Seems new car sales are defying the uncertainty plaguing many retail sectors with the February total of 90,424 the best on record.
The February figure was 4.2 per-cent better than February last year and January-February combined (172,540) sees the car industry up by 2.0 per-cent over the same period last year.
Interestingly, SUVs and light commercial vehicles accounted for 53 per-cent of sales with passenger cars delivering just 45 per-cent.
Toyota maintained its position at the top of the chart, holding 18 per-cent of the total market.
Toyota’s total of 16,243 sales was just marginally up on February last year but of course this is a leap year so there were fewer selling days.
Cumulatively, Toyota’s total of 29,904 sales in January and February represents the Japanese giant’s best start to a year for five years.
Toyota Corolla was Australia’s best selling individual model in February with sales of 3,939 and HiLux ranked third overall with sales of 2,861 – 44 per-cent better than the nearest best-selling ute.
Toyota Corolla, HiLux, LandCruiser wagon and HiAce van and bus all topped their market segments.
Mazda was number two in February with sales of 9,057 ahead of Hyundai (8,003) and Holden (7,809).
A resurgent Mitsubishi moved to fifth with sales of 6,242 – in front of Nissan (5,984) and Ford (5,022).
