Toyota Corolla and Hi-Lux were Australia’s best-selling cars in April as the industry chalked-up total registrations of 85,117 vehicles – more than seven per-cent up on April last year.
In fact number one-ranked Toyota racked-up 16,902 sales in the month, outselling the combined totals of second-place Holden (7,994) and Mazda (7,833) for a market share of 19.9 per-cent – Toyota being the only brand with a double-digit market share. That’s what you call a continuing dominance – by any measure.
But in recent times, Toyota was clearly rattled when the Mazda3 beat the Corolla as the best-selling small car. But Corolla bounced back last month with 3,504 sales – 600 ahead of its nearest rival -and the Toyota HiLux was, naturally, the best-selling ute in both 4x4 and 4x2.
In addition to Corolla and Hi-Lux, Yaris, Camry, 86, Prado, LandCruiser, HiAce bus and HiAce van were the other Toyota vehicles which topped the sales charts in their respective segments in April.
Mazda’s incredible sales success shows no signs of slowing. 7,883 new Mazdas were sold last month – the company’s best-ever April. Year-to-date Mazda holds a market share of 9.7 per-cent making the Japanesse brand not only our leading full-line import but number two best-seller outright
Hyundai retained fourth position with April sales of 7,315 vehicles and there was good news for Ford with sales of 6,828 moving the ‘Blue Oval’ back into fifth place. Hyundai Australia’s sales chief Damien Meredith is a smart cookie and April was actually the Korean brand’s ninth consecutive record sales month in Australia and the ix35 remains Australia’s best-selling small SUV.
Ford’s move back into fifth came at the expense of Nissan – relegated to seventh position with sales of 5,104, behind sixth-place Mitsubishi (5,456). However that still represents Nissan’s best sales month as a full-line importer.
A special mention for Audi with monthly sales of 1,221 making last month its most successful April in history. Audi sales this year are 21.8 per-cent up on 2012 and the Q3 is Australia’s best-selling compact SUV.
And a special mention too for the Fiat-Chrysler Group which notched-up its 23 consecutive record sales month. Year-to-date the Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge brands – despite some models being short in supply – have recorded sales 32.8 per cent higher than the same period last year.
