the figures come out, here is the Jan 2008 result.
1. Toyota Corolla - 3,843
2. Holden Commodore - 3,210
3. Toyota Hilux Ute - 3,020
4. Mazda 3 - 2,015
5. Toyota Yaris - 2,433
6. Ford Focus - 1,823
7. Honda Civic - 1,777
8. Honda CR-V SUV - 1,575
9. Mazda 2 - 1,442
10. Mitsubishi Lancer - 1,410

Jan 2009.
1. Mazda 3 – 3124
2. Holden Commodore – 3059
4. Toyota Corolla – 2763
5. Toyota HiLux - 2620
6. Ford Falcon – 1630
7. Mitsubishi Lancer – 1625
8. Toyota Yaris – 1565
9. Honda Jazz – 1480
10. Hyundai Getz – 1347

[RATT]

Originally Posted by BadMac

Jan 2009.
1. Mazda 3 – 3124
2. Holden Commodore – 3059
4. Toyota Corolla – 2763
5. Toyota HiLux - 2620
6. Ford Falcon – 1630
7. Mitsubishi Lancer – 1625
8. Toyota Yaris – 1565
9. Honda Jazz – 1480
10. Hyundai Getz – 1347

On a positive note, Falcon is in the top ten in Jan 09 vs 08.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by BadMac

Your kidding right?

Falcon is up 400 units. Jan 08 was BFII on runout (ie stalled sales), Jan 09 is FG in full production and it can only do 400 units better? thats not good news, thats an obituary.

Holden down 15% wasn't the point, the story was how Mazda3 is number 1, why does everything have to bash Holden, oh thats right its a Ford forum and thats what we do. By the way, the article says overall market down 18% and Holden down 15% so actually Holden was 3% better off than its competition. Given Hyundai and Mazda increased, its gunna be sad for some of the others.

Finally to help when the figures come out, here is the Jan 2008 result.
1. Toyota Corolla - 3,843
2. Holden Commodore - 3,210
3. Toyota Hilux Ute - 3,020
4. Mazda 3 - 2,015
5. Toyota Yaris - 2,433
6. Ford Focus - 1,823
7. Honda Civic - 1,777
8. Honda CR-V SUV - 1,575
9. Mazda 2 - 1,442
10. Mitsubishi Lancer - 1,410

Actually the first version of the drive article didn't mention that Commodore was outsold, this came later when the official figures came out and the story was modified. The initial bent was clearly a negative view of Ford, it was only after the real figures showed that Mazda3 topped all cars that some of the lines were rewritten....see an LS1 thread which discusses the same thing. And if Holden couldn't maintain some market share with the massive bonuses that even required increasing of Holden employee discounts because private buyer deals got down to that level then they were never going to make it. Wonder how much red ink they will show and if it was worth it in the end?

[Wally]

Originally Posted by BadMac

Your kidding right?

Falcon is up 400 units. Jan 08 was BFII on runout (ie stalled sales), Jan 09 is FG in full production and it can only do 400 units better? thats not good news, thats an obituary.

Holden down 15% wasn't the point, the story was how Mazda3 is number 1, why does everything have to bash Holden, oh thats right its a Ford forum and thats what we do. By the way, the article says overall market down 18% and Holden down 15% so actually Holden was 3% better off than its competition. Given Hyundai and Mazda increased, its gunna be sad for some of the others.

Finally to help when the figures come out, here is the Jan 2008 result.
1. Toyota Corolla - 3,843
2. Holden Commodore - 3,210
3. Toyota Hilux Ute - 3,020
4. Mazda 3 - 2,015
5. Toyota Yaris - 2,433
6. Ford Focus - 1,823
7. Honda Civic - 1,777
8. Honda CR-V SUV - 1,575
9. Mazda 2 - 1,442
10. Mitsubishi Lancer - 1,410

How do those figures refelct the Mazda 3 out selling the Commodore?

[mik]

seems pretty typical from these blokes Gobes32.....more unbiased journalism?

[buggerlugs]

I was amazed when the little Corolla outsold the dunnydore. And now a little Mazda does the same thing........."Wow" !!.........

[anto]

we recenlty bought a mazda 6 luxury sports for the mrs to replace her BA ghia V8. After a few months of ownership we have come to the conclusion that the ford was/is far superior in every way, ride quality, cabin noise, power, overall comfort and features...everything bar the fuel consumption. After not getting around to selling it, she now only wants to drive the BA leaving the 6 sitting gathering dust !
Theyre not bad cars the mazdas, but if you compare apples with apples they fall well short in comparison IMO. It took buying one for the mrs to realise this even after with her to consider a new XR6.

[mik]

thats probably to be expected for the fg sales there are still runout bf`s selling, i reckon things will pick up soon.

[dusty86]

good news for me

[MRJUCY]

Brand perception is a funny thing, the 3 is based on a dumbed down version of the Focus platform yet sells in such higher numbers.

[BlackLS]

Originally Posted by MRJUCY

Brand perception is a funny thing, the 3 is based on a dumbed down version of the Focus platform yet sells in such higher numbers.

Mazda 3 (2002) was more the test bed for the Ford C1 Platform that Ford then released the next Focus on (2005). Jap cars by default tend to be more directed towards comfort over Euro's preference for better handling.

In Australia the 3 is seen to be more special. Different case if we were in the UK, but that probably has more to do with brand cred from the era of the Escort and Sierras. The Euro built Focus is probably better quality than the South African model we get here. I swear that the SA Focus models are also raised an inch higher than the equivilent Euro versions.

[RATT]

Ford 2009 v 2008
Ford Escape 58 172
Ford F250 4X2 2 2
Ford Fairlane 3 21
Ford Falcon 1,630 1,252
Ford Falcon Ute 522 664
Ford Fiesta 560 731
Ford Focus 1,346 1,823
Ford Focus Coupe Cabriolet 30 37
Ford Mondeo 317 369
Ford Ranger 4X2 359 734 359
Ford Ranger 4X4 424 578
Ford Territory 638 1,099
Ford Transit 100 164
Ford Transit Bus 6 6
Ford Transit C/C 25 19
Ford Total 6,020 7,676 (down 21.6%)

Holden

Holden Astra 973 1,380
Holden Astra Convertible 43 74
Holden Barina 868 915
Holden Caprice 82 159
Holden Captiva 1,141 1,038
Holden Colorado 4X2 350 0
Holden Colorado 4X4 666 0
Holden Combo 40 69
Holden Commodore 3,059 3,210
Holden Epica 235 324
Holden Rodeo 4X2 17 536
Holden Rodeo 4X4 17 704
Holden Statesman 53 122
Holden Utility 4X2 655 932
Holden Viva 563 789
Holden Total 8,762 10,253 (down 14.5%)


Mazda

Mazda BT-50 4X2 477 357
Mazda BT-50 4X4 252 435
Mazda CX-7 311 440
Mazda CX-9 283 353
Mazda MX5 34 61
Mazda RX8 27 28
Mazda2 1,335 1,442
Mazda3 3,124 2,915
Mazda6 689 1,070
Mazda Total 6,532 7,103 (down 8%)

[phillyc]

Originally Posted by RATT

Ford 2009 v 2008
Ford Escape 58 172
Ford F250 4X2 2 2
Ford Fairlane 3 21
Ford Falcon 1,630 1,252
Ford Falcon Ute 522 664
Ford Fiesta 560 731
Ford Focus 1,346 1,823
Ford Focus Coupe Cabriolet 30 37
Ford Mondeo 317 369
Ford Ranger 4X2 359 734 359
Ford Ranger 4X4 424 578
Ford Territory 638 1,099
Ford Transit 100 164
Ford Transit Bus 6 6
Ford Transit C/C 25 19
Ford Total 6,020 7,676 (down 21.6%)

Great range of vehicles and pathetic sales. Slumping more than the market did as a whole. Disappointing to say the least.

[GTP290]

Dont forget its not how many units you sell, its how much profit you make. Fords base model Falcon is around 6k dearer than the Commodore, so its no suprise Holdens parent company-GM is in a worse financial state than Ford.