Consumers have responded positively to the great new car deals on offer with October sales figures stronger than last year. In fact last month was the first since June 2008 that showed better sales than the corresponding month in the previous year.
With an improved economic outlook, relatively low interest rates and virtually all automotive brands offering great discounts and/or launching new models with largely unchanged prices, the news is all good for new car buyers.
Toyota is still Australia’s most popular brand with 17,888 sales in October – ahead of Holden (10,737) and Ford (8,240).
Hyundai actually achieved its best ever October result, the company’s 6,281 sales being 106 per cent higher than October last year. Hyundai remains the only volume brand to grow sales this year and has now posted 10 consecutive months of year-on-year growth and an overall increase of 42 per cent at the end of October.
Suzuki also booked its best October sales ever – its 2,091 retails in October eclipsing its 2008 record by 2.5 per cent.
Mazda remains the leading full importer with 63,332 sales so far this year.
BMW consolidated its lead in the luxury segment and, with 13,939 sales so far in 2009, leads arch-rival Mercedes-Benz which has sold 11,921.
Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries Chief, Mr Andrew McKeller, urged new car buyers to move swiftly to take advantage of the favorable market conditions for buyers: “The industry is looking to round out the year on a positive note and we expect a further surge in sales as businesses move to take advantage of the successful tax break prior to the end of the year,” he said.
