Vfacts January 2011

[Resurrection]

Any numbers? Ford will be lucky if it sold more than 1,000 FGs.

[Sorted]

2.9% interest on Toyota Finance will see Toyota with Hugh Numbers

Why cant ford do 2.9%

[aquahead2001]

From: http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-new...203-1aeq0.html

Falcon, Commodore sales dive, small cars up Toby Hagon
February 3, 2011 - 12:31PM

Falcon sales took a dive in January.

January 2011 sales figures show Australians are continuing to downsize - to the detriment of locally-produced large cars.

Australia's large car stalwarts - the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore - have been punished in the January new-car sales results, succumbing to a continued onslaught by smaller, more efficient vehicles.

The Ford Falcon - once Australia's best-selling car - managed just 1157 sales in January, being outsold by more than three-to-one by the Toyota Corolla. The Falcon, which is due to be updated this year with the addition of a four-cylinder engine option, didn't even register among the top 10 selling vehicles for January.

With rumours swirling of the Falcon's long-term demise, it was also outsold by the likes of the Hyundai i30 (1675) and Getz (2167), Holden Cruze (2060), Mazda2 (1359) and 3 (3605), Mitsubishi Lancer (1670), Nissan Navara 4WD ute (1686), Subaru Impreza (1765) and Toyota Hilux 4WD ute (1580).

Advertisement: Story continues below Even the Audi brand - the top selling luxury marque for January with 1477 sales across its 12-model range - outsold the Falcon, which continues not to fit potentially life-saving curtain airbags as standard to most models.

Holden's Commodore - Australia's best-selling car for 15 consecutive years - also posted below average January sales, managing just 2645 units.

The result was once again a blow for locally manufactured vehicles, with 7248 sold in January, representing just 9.8 per cent of the 73,584 cars sold.

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries said the result was "solid" despite being down 1.7 per cent compared with January 2010.

"This is a robust January sales result and provides a good start to 2011," said FCAI chief executive Andrew McKellar. "It is encouraging to see that private buyers remained confident throughout January with sales to those customers up 13.6 percent while business purchases declined."

He said the Queensland floods had taken their toll on overall sales, dropping 12.8 per cent in that state, something likely to change over the coming months as affected people look to replace damaged vehicles.

"Obviously new vehicle sales in Queensland have taken a hit as people concentrate on the flood recovery effort," he said. "We can expect sales in Queensland to be slower in the short-term but will pick up in the months ahead as people begin to look for replacement vehicles," Mr McKellar said.

Toyota was once again the leading brand with a dominant 14,817 sales, enough to boost the brand's market share even further to the point where it now accounts for almost one in four new-vehicle sales (22.4 per cent).

Toyota's surge was led by the Corolla, which was the best selling vehicle with 4045 sales, beating the rival Mazda3 by 440.

The strong Corolla result is partly skewed by a strong 2.9 per cent finance deal that teams with other discounts to make the car particularly attractive. Then again, the entire new-car market is in discount mode in January as it tries to clear last year's stock.

Once again it was smaller vehicles that led the way in January. Sales of small cars - the biggest single segment according to the FCAI - surged 10.9 per cent, while light (or city) cars grew by 16.9 per cent.

Of the four-wheel-drive-style wagons, or SUVs, small ones enjoyed sales growth of 7.5 per cent.

Proving there's still a demand for larger vehicles, sales of large 4WDs grew by 29.3 per cent, although there were only 1103 sold in total.

The FCAI has tipped a record year for vehicles sales, which are forecast to top 1.05 million.

[Joe5619]

OMG 1,157 falcons... Why even bother??

[Brazen]

Focus not being built here was the decision which will kill local production if Falcon doesnt pick up.

[Road_Warrior]

I think you will find that there was a substantial plant closure over the holiday period.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

I think you will find that there was a substantial plant closure over the holiday period.

Shouldnt make any difference, theres alot of 2010 Plate stock on the ground, and even 2009 plate.

The candle is dwindling away for the Falcon...

[charles_wif_xf]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

I think you will find that there was a substantial plant closure over the holiday period.

But still, 1100 sales, thats just ridiculous!

[Joe5619]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

I think you will find that there was a substantial plant closure over the holiday period.

I thought the point to the plant closeures was becuase they have too much stock? With those numbers they still havn't sold them access stock. Not even in the top 10!!

I wonder if another model was number # 1 for the month for Ford? When was the last time Falcon was not Ford's number #1 model??

[EgoFG]

Remember that there is no Falcon wagon, something that did bolster sales.
I would like to see sedan vss sedan, Falcon Vss Commodore (with FPV/HSV brokan out)

[MickyB]

I wonder what the worst month ever for Falcon is. January's result would have to be the worst since the XK, XL days I would have thought.

[Brazen]

great timing for the poor new CEO

[vztrt]

Something is not right. Why are dealers saying that you cant get models till after March but they're not selling anything. Ford itself looks empty (well better then mid year last year), FPV has little to nothing in their yard.

Mind you Commodore only did 2645, so they had a quiet month.

[flappist]

Yeh its not like anything happened in January that might have interfered with sales of new cars....

[stevz]

Originally Posted by flappist

Yeh its not like anything happened in January that might have interfered with sales of new cars....

Well it obviously didn't stop other brands from selling ie.Toyota.

[Brazen]

Falcon ute sold 479, does anyone know what Territory sold?

[Smoke Pursuit]

Ford could have done with an extra 500 XR50 sedans instead of G6 50's.. Ive been trying to get a nitro one for a friend for the last 2 days and they are all gone in QLD...

[Ford_The_Win]

The Falcon will never sell if Ford keep clipping it's wings.. Outsold by the Navara and Lancer FFS!

[Rodp]

Originally Posted by stevz

Well it obviously didn't stop other brands from selling ie.Toyota.

How many were enticed by low interest loans they were offering?

I know a mate of mine bought a hybrid Camry because of it - and he's still not game enough to bring it over to show me.

[BroadyFord]

I hate to think what their 2014 figures are going to be like once Ecoboost wears off. I think it's safe to say that unless they get the next Falcon (assuming there is one) right and export it, Ford is finished making cars here.

Honestly, what are they doing wrong that they just can't sell locally built cars? I'm sorry but I don't buy this "public want Hyundai Getz-sized cars from now" *****.

[au2000]

im sure all the " falcon's future uncertian " talk does not help much either..... remember the magna / 380 talk ...

[flappist]

Originally Posted by BroadyFord

I hate to think what their 2014 figures are going to be like once Ecoboost wears off. I think it's safe to say that unless they get the next Falcon (assuming there is one) right and export it, Ford is finished making cars here.

Honestly, what are they doing wrong that they just can't sell locally built cars? I'm sorry but I don't buy this "public want Hyundai Getz-sized cars from now" *****.

Well just because you don't accept an answer does not make it automatically untrue.

In order to increase sales Ford should drop the V8 and turbo 6 so they can make the falcon lighter and use less expensive less strong components.
This will reduce the cost of manufacture.
Then the "quality of assembly" should be increased to at least that of a Focus or Mondeo so the new Falcons don't start falling to bits after about 5 years or 100,000km.

But while this will increase the overall sales of Falcon, the "enthusiasts" will scream like stuck pigs at how they have been "betrayed".

So while Falcon has to deliver a 350kw ++ capable chassis and running gear for under $50k retail they will be exactly what we have right now and sell to the same people who buy them now. (please note that even the bottom of the range XT has the same chassis as the GT-E).

Of course the other half of the problem is that a large percentage of the Falcon buying public would much rather buy a second hand GT, XR8 or XR6T etc. than a new XR6 or G6 so the market is shrinking itself.

You can help though........if you are not driving a new Falcon then I am sure there are a number of dealers who would just love to remedy that....

[whales]

Originally Posted by au2000

im sure all the " falcon's future uncertian " talk does not help much either..... remember the magna / 380 talk ...

Exactly, I was talking to a GMH engineer the other day and they are rubbing their hands together with all this talk about no more Falcons. Ford have to start talking to the media about where they are going otherwise the media just write bad news about them.

This engineer friend was saying they are working on the 2017 Commodore now so it's seems it's going to be around for a few years yet.


The other thing is to make cars that people want and that is cars with good fuel ecomony like a diesel Falcon, just rip it out of tthe Territory and slot it in the Falcon and away it would go........Can't be that hard I wouldn't think, I'm sure all the testing has been done in the Territory all it has to do is fit under the bonnet.

[snappy]

Originally Posted by flappist

Well just because you don't accept an answer does not make it automatically untrue.

In order to increase sales Ford should drop the V8 and turbo 6 so they can make the falcon lighter and use less expensive less strong components.
This will reduce the cost of manufacture.
Then the "quality of assembly" should be increased to at least that of a Focus or Mondeo so the new Falcons don't start falling to bits after about 5 years or 100,000km.

But while this will increase the overall sales of Falcon, the "enthusiasts" will scream like stuck pigs at how they have been "betrayed".

So while Falcon has to deliver a 350kw ++ capable chassis and running gear for under $50k retail they will be exactly what we have right now and sell to the same people who buy them now. (please note that even the bottom of the range XT has the same chassis as the GT-E).

Of course the other half of the problem is that a large percentage of the Falcon buying public would much rather buy a second hand GT or XR8 etc. than a new XR6 or G6 so the market is shrinking itself.

You can help though........if you are not driving a new Falcon then I am sure there are a number of dealers who would jsut love to remedy that....

You're right it will make them more money but will it sell them more cars .
I believe it just a product failure plain and simple. The evidence would suggest to me they did not build a product that enough people would want. They fecked up there business case .
The styling is nice but nothing special and you cant get one remotely good looking until you start heading to the top of the range .
The motor's are good but to other people then us on here, who really cares except how much juice it swallows .

An i would by a new car but they have nothing i want .so i paid bugger all and settled on something that would do until the build some thing i just have to have.

An one thing i think you just don't understand because i get the impression your not hard up for a dollar . Is most people a new car is a massive expense and burden on the house hold budget . And unless they produce something that people just have to be seen in or its just hurts not to have one you will not buy it you will settle.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by snappy

You're right it will make them more money but will it sell them more cars .
I believe it just a product failure plain and simple. The evidence would suggest to me they did not build a product that enough people would want. They fecked up there business case .
The styling is nice but nothing special and you cant get one remotely good looking until you start heading to the top of the range .
The motor's are good but to other people then us on here, who really cares except how much juice it swallows .

An i would by a new car but they have nothing i want .so i paid bugger all and settled on something that would do until the build some thing i just have to have.

An one thing i think you just don't understand because i get the impression your not hard up for a dollar . Is most people a new car is a massive expense and burden on the house hold budget . And unless they produce something that people just have to be seen in or its just hurts not to have one you will not buy it you will settle.

The price conundrum:

You have a car worth $15k.
You can get and afford finance for $20k

Do you:

A) buy a new XR6/G6
B) buy a used GT/XR6/F6/XR6T
C) go in WAY over your head and buy a new opt B.

As far as Ford is concerned there is very little difference between a XT, G6ET or GT. They are all one car on the stats and I suspect the profit margins are somewhat similar.
So if over the year 1000 people Australia wide choose A over B or C then that is 1000 less new falcons sold, if the number is 5000 ....and so on.

I would LOVE to buy an Aston Martin but even the second hand ones are far too expensive for me.
I would also like an M5 or M3 but the would be second hand and if I bought a new BMW it would be a 335i or 330D as that is my budget.

So buying a s/h M5 instead of a new 330D is the same as buying a s/h GT instead of a new XR6, they are the same only different.

Now this is not a pro or anti new or second hand position it is just pointiong out waht the actual facts are.

Everytime someone buys a s/h Falcon instead of a new one regardless of models it is one less new Falcon sold.

[snappy]

Originally Posted by flappist

The price conundrum:

You have a car worth $15k.
You can get and afford finance for $20k

Do you:

A) buy a new XR6/G6
B) buy a used GT/XR6/F6/XR6T
C) go in WAY over your head and buy a new opt B.

As far as Ford is concerned there is very little difference between a XT, G6ET or GT. They are all one car on the stats and I suspect the profit margins are somewhat similar.
So if over the year 1000 people Australia wide choose A over B or C then that is 1000 less new falcons sold, if the number is 5000 ....and so on.

I would LOVE to buy an Aston Martin but even the second hand ones are far too expensive for me.
I would also like an M5 or M3 but the would be second hand and if I bought a new BMW it would be a 335i or 330D as that is my budget.

So buying a s/h M5 instead of a new 330D is the same as buying a s/h GT instead of a new XR6, they are the same only different.

Now this is not a pro or anti new or second hand position it is just pointiong out waht the actual facts are.

Everytime someone buys a s/h Falcon instead of a new one regardless of models it is one less new Falcon sold.

Agree 100%
Me on paper with no other consideration would go (b) But because visually i prefer the older model .
An thats what i was getting at when the mucked up there business plan . I just dont think there is enough enticement to go new over old in the ford stable . Just because its fresh is not enough for me and a new falcon does not appeal to me a male in my mid 20's

[Road_Warrior]

All I am going to say is that this EcoBoost Falcon had better bring something really special to the table otherwise it's going to be Taurus central down at Broady in a few years.

Also, this quote from this article:

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...25782C0008D726

Ford public affairs director Sinead McAlary told GoAuto that Ford was relatively pleased with its January sales, citing the increases in sales of its imported models and break-even performance of its Territory SUV as examples.

Shows they don't seem to mind (or care).

[vztrt]

The full article from the above link.

VFACTS: Ford’s Falcon sales slump 50 per cent

Local large car sales crunched in January as market slips 1.7 per cent on Qld floods

3 February 2011

By RON HAMMERTON

SALES of locally-made large cars plunged to their lowest levels in memory in January, with Ford’s Falcon sedan slumping 50 per cent compared with the same month last year, to a record low 1157 sales.

Official VFACTS data out today shows Holden’s Commodore also took a hit, down 18.4 per cent to 2645 units, helping to drag overall Holden sales down 19.9 per cent – the biggest drop of all the major car companies in Australia.

The overall new-car market retreated 1.7 per cent, partly because of lower sales in flood-hit Queensland – down 12.8 per cent or almost 2000 vehicles – and also because January 2010 sales were lifted artificially by the federal government’s 2009 tax breaks that spilled into the following year.

Total sales of cars and trucks amounted to 73,584 vehicles compared with 74,864 units in the corresponding month last year, but the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) says the tally would probably have been higher if not for the Queensland flood disaster.

While sales of light and small cars and SUVs held up well, the large car segment took the biggest dump, down 30.9 per cent to just 5056 vehicles, while light trucks also fell by 8.4 per cent.


The Victorian-built Falcon – whose future as a locally-made car is now being debated in Ford boardrooms – crashed from 2318 sales in January 2010 to 1157 units last month.

According to GoAuto records, the previous worst month for Falcon sedan and wagon was January 2008, when the Blue Oval shipped just 1252 Falcon passenger vehicles at the height of the global financial crisis.


The Falcon slump – which Ford Australia says is largely due to a lack of LPG-equipped cars until it can launch its new liquid LPG vehicles later this year – weighed Ford down on what was otherwise a reasonable month for the brand, with sales of its Fiesta, Focus, Escape and Ranger 4x4 all making good progress.

Ford’s overall tally was 6413 vehicles – down 4.7 per cent – relegating it to fourth place behind market leader Toyota (14,817 units), second-placed Holden (8385) and leading importer Mazda (7200).

Ford was also just three units ahead of fifth-placed Hyundai (6410), which lacks Ford’s broad light commercial vehicle range.

Ford public affairs director Sinead McAlary told GoAuto that Ford was relatively pleased with its January sales, citing the increases in sales of its imported models and break-even performance of its Territory SUV as examples.

But she said Falcon was impacted by a lack of cars fitted with LPG systems, because Ford discontinued production of the previous vapour system last year and was waiting on the arrival of a new-generation LPG injection system in Falcons later this year.

LPG Falcons – popular with fleets, including taxis – usually make up between 20 to 25 per cent of Falcon sales.

Toyota led the way on almost every front in January, with its Corolla again out-selling Holden’s traditional market leader Commodore, 4045 units to 2645, to take the best-selling car crown for the third month in a row.

Unlike its local rivals, Toyota gained both volume and share in January, lifting sales by 1.7 per cent to record a 20.1 per cent market share – a rise of 0.68 percentage points.

However, sales of its locally-made Camry (1057 units) and long-wheelbase variant, the Aurion (654), were both down, with Aurion taking the biggest fall (down 25.1 per cent) in the troubled large car arena.

Holden got slammed across the board, with sales of all of its top sellers dropping. Recent winners such as Captiva, Cruze and Barina – all imported from South Korea – took a dip, with the ageing Colorado one-tonner sliding 66 per cent in 4x2 form.

The Holden Utility was down by 30.6 per cent compared with last year’s tax-break charged market, but it at least outsold Ford’s Falcon Ute, which managed to break even at 479 units – the same as January last year.

Mazda’s ever-popular Mazda3 small car recorded 3605 sales (up 11.9 per cent) in January to help drive an 8.1 per cent increase in the brand’s volume, to 7200 units.

The Japanese importer, whose sales are often strong in January when private buyers dominate the showrooms while fleets take a summer break, took a 9.8 per cent share of the market – up from 8.9 per cent last year.

Korean importer Hyundai continued to make inroads, with sales up 3.3 per cent, led by its top-selling Getz light car. However, the Getz is now in run-out, placing a question mark over whether it can maintain its latest 8.7 per cent market share in the medium term.

Among the other importers, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Subaru and Volkswagen all made gains, while Honda continued its run of outs, slipping to just 3.0 per cent market share with a worrying 25.9 per cent drop in volume to 2227 vehicles.

Passenger car sales were line-ball with January 2010, at 43,539, while SUV sales grew 0.8 per cent, to 17,032 units, driven mainly by rises in compact and large SUVs.

Light commercial sales slipped 8.4 per cent, mainly because January 2010’s volumes were so bouyant as tradies and farmers got in for their tax-break enhanced vehicles.

Sports cars were also out of favour, down 32.5 per cent to just 1064 units.

FCAI chief executive Andrew McKellar described the January vehicle market as solid, despite the significant decrease in Queensland sales due to the floods.

“This is a robust January sales result and provides a good start to 2011,” he said.

“It is encouraging to see that private buyers remained confident throughout January with sales to those customers up 13.6 per cent while business purchases declined.

“Obviously new vehicle sales in Queensland have taken a hit as people concentrate on the flood recovery effort.

“We can expect sales in Queensland to be slower in the short-term but will pick up in the months ahead as people begin to look for replacement vehicles.”

Toyota Australia's senior executive director for sales and marketing, David Buttner, said Corolla was a stand-out performer in a tough month for the industry. “We supported Corolla strongly with advertising and marketing offers, just as our competitors did with their leading cars,” he said.

In the luxury market, fast-growing Audi’s 1477 sales (up 11.2 per cent) in January gave it leadership, ahead of BMW (1007 units, down 32 per cent), Mercedes-Benz (967 units, down 34.8 per cent) and Lexus (409 units, up 0.2 per cent).

January 2011 top ten makes:
Brand Sales Movement Share
Toyota 14,817 +1.7% 20.1%
Holden 8,385 -19.9% 11.4%
Mazda 7,200 +8.1% 9.8%
Ford 6,413 -4.7% 8.7%
Hyundai 6,410 +3.3% 8.7%
Nissan 4,876 +17.7% 6.6%
Mitsubishi 4,537 +12.3% 6.2%
Subaru 3,531 +8.3% 4.8%
Volkswagen 2,408 +3.0% 3.3%
Honda 2,227 -25.9% 3.0%

[vztrt]

http://www.caradvice.com.au/102391/j...nsland-floods/

January 2011 VFACTS: Slow start after Queensland floods
By Tim Beissmann | February 3rd, 2011

The Australian automotive industry has made a slow start to 2011, suffering from reduced sales in a disaster-riddled Queensland. The story of the month was without doubt the performance of the traditional local heroes – Commodore and Falcon – who were overwhelmed by a raft of smaller Asian imports.

Official VFACTS data released today by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) shows that 73,584 passenger cars, SUVs and commercial vehicles were sold in January 2011, down 1.7 percent (1280 vehicles) over January 2010.

The Toyota Corolla, buoyed by cut-price financing from Toyota Australia, finished miles ahead of the competition, leading the Mazda3 and the Holden Commodore.

Corolla sales were up 49.2 percent over the first month of 2010, while the Mazda3 added 11.9 percent and the Commodore lost 18.4 percent.

The Ford Falcon plummeted out of the top 10, landing in 13th position overall, down 50.1 percent compared with January 2010. Its 1157 January figure was just 30 units ahead of the Fiesta and 100 clear of the Focus.

Top 10 sales by model:

1. Toyota Corolla – 4045
2. Mazda3 – 3605
3. Holden Commodore – 2645
4. Toyota HiLux – 2491
5. Hyundai Getz – 2167
6. Holden Cruze – 2060
7. Nissan Navara – 1804
8. Toyota Yaris – 1793
9. Subaru Impreza – 1765
10. Hyundai i30 – 1675

Toyota was again the top-selling manufacturer, with its market share increasing from 19.5 percent in 2010 to 20.1 percent.

Holden maintained second position (although with a 2.6 percent reduction in market share), while Mazda leapfrogged Ford into third position.

Top 10 sales by marque:

1. Toyota – 14,817
2. Holden – 8385
3. Mazda – 7200
4. Ford – 6413
5. Hyundai – 6410
6. Nissan – 4876
7. Mitsubishi – 4537
8. Subaru – 3531
9. Volkswagen – 2408
10. Honda – 2227

Despite the reduction compared with 2010, FCAI chief executive, Andrew McKellar, was upbeat about January’s sales, calling it a “robust” result.

“It is encouraging to see that private buyers remained confident throughout January with sales to those customers up 13.6 percent while business purchases declined,” Mr McKellar said.

Sales in Queensland dropped 12.8 percent – almost 2000 vehicles – as a result of the floods.

“Obviously new vehicle sales in Queensland have taken a hit as people concentrate on the flood recovery effort,” Mr McKellar said.

“We can expect sales in Queensland to be slower in the short-term but will pick up in the months ahead as people begin to look for replacement vehicles.”

Not surprisingly, the large passenger car segment was the worst performer in January. Sales were down 30.9 percent compared with January 2010. Traditional large cars now make up just 6.9 percent of the total market.

Small and light vehicles increased their market share by 3.0 percent and 2.6 percent respectively, and now account for 43.1 percent of total market combined.

Twelve of the top 16 selling vehicles in the country in January were either light or small vehicles.

Interestingly, however, it was the large SUV segment that displayed the highest growth over last January. The only two vehicles in that segment – the Nissan Patrol and the Toyota LandCruiser – enjoyed sales increases of 46.4 percent and 23.4 percent respectively.

[anto]

Originally Posted by Rodp

How many were enticed by low interest loans they were offering?

I know a mate of mine bought a hybrid Camry because of it - and he's still not game enough to bring it over to show me.

a friend of mine did it as well ( for his wife )..always bought fords but couldnt go past the deal they gave him on interest and trade in value.