Preliminary VFacts December 2015

[csv8]

AUSSIE icon car brands Holden and Ford have taken another massive sales dive — hitting their lowest results in decades — as both brands prepare to close their local factories within the next two years.

Confidential industry figures for the full year in 2015 show Ford posted its worst result in 49 years — since 1966, when decimal currency was introduced — while Holden’s tally was the lowest in 22 years.

They were the only two among the Top 10 brands to suffer a sales decline in 2015.

Holden, down by 2.9 per cent, was fewer than 1000 sales away from being overtaken by Hyundai.

Meanwhile Ford fell by 11.6 per cent and slipped even further down the ladder, pushed outside the top five, having been overtaken by Mitsubishi in the annual tally for the first time in its history.

A sign of our changing buyer tastes, the Ford Falcon, having posted fewer than 6000 sales for the year, was comfortably outsold by the Mercedes-Benz C-Class luxury sedan.

Holden Commodore sales were also down despite the arrival of a new model.

Holden and Ford hit reverse despite the new-car market powering to another record, in excess of 1.1 million deliveries for the fourth year in a row.

When official data is released at midday on Wednesday, the industry is expected to report more than 1.156 million vehicles were sold in 2015, eclipsing the previous record of 1,136,227 set in 2013.

Confidential preliminary figures show Japanese giant Toyota was the overall market leader for the 13th year in a row, ahead of Mazda, while the Toyota Corolla was our favourite car for the third consecutive year.

However, the Toyota Camry was the surprise market leader in December after the company discounted the car to $28,990 drive-away — about $5000 off the RRP — and combined that with a low interest finance offer.

It was only the third time the Camry has ever topped the monthly sales charts; it was also number one in January 1995 and October 2012.

The data shows that Australians now buy more small cars than any other vehicle type, ahead of family SUVs.

But the big surprise is the continued strength of the ute market.

Workhorse vehicles that double as family cars are now the third biggest category for new-vehicle sales. Three models — the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger, and Mitsubishi Triton — made the Top 10 in December.

Top 10 cars in December

Toyota Camry 5320

Toyota Corolla 3470

Mazda3 3450

Toyota HiLux 3130

Ford Ranger 2840

Holden Commodore 2620

Mitsubishi Triton 2140

Hyundai i30 2000

Mazda CX-5 1920

Hyundai Tucson 1630

Top 10 brands in December

Toyota 21,220

Mazda 9700

Holden 9145

Mitsubishi 7510

Hyundai 7160

Ford 6290

Nissan 5010

Volkswagen 4450

Subaru 3610

Honda 3320

Top 10 brands: full year 2015

Toyota 206,237 — up 1.3 per cent

Mazda 114,024 —- up 13.2 per cent

Holden 102,951 — down 2.9 per cent

Hyundai 102,004 — up 1.9 per cent

Mitsubishi 71,752 — up 4.5 per cent

Ford 70,454 — down 11.6 per cent

Nissan 66,063 — up 0.05 per cent

Volkswagen 60,225 — up 9.9 per cent

Subaru 43,600 — up 7.6 per cent

Honda 40,100 — up 21.5 per cent

Preliminary figures. Official VFACTS data released midday Wednesday.

This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling
http://www.news.com.au/technology/in...d8fdc9e0a4d87a

[zoomie]

Im guessing fleets changing over for that huge spike in camry sales?

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by zoomie

Im guessing fleets changing over for that huge spike in camry sales?

seeing a lot more Camry taxis now. I know many of these are second hand but some would be new.

[csv8]

Originally Posted by Wretched

seeing a lot more Camry taxis now. I know many of these are second hand but some would me new.

New Camry's have the fugly front grille!!!!!

[Windsor220]

When was the last time Holden didn't finish in the top 3 for the year? Has it ever happened?

[Dr Terry]

Originally Posted by Windsor220

When was the last time Holden didn't finish in the top 3 for the year? Has it ever happened?

Yes, around 1948 I think.

Dr Terry

[Rob 351]

Nearly half of Ford sales are the Ranger & I guess if you add Everest sales it would be half.

[zoomie]

Originally Posted by Rob 351

Nearly half of Ford sales are the Ranger & I guess if you add Everest sales it would be half.

Yep with falcon/territory making up most of the rest.
Ford desprately need the focus and fiesta (and mondeo) to fire up in sales cos come end of the year theres going to be quite a drop in there total sales once production ceases here in Australia.

[Windsor220]

Originally Posted by zoomie

Yep with falcon/territory making up most of the rest.
Ford desprately need the focus and fiesta (and mondeo) to fire up in sales cos come end of the year theres going to be quite a drop in there total sales once production ceases here in Australia.

I dont think Falcon will make much difference. Its averaging under 500 sales a month. Territory is being replaced by Edge.

[zoomie]

Originally Posted by Windsor220

I dont think Falcon will make much difference. Its averaging under 500 sales a month. Territory is being replaced by Edge.

Maybe maybe not.
Fords imported range (except for ranger) are now low number sellers and i cant really see the Edge selling in big enough numbers to offset falcon/territory sales, especially with no diesel and no 7 seat option and to be honest the Everest hasnt really ignited the sales chart either (price related maybe?) despite being a good capable vehicle.

[Windsor220]

Originally Posted by zoomie

Maybe maybe not.
Fords imported range (except for ranger) are now low number sellers and i cant really see the Edge selling in big enough numbers to offset falcon/territory sales, especially with no diesel and no 7 seat option and to be honest the Everest hasnt really ignited the sales chart either (price related maybe?) despite being a good capable vehicle.

Yeah they definitely need to work on their other models. Mustang should almost offset the Falcon sedan though.

[CyberWasp]

Wouldn't Falcon sales be down because people are waiting for the Sprint?

[nstg8a]

I see more everests on the road than fgx.

[DanielXR8]

Originally Posted by tempted

I am angered at the sensationalist opening paragraph of the article and the way they always have to emphasise the impending end of local manufacture. IMO the media has played a large part in turning people away from local cars with their constant digs and sensationalist garbage. Joshua Dowling should be made to face the firing squad for the sheer damage he has done to the local car industry over the years.

.

The media can only work with what they are given. The "save a dollar today, lose ten tomorrow" attitude of Ford and their dealers, gave the press a lot of home goals to report on and that has been the way over several decades. In the end you can't keep treating the punters like Ford did and expect any different outcome to what they have now.

The problem now is not the media, its the fact that Ford haven't even started on the depth of the corporate and dealer restructure they need. What they are doing at the moment is playing around the edges, while their market share goes down by the year.

[Giant Cranium]

Originally Posted by Shonky.

I'm gonna incur the wrath of you guys for saying so, but it is honestly how I feel



I hope Ford goes down the toilet



Scuttle our manufacturing industry, then you can just **** right off with your ugly *** imports



Dowling's a tosspot, don't get me wrong, but he didn't kill local production, Ford did.



They white anted our industry for years, now they've got what they wanted, congrats



I reckon our kids will read about it in International Business and Economics textbooks as a case study of corporate failure

So I take it you are never buying a car again after 2017? Ford become no different to any other importer

[Shonky.]

Originally Posted by Giant Cranium

So I take it you are never buying a car again after 2017? Ford become no different to any other importer

I buy imported goods, but not from companies that have screwed this country over

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by Shonky.

I buy imported goods, but not from companies that have screwed this country over

Sorry what?
Ford screwed us over?
How many people will still be employed at Ford post 2016 (Toyota and Holden too)?

The three car makers may be stopping making cars here, but there a number of factors as to the reasons behind it which have been covered on this forum many times.
Not one entity can be blamed soley for it. If that were the case then only Ford would be closing.
Fact of the matter is, due to a number of reasons, manufacturing cars here isn't viable and the losses keep piling up.
Whether Ford, Holden and Toyota planned for that end game is up to those that wear tin foil hats but going around finger pointing at one company isn't right. These companies are here to make money, like any other, if they're losing money in one area it is time to clean it up or close it up. They could have easily turned around and closed everything off, but they didn't, engineering, design (and in Ford's case testing) remains here, employing Australians.

[Giant Cranium]

Originally Posted by tempted

Where do I even begin. With the exception of Commodore, the top 10 is an utterly depressing list of bland appliances and dual cab tractors.
To me this is proof that Australian car buyer tastes are so far down the toilet that they've reached the sewage treatment plant.

I am angered at the sensationalist opening paragraph of the article and the way they always have to emphasise the impending end of local manufacture. IMO the media has played a large part in turning people away from local cars with their constant digs and sensationalist garbage. Joshua Dowling should be made to face the firing squad for the sheer damage he has done to the local car industry over the years.

I'm curious as to how Toyota suddenly managed to sell over 5000 Camrys in what is usually a quiet month. I didn't even think their factory was geared to produce that many? Must have been a lot of old stock sitting around that they flogged off for nothing to taxi fleets and rental companies.

Top 10 in every country is boring. The vast majority of people right round the world don't care about cars. They want what is cute and priced right. Most of what we would call luxury brands would sell most of their cars as low end models in Germany. Even Americas biggest selling cars are rubbish. F trucks just replace Isuzu and hino here and are all base models.

[CyberWasp]

How is any company going to catch Toyota in sales?
If it was a 100m Race, Toyota is at the finish line, Holden and Mazda are at 50m and Ford is still in the blocks looking for their shoes.

[Sorted]

Originally Posted by csv8

Top 10 brands: full year 2015

Toyota 206,237 — up 1.3 per cent
Mazda 114,024 —- up 13.2 per cent
Holden 102,951 — down 2.9 per cent
Hyundai 102,004 — up 1.9 per cent
Mitsubishi 71,752 — up 4.5 per cent
Ford 70,454 — down 11.6 per cent
Nissan 66,063 — up 0.05 per cent
Volkswagen 60,225 — up 9.9 per cent
Subaru 43,600 — up 7.6 per cent
Honda 40,100 — up 21.5 per cent

Top 10 brands: full year 2014
1.Toyota — 203,501
2.Holden — 106,092
3.Mazda — 100,704
4.Hyundai — 100,011
5.Ford — 79,703
6.Mitsubishi — 68,637
7.Nissan — 66,025
8.Volkswagen — 54,801
9.Subaru — 40,502
10.Honda — 32,998

[Iggle Piggle]

I don't like losing local manufacturing but will continue to recommend to friends and family whatever make and model I think best meets their needs and personal priorities.

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by Iggle Piggle

I don't like losing local manufacturing but will continue to recommend to friends and family whatever make and model I think best meets their needs and personal priorities.

Got it in one.

I'd add: there's no more patriotic reason, or emotional reason to support Ford after closure. Just measure their cars against the competition. They will be sweet steers for sure and maybe that will be enough.

However, take that emotion away from me, and resale, sales and dealer experience, reliability, looms much larger and Mr Toyota is looking a whole lot more like being a strong consideration.

Ford also had a Unique Selling Point (RWD, RWD biased AWD, Australian developed, contributor to Australian manufacturing, long history of this) and in its place they are matching other products established in the marketplace. Mustang is the obvious exception.

May the best car for one's needs win.

[mcflux]

Originally Posted by OP

Toyota Camry 5320
Toyota Corolla 3470
Mazda3 3450
Toyota HiLux 3130
Ford Ranger 2840
Holden Commodore 2620
Mitsubishi Triton 2140
Hyundai i30 2000
Mazda CX-5 1920
Hyundai Tucson 1630

Apart from the spike in Camry sales there's a few class battles here:

Hilux & Ranger vying for #1 in their class, with the Triton trailing in a (strong) third place.

Ditto for Corolla & Mazda3 vying for #1 with the i30 in a strong 3rd.

CX-5 & Tuscon don't have such a close gap, & I'm surprised the X-Trail/RAV4 aren't there. Maybe they're in the low teens.

The Camry spike, and the Commodore appear to be the odd ones out in the list when you can see where the Aussie market is heading. Great results for both though in today's world.

I wonder where the Everest & Fortuner will sit next year; will they be regulars in the top 10? Or will they be considered too niche, compared against their "mainstream" Ranger/Hilux cousins?

[Giant Cranium]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

Here, here. I will never buy another Ford after 2016 and will tell everybody I know who asks me a bout cars not to even consider a Ford product. They screwed Australia so we will do our best to screw them.

Yeh and screw all those that are still employed. Hope those traitors to Australia lose their jobs too!

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by Giant Cranium

Yeh and screw all those that are still employed. Hope those traitors to Australia lose their jobs too!

Yeah the asshats that have saved jobs, increased/increasing employment, and put major money into the country...traitors!!

Originally Posted by Syndrome

Yep. %$#^ the lot of them. The Ranger and Everest are only tokens and there is no guarantee the next generation will be designed locally.

You do realise the next gen is underway? The engineering centre at Ford is packed to the brim. So I'll put my money on it happening. But I love how you think Ranger/Everest is a token. The amount of money spent on the cars, building and infrastructure makes FGX/SZ2 the token.

[flooded one]

Go the Australian built Camry as bland as you are!!!! I'm glad an Australian built car sold the most this month!!! been a long time between drinks!!!

I too am disappointed with Ford. not with the local products. its the reliability issues that they seem too want to sweep under the carpet regarding the Focus and Fiesta Powershift Transmissions. I know every car has some sort of issue but the amount of complaints I see really are doing nothing for the brand. A brand that not long ago was comparing itself with Toyota!!! Fair claim if Ford could back it up... how many complaints (besides being boring) do you see Yaris and Corolla getting compared to Focus and Fiesta?? Have heard issues regarding Rangers auto (cant confirm thou) and the Everest that caught fire really doesn't help their Image. Ford should fix these issues before bragging and perhaps have dealerships treat customers better in regards to After-sale issues

[Shonky.]

Ford, policy makers, and the public all failed Australia on this one

To let our auto manufacturing industry slip through our hands is unforgivable.

Firstly is the pure economic benefit of having an industry here vs pure import model. GDP is measured in the value that is added by a nations resources including human.
To all the comments saying what about Australians who continue to be employed by Ford after manufacturing disappears -
Ford are no longer any different to any other imported brand. To measure the economic impact on the country of car brands and "rate" them if you will would be all but impossible. You would have to dissect the whole process of each auto brand to see what production inputs went into delivering the final product. The car that is the best purchase for Australia's economy may very much surprise you. Who uses our raw materials, who uses our intermediate goods, who uses our IP, who has the biggest management footprint on our shores? Etc etc

What is for certain though, in terms of value add, and GDP created, is that manufacturing the cars here is king.

All that has gone offshore now. Sure, Ford will be more profitable, but Australia sure as **** won't.

Aside from all that what about the flow on effects that come from the auto sector? The education role the sector plays, to take just one example? Would you shut down a technical college if it was not profitable enough? How about a high school?
My sons will now be very unlikely to have a career in technical manufacturing, unless they leave the country. What if one of them grows up to take an interest in robotics for eg? He won't be doing it in Australia now.

What ***** me the most is half of all people don't seem to understand the impact their behaviour and attitude has on the country. The other half don't care.
Nobody gives a **** about buying Australian. If something made local doesn't suit then fine, you gotta import, but at least understand what that means and consider the local offerings. If it's more expensive to buy local, don't write it off. Think of it as an investment. I honestly would rather pay $4 for a tin of local food than $2 for foreign stuff. I honestly think less than 5% of the population agree.
We know the Government don't agree. Even if they did have the capability and the smarts to truly partner with our vehicle manufacturers, rather than just too and fro in the name of populist policy and never play a hand while the sector gets blinded away, surely to **** they could have just bought Aussie cars?
Too dear? So what. Not really suitable? So what? Make do, and know that of all government spending it would have been the most powerful

[csv8]

The Official figures for December 2015 ...http://www.news.com.au/technology/in...601ba0963f6918

[CyberWasp]

Congratulations to Ford for a most amazing year.
Once again you have significantly beaten your nearest competitor Mercedes Benz.
High fives all round. Well Done.

[SumoDog68]

Cost of developing new car (platform ) is massive . It needs to be shared between multiple models , sedans ,wagons SUVs and many countries (markets). Then you have power train development to suit. Cars like Falcons ( as good as they are) are orphans in the global scheme of things .
Ford Australia kept developing the product with a limited budget - it is great to see that it lasted so long. It is a pity that completely new Falcon could not be developed on a world platform and manufacturing kept here with a sedan ,wagon and SUV combo to cover most of the market.