Vfacts April. Barely Holden on: Ford almost overtakes rival

[Sprint XR8]

HOLDEN outsold Ford by only two cars as private buyers didn’t just take a back seat in April, they refused to get in, unofficial sales data for the month reveals.

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries is later today expected to release official sales figures that show the Australian market dipped sharply last month compared with the same month last year as some mainstream car brands struggle to reel in new buyers.

The data is expected to show only about 83,100 new vehicles were sold for the month, down more than five percent compared with the same month last year. It also drags the market’s overall performance so far this year down almost three percent compared with last year’s record pace.

Holden sold 5804 vehicles for the month, compared with Ford’s 5802 – a difference of just two units. Both brands’ sales were down sharply on the same month last year, with Ford falling more than 15 percent and Holden 13.5 percent.

Ford’s dip can be attributed in part to continuing lacklustre sales of the Fiesta small car, which at 104 sales for the month has struggled so far this year to meet half of last year’s volume, and the loss of the Falcon large car and ute. Just seven Falcons were sold, suggesting stocks of the locally made sedan are just about tapped out nationally.

Holden, meanwhile, struggled on all fronts, apart from the Colorado ute that made a strong gain, and the closely related Trailblazer SUV that posted decent numbers.

In a flip from the previous two months, passenger cars once again outsold SUVs, suggesting it’s the fleets and volume buyers reaching for the chequebook rather than SUV-hungry private buyers dipping into their wallets and purses.

But trade utes were once again dominating the market. The Toyota Hilux (3430 sales) dominated the Ford Ranger (3120) as the best-selling vehicle on the Aussie market in April. However, strip away the 4x2 sales to expose the 4x4 side of the market that private buyers play in, and the Ranger (2708) edges out the Toyota (2607).

The Toyota Corolla remains Australia’s best-selling passenger car, with 2555 sales for the month, down 13.7 percent on April last year. Snapping at its heels for the other places on the podium were the Mazda 3 (2313, down 7.9 percent) and for the first time, an SUV – the Mazda CX-5 (2166, up 29.3 percent) as buyers pick up a run-out bargain.

Toyota was again the best-selling brand in April, shifting 16,090 units to end the month down 2.9 percent on the same time last year. Mazda finished second a distant 8630 sales behind (up 2.0 percent) while Hyundai remained in third place (6850) even though it lost one in every five sales compared with the same month last year.

Luxury brand Mercedes-Benz (3312), meanwhile, outsold both Audi (1391) and BMW (1802) combined.

But the big winners for the month were the Asian car brands. Mitsubishi leapt more than 30 percent to end the month less than 400 units behind Ford as SUV sales – particularly the ASX (1451) and its larger Outlander sibling (1343) both jumped out of the blocks for the month. Subaru, meanwhile, leapt 22.1 percent in the sales stakes as the Impreza small car caught buyers’ attention. Likewise, Honda (2827) leapt 34.2 percent despite only having one car – the Civic – in the top 20 list of bestsellers.

While Hyundai (6850, down 20.7 percent) pegged a month it would rather forget – even if sales of its Tucson (1530) jumped more than 17 percent for the month – it was a very different story for Kia, which rode on the back of the Cerato hatch (1490, up 40.8 percent) and the Tucson-rivalling Sportage mid-size SUV (1001, up 38.3 percent) to end the month on 4120 sales, up 36.2 percent.

Down the lower end of the market, Czech brand Skoda held ground to sell 374 cars as it awaits the arrival of the Kodiaq seven-seat SUV due late this month. It aims to use the big $42K bear’s popularity to bump sales beyond the 5000 mark for the first time this year.

Porsche, meanwhile, moved 371 cars to end the month up more 10 percent compared with April last year.

But we have to dig down to the bottom of the new car market to find the big winner from April: McLaren. The introduction of the cheaper 540C and 570S models helped swell the Brit supercar brand’s monthly sales to 10, a 400 percent jump on April last year.

TOP 20 PASSENGER CARS IN APRIL
RANK MODEL Sales Change %
1. Toyota Corolla 2555 -13.7
2. Mazda3 2313 -7.9
3. Mazda CX-5 2166 +29.3
4. Hyundai i30 1979 -52.2
5. Toyota Camry 1885 +24.8
6. Hyundai Tucson 1530 +17.5
7. Kia Cerato 1490 +40.8
8. Mitsubishi ASX 1451 +57.7
9. Holden Commodore 1441 -24.5
10. Toyota RAV4 1389 -8.9
11. Mitsubishi Outlander 1343 +124.6
12. Toyota Prado 1301 -2.1
13. Mazda CX-3 1195 -25.5
14. Hyundai Accent 1186 -23.7
15 Volkswagen Golf 1151 -36.4
16. Subaru Forester 1054 -3.0
17. Subaru Impreza 1022 +177.0
18. Kia Sportage 1001 +38.3
19. Honda Civic 985 >100.0
20. Toyota Kluger 939 -0.7

TOP 20 BRANDS IN APRIL
RANK BRAND SALES CHANGE %
1. Toyota 16,090 -2.9
2. Mazda 8603 +2.0
3. Hyundai 6850 -20.7
4. Holden 5804 -13.5
5. Ford 5802 -15.2
6. Mitsubishi 5407 +6.7
7. Kia 4120 +36.2
8. Volkswagen 3867 -18.3
9. Subaru 3854 +22.1
10. Nissan 3350 -17.2
11. Mercedes-Benz 3312 +0.3
12. Honda 2827 +34.2
13. BMW 1802 -26.6
14. Isuzu Ute 1665 +4.2
15 Audi 1391 -19.4
16. Suzuki 1191 -10.3
17. Lexus 689 -14.1
18. Jeep 677 -36.7
18. Renault 677 -31.5
20. Land Rover 552 -40.4

https://www.wheelsmag.com.au/news/17...s-figures-show

[BENT_8]

I wouldn't be too concerned with the rivalry from Holden, it's the two brands just below who are Fords biggest concern.

Both up and with good results in the top 20 in passenger.

Its becoming a race to the bottom, thank God for Ranger is all I can say.

[arronm]

Take out ranger and ford wouldn't be doing to well. Ranger is a saving grace.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by arronm

Take out ranger and ford wouldn't be doing to well. Ranger is a saving grace.

True. But that is how Ford in this country has always been, perhaps with the exception of the 80's when the Laser was a big seller alongside the Falcon. Ford have struggled to sell more than one model in big numbers.

[Syndrome]

Holden will be become irrelevant very soon.

[GO FURTHER]

Ford would be well ahead of Holden if there was not such a long wait on getting a Mustang GT.... I think its put off a lot of propective buyers.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by BAXRSIX

Ford would be well ahead of Holden if there was not such a long wait on getting a Mustang GT.... I think its put off a lot of propective buyers.

And a Territory replacement wouldn't hurt either. Rather disappointing that a market segment that Ford effectively created with the original Territory in 2004 is on hiatus for the brand.

[RANGEREST]

Originally Posted by BAXRSIX

Ford would be well ahead of Holden if there was not such a long wait on getting a Mustang GT.... I think its put off a lot of propective buyers.

408 of them on carsales now, if you're looking for one,
274 of them are 2016 plated, and 134 2017 plated.....
Prospective buyers have already bought, imho.

[Syndrome]

Originally Posted by RANGEREST

408 of them on carsales now, if you're looking for one,
274 of them are 2016 plated, and 134 2017 plated.....
Prospective buyers have already bought, imho.

The truth hurts. They who want one already have one.

[CyberWasp]

How long is the wait for a Mustang from the time you order it now?
Has it dropped down from 12 months as it was earlier?

[Rob 351]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

The truth hurts. They who want one already have one.

Not so sure about that, 639 sold in april and leading sports car sold in Australia. Over 3 times the volume of second place which was BMW with 211. Mustang was one of the very few cars to increase it's volume in april.
1 star, 2 stars, 5 stars doesn't matter with the Mustang! Journo's have tried to bring it down with sensational unsafe reports and crap like that but it just keeps on fighting as it has done for 50 odd years and selling in big numbers for a sports car.
Looks like plenty of people still want a Mustang.

[Brazen]

It's only going to get worse for Holden.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by BAXRSIX

Ford would be well ahead of Holden if there was not such a long wait on getting a Mustang GT.... I think its put off a lot of propective buyers.

Seems to be a few at the local dealer. If someone wants one they can get it.

[GO FURTHER]

Originally Posted by RANGEREST

408 of them on carsales now, if you're looking for one,
274 of them are 2016 plated, and 134 2017 plated.....
Prospective buyers have already bought, imho.

But if you filter down all of those 408 for sale.... Taking out the dealer demos, and the Ecoboost models, then there are only 140 brand new GT's for sale.

Of those 140 advertised.... Not all of them are actually in stock or yet produced, just dealers trying to get you to put down a deposit.

Unless the listing actually states "New Car: In stock" ... then its not even on the water.

So GT's actually in stock are less than 100 and many at inflated prices.

Also sometimes a dealer will place two or more listings for the same car not in stock to cast their net further, so even the above numbers maybe a lot less.

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

The truth hurts. They who want one already have one.

Where's mine then?

[suttoo]

Originally Posted by BAXRSIX

Ford would be well ahead of Holden if there was not such a long wait on getting a Mustang GT.... I think its put off a lot of propective buyers.

Depending on your dealers incoming stock, it shouldn't be a long wait at all. We have one in stock ready for delivery and have a few coming in 2nd half of the year unaccounted for

[Brazen]

Dont forget with local manufacturing gone Holden lose Caprice and Commodores Ute completely - they were about 300 units last month

[Spammy]

Any idea on number of Everests sold? I think I have seen 2 on the road since they were launched.

[MickyB]

Originally Posted by Spammy

Any idea on number of Everests sold? I think I have seen 2 on the road since they were launched.

They really need to drop the price on this about $10k. I can't believe what they charge considering the bloody thing is made in Thailand. Maybe because it is closely related to Ranger they thought they could charge an arm and leg for it. What they don't realise is that a lot of Ranger buyers are tradies etc.. who either claim it in their tax or don't pay FBT if they package it.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by MickyB

They really need to drop the price on this about $10k. I can't believe what they charge considering the bloody thing is made in Thailand. Maybe because it is closely related to Ranger they thought they could charge an arm and leg for it. What they don't realise is that a lot of Ranger buyers are tradies etc.. who either claim it in their tax or don't pay FBT if they package it.

It's doing ok. It has outsold the Toyota Fortuner and Holden Trailblazer, which are cheaper.

And they recently cut a couple grand off the price. I think the base model and Trend are reasonably priced considering what they have that their competitors don't. It's just the Titanium that's a bit overpriced.

[csv8]

Bossxr8..the Ambiente is now $47,990+orc.
I agree the Titanium is overpriced. It's up against Landrover, Patrol, Landcruiser . $20k more than Trend?

[superyob]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

Holden will be become irrelevant very soon.

Already has proven to be, their fall from grace accelerated with their stupid 'equality' virtue signalling...

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by csv8

Bossxr8..the Ambiente is now $47,990+orc.
I agree the Titanium is overpriced. It's up against Landrover, Patrol, Landcruiser . $20k more than Trend?

Yes it is hard to see how the extra equipment the Titanium gets is worth 20k. It's a huge price jump.

Does it go over the LCT threshold maybe?

[Joe5619]

And yet the real battle is 11,000 units up the right, the Ford vs Holden battle is over!!!

Sad days when not one Ford passenger car is inside the top 20 cars sold. IMO, Focus continues to be the biggest sales disappointment in the Ford line up. They really need to do something different with they model. When is the next all new model coming out?

[Sprintey]

Euro Ford passenger cars have never really sold well in Australia.
Ford's best small car sales were Laser (made here) and Festiva (Korea)
Maybe the Zephyr sold well, did it?

[lra]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

Euro Ford passenger cars have never really sold well in Australia. Ford's best small car sales were Laser (made here) and Festiva (Korea) Maybe the Zephyr sold well, did it?

The Zephyr was not a small car at the time, although I can't get over how small the Mk1 was/is compared to current model small/medium cars.
The Mk2 was made in Oz, sold well and was a damn good car that left the equivalent Holden standing in price, looks and drivability (for it's day). When I traded mine on a new HK Kingswood, the driving difference between them was incredible, the Zephyr seemed a lot older car than the 10 years that it was.
But then the XK Falcon had made it look old, but it was not a better car.

[NX74205]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

And a Territory replacement wouldn't hurt either. Rather disappointing that a market segment that Ford effectively created with the original Territory in 2004 is on hiatus for the brand.

I'm sure they'd get the Edge here right now if they could. There's obviously a hold up somewhere along the line, including in relation to naming, as well as getting the factory set up to build the 7-seater Edge in RHD. I think we're the only market to get that.

(As far as I know, China is the only other market that gets the 7-seater Edge, but they're LHD)

[Joe5619]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

Euro Ford passenger cars have never really sold well in Australia.
Ford's best small car sales were Laser (made here) and Festiva (Korea)
Maybe the Zephyr sold well, did it?

I disagree.. Ford was starting to make great process with the older model Focus, with sales around 1500 each month (even spikes of 2,000+), sales graphs that trended up & it's all turned to **** with this model. 1500 are numbers Ford can only dream about these days with Focus..

[Windsor220]

The transmission debacle killed Focus

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by NX74205

I'm sure they'd get the Edge here right now if they could. There's obviously a hold up somewhere along the line, including in relation to naming, as well as getting the factory set up to build the 7-seater Edge in RHD. I think we're the only market to get that.

(As far as I know, China is the only other market that gets the 7-seater Edge, but they're LHD)

They should RHD the explorer and sell it here, beats me why they bothered with Ford Everest. The current gen is an amazing car and a far cry from that dowdy 90s piece of junk we got here. Has good handling, nice build quality, styling is a blend of Range Rover and Ford Australia. Drove around in one and parked near the Niagara falls for a photo, and was pleasantly suprised to hear some tourists with what seems to be New Zealand accents nearby remarking, 'is that a territory? Looks like a new territory'