Vfacts July 2010

[PETE_XR6]

http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-new...804-11b5d.html

Local manufacturers are struggling to match imported competition in the sales race.

Locally made cars can't keep up with the flood of imported vehicles racing out of showrooms. The latest VFacts sales released today figures show Australian-built cars lagging behind imported models in the fight for market share.

Results for July saw Holden, Ford and Toyota's locally-built cars down 6.0 per cent compared with last July, while imported cars were up by 12.4 per cent. Sales figures year-to-date tell a similar story, with domestic cars only up 5.8 per cent as cars built off-shore are up 17.4%.

But Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive Andrew McKellar defends the local brands.

"The growth figures overall are not as strong as imported models," McKeller tells Drive. "But overall, sales of locally-made vehicles are up."

He is confident that new models due over the next 12 months, including an updated Holden Commodore range later this year, will help turn the results around.

"Over the next 12 months we'll have new locally made product arriving in the market and that will have a positive impact of sales," he says.

"It's a very competitive market. But the Commodore remains the best selling car and has done for the past 13 years."

He believes the decision of the local producers to look for more export opportunities is key to the long term viability of Australia's manufacturing industry.

"At the end of the day it is a volume game," McKellar says.

But as local cars struggle cars produced in emerging markets, notably China and India, are finding favour with local buyers.

Currently Great Wall Motors is the only Chinese brand in Australia but the Chery has been confirmed for a local launch later in 2010.

Suzuki imports the Alto small car from India and several other manufacturers are looking to establish factories in countries including India and China to take advantage of low cost labour.

"I think Australian consumers, and motorists, are always going to look for a good deal," McKellar says. "If some of these emerging markets are going to come in and offer competitive products I think Australians will give them a fair go."

Overall new car sales remain strong in 2010 despite a small dip in July. In total 82,376 new vehicles were sold in July, an increase of 9.3 per cent on the same month last year. However, it was down 24.2 per cent on June sales figures as buyers took advantage of end of financial year deals.

SUVs continue to pump up the market, with sales up by close to 30 per cent in the first seven months of the year.

McKellar says FCAI believes the market could still pass the million units mark this year if final quarter sales as strong.

[bmorris]

Just goes to show today's society of wanting something for nothing. And when your competing with low cost labour in developing countries, I understand it must be getting very hard for manufacturers.

Plus with buyers these days having less and less general car knowledge, price tags tend to play a bigger part in the buying decision process, again making cheap imports more attractive.

[R-Design]

Originally Posted by RON HAMMERTON

Missed by that much: Strong sales of models such as the CX-7 almost helped Mazda to tip Ford out of third place in July.

Just one vehicle separates Mazda from top-three result as its sales jump 22 per cent

MAZDA came within just one vehicle of a top-three sales result for the first time in July, just failing to relegate Ford to fourth place by the slimmest of margins, 7375 units to 7374, according to official VFACTS figures out today.

Buoyed by strong sales of its Mazda3 small car – the second best-selling car in Australia last month – along with the Mazda2 and the CX-7 SUV, Mazda sales surged 22 per cent over the same month last year as the Japanese importer grabbed a nine per cent monthly share of the Australian new-vehicle market for the first time.

By contrast, Ford’s sales slipped 5.2 per cent compared with July 2009, with sales of its home-grown Falcon sedan and ute both plunging 17.4 per cent, despite cut-price 50th anniversary editions.

It is the second time this year that Ford has come under attack for its long-held top three placing. In March, Hyundai successfully ousted the Blue Oval brand from top spot for the month, before Ford regained the position in April.

Australia’s overall vehicle market was up 9.3 per cent on July 2009, to 82,376 vehicles, which represents a slowing of the growth seen in the first half of the year. Year to date, the market is up 15.6 per cent, partly because of residual sales prompted by federal government tax breaks.

Long-time leader Toyota again topped the sales charts in July, selling 17,250 vehicles (up 3.5 per cent) for a 20.9 per cent share, ahead of Holden, up a similar margin to 10,648 vehicles and 12.9 per cent share.

Among of the big improvers for the month were Suzuki – up 56 per cent to a July record 2002 units, thanks to improved supply of its bargain basement Alto - and Subaru, which posted a record July sales tally of 3253 units.

Hyundai, the big improver in recent years, paused for breath with a modest 4.9 per cent lift ion July sales.

Holden’s Commodore - now in run-out ahead of the VE II facelift in October - was again Australia’s best-selling car with 3783 sales, ahead of the Mazda3 small car (3464 sales), Toyota Corolla (3375) and Toyota HiLux light truck (3106).

SUVs again led the charge with an increase of 29 per cent, followed by light commercials (up 13.7 per cent) and passenger cars (up 3.2 per cent).

Among the SUVs, the compact models made the greatest gains, up a whopping 44.2 per cent. So popular are these crossover vehicles with private buyers that they now command a bigger share of the Australian market than large cars – once the dominant species in Australia.

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) executive director Andrew McKellar described the sales result for July as a solid start for the new financial year when vehicle sales usually slow.

“These figures provide further evidence that sales to private customers continue to increase strongly – recording a 20 per cent rise compared to this time last year,” he said.

“There is a proliferation of new models on the market at the moment that buyers are finding attractive, particularly in the SUV range.”

Holden’s Korean imports – Cruze, Barina and Captiva – all continue to impress, increasing July sales by 10, 45 and 27.2 per cent respectively over the same month last year.

So far this year, Holden sales are up 19.4 per cent, compared with gains of 4.3 by arch rival Ford and 12.5 per cent by Toyota in an overall market up 15.6 per cent.

A bright spot for Ford in July was its mid-sized Mondeo, sales of which jumped 59.1 per cent to 412 units. However, most of its volume passenger cars slipped into the red, with even the critically acclaimed Fiesta down 3.1 per cent after gaining 28.6 per cent year to date.

Toyota’s local hero, the Camry, lifted in July, up 22 per cent over the corresponding month last year, to 2095 units, thanks to incremental sales of its hybrid variant that hit the market earlier this year.

However, its other locally made car, the Aurion slipped 30.7 per cent, to 970 units.

Toyota’s traditional strength – in rugged SUVs and light trucks – shone in July, with LandCruiser crunching its rivals in both wagon and workhorse guises, while Prado again topped the medium SUV charts with 1265 sales, just ahead of Holden’s Captiva.

The popular compact SUV class was again topped by Subaru’s Forester (1321 units), ahead of Toyota’s RAV4 (1139) and Nissan X-Trail (1034), but gold stars for the biggest gains go Nissan’s Dualis – up a massive 608 per cent to 531 units on the strength of new 2WD models – and Subaru’s new Outback (up 311 per cent, to 543).

In the luxury SUV bracket, BMW’s new baby, the X1, ousted long-time leader and stablemate, BMW X5, 266 to 231.

The battle for the lead in the top-selling small-car class was won by the Mazda3 (3464), ahead of the Toyota Corolla (3375), ahead of the Hyundai i30, Holden Cruze and Mitsubishi Lancer.

Toyota’s Yaris light car win the battle of the midgets with 1697 sales, just ahead of Hyundai’s Getz (1581) and Mazda2 (1305). However, if the Getz and its new stablemate, the i20 (213), are added together, Hyundai has the bragging rights.

The medium brigade was again dominated by Toyota Camry (2095), with the Mazda6 again runner up, despite a 5.7 per cent slip in sales over last year.

The large-car segment slipped back 13.1 per cent in July, with declines registered by all the major players, including Commodore, Falcon and Aurion. Howver, the segment is still clinging to a 2.0 per cent gain year to date.

Among the luxury cars, Mercedes-Benz’s best seller, the C-class, is top of the pops with 490 sales in July, ahead of rival BMW’s 3 Series (389), effectively reversing the situation of July 2009.

Likewise in the large luxury class above $70,000, the Mercedes E-class sold 140 units to BMW’s 5 Series (72 units), which is early days in the introduction of the latest model.

In light trucks, the 4x4 variety again led the charge, up 27.5 per cent compared with a meager 3.5 per cent gain by the 4x2 workhorses.

The evergreen Toyota HiLux topped the 4x4 utes with 1897 sales, while Nissan’s Navara rampaged up the list with a 51.9 per cent sales gain, to second place and 1270 units.

Of the local utes, Holden’s Ute clobbered the Ford Falcon Ute, 1055 to 610, but Ford’s imported Ranger returned the favour by blitzing Holden’s 4x2 Colorado one-tonner, 468 to 190. Top-selling brands July:
1. Toyota 17,250
2. Holden 10,648
3. Ford 7375
4. Mazda 7374
5. Hyundai 6531
6. Mitsubishi 5029
7. Nissan 4646
8. Subaru 3253
9. Honda 3150
10. Volkswagen 2922

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...2577750015E96D

[prydey]

one thing the govt can do for the local industry is bring back the tariffs. people say aussie cars are too expensive but truth is, its expensive to manufacture cars in aus. we can never compete with offshore labour costs and production.

for some strange reason, people think that offshore products are still far superior to the homegrown products. its a mindset that is no longer applicable.

[Trek]

Originally Posted by prydey

one thing the govt can do for the local industry is bring back the tariffs. people say aussie cars are too expensive but truth is, its expensive to manufacture cars in aus. we can never compete with offshore labour costs and production.

for some strange reason, people think that offshore products are still far superior to the homegrown products. its a mindset that is no longer applicable.

prydey, you're spot on, definitely one thought that has been thrown around in my mind lately (more than previously), with regards to tariffs.

As for that perception, not sure what can be done there, sadly.

[DJR-351]

Originally Posted by Trek

prydey, you're spot on, definitely one thought that has been thrown around in my mind lately (more than previously), with regards to tariffs.

As for that perception, not sure what can be done there, sadly.

Not a lot while successive governments keep throwing around Free Trade Agreements....

http://www.dfat.gov.au/trade/ftas.html


....don’t get me wrong I have no problems with FTA's (some) but while labour costs in Aus are higher than those we sign up with locally produced items will always attract a higher price, and as the majority of the Aus public are trying to saving a buck (nothing wrong with that!) the local stuff will always come second....

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Trek

prydey, you're spot on, definitely one thought that has been thrown around in my mind lately (more than previously), with regards to tariffs.

As for that perception, not sure what can be done there, sadly.

I don't like the idea of tariffs, I want to be able to choose what I want without having to pay extra tax because its not an aussie car.

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by prydey

one thing the govt can do for the local industry is bring back the tariffs. people say aussie cars are too expensive but truth is, its expensive to manufacture cars in aus. we can never compete with offshore labour costs and production.

for some strange reason, people think that offshore products are still far superior to the homegrown products. its a mindset that is no longer applicable.

So tell me, what will increasing the prices of imported cars do?
Do you really think it will encourage people to purchase a Falcon or Commodore? Will it really increase their sales?
I wouldn't and many others wouldn't either.

Have a look at the article again and take note of what is selling. Small-Medium cars and compact SUVs. Buyers are changing their preferences, they don't want a large sedan.

If you want to force buyers to buy local then you may as well just ban everything else.

[DJR-351]

Originally Posted by Wretched

So tell me, what will increasing the prices of imported cars do?
Do you really think it will encourage people to purchase a Falcon or Commodore? Will it really increase their sales?
I wouldn't and many others wouldn't either.

Have a look at the article again and take note of what is selling. Small-Medium cars and compact SUVs. Buyers are changing their preferences, they don't want a large sedan.

If you want to force buyers to buy local then you may as well just ban everything else.

Listen to this man, his finger is on the pulse.....

[Joe5619]

Originally Posted by Wretched

So tell me, what will increasing the prices of imported cars do?
Do you really think it will encourage people to purchase a Falcon or Commodore? Will it really increase their sales?
I wouldn't and many others wouldn't either.

Have a look at the article again and take note of what is selling. Small-Medium cars and compact SUVs. Buyers are changing their preferences, they don't want a large sedan.

If you want to force buyers to buy local then you may as well just ban everything else.

Allot of your points are not valid... Holden will be building a small car, Toyota builds a medium car & Ford builds a SUV & a large sedan is still this counties best selling car!!! The local have a lot to offer!! Whilst I agree you can’t force people to by local, but local manufacturing needs to be on a level footing with imports & to achieve this taffies are needed to combat countries cheap labour. Also, if we don’t protect local manufacturing (not talking about just cars), then everything will be imports & this country will be screwed!!



I guess with no (or very few) Wagons & V8's we are seeing an I6 sedan number.. V8’s can't come quick enough..

[DJR-351]

Originally Posted by Joe5619

Also, if we don’t protect local manufacturing (not talking about just cars), then everything will be imports & this country will be screwed!!

Sorry Joe but that boat sailed years ago................

......as a country we will sell anything to anybody, it's all about the quick buck, get with it half the houses where I live are owned by overseas investors...

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Wretched

So tell me, what will increasing the prices of imported cars do?
Do you really think it will encourage people to purchase a Falcon or Commodore? Will it really increase their sales?
I wouldn't and many others wouldn't either.

Have a look at the article again and take note of what is selling. Small-Medium cars and compact SUVs. Buyers are changing their preferences, they don't want a large sedan.

If you want to force buyers to buy local then you may as well just ban everything else.

its about saving the local auto manufacturing scene!! there'd be tens of thousands of jobs wrapped up in the industry and it is facing real pressure to survive.

the choice is still there.

[Bud Bud]

Originally Posted by prydey

its about saving the local auto manufacturing scene!! there'd be tens of thousands of jobs wrapped up in the industry and it is facing real pressure to survive.

the choice is still there.

You are spot on Prydey, why do you think the Americans were so keen to keep their auto industry intact as much as possible after it's imminent collapse? If they have to go to war ala WWII then they would still have their manufacturing base to work off. With natural resources set to dominate much of the world trade well into this century and even into the next, we cannot afford to be so blind in this country either.

Bud Bud

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by prydey

its about saving the local auto manufacturing scene!! there'd be tens of thousands of jobs wrapped up in the industry and it is facing real pressure to survive.

the choice is still there.

And you are 100% certain that charging more for imported cars will save the industry?

No, you're wrong, the choice isn't there. You're effectively forcing people to buy what's made locally. So you can "choose" anything as long as it is a large sedan, stationwagon, a ute or a large SUV. That's it. Sorry no thanks.

The locals will get my money when they actually make something I want, i'm not supporting an organisation who cannot get their product range right.
It looks like I'm not the only one either judging by the figures.

[Resurrection]

Originally Posted by prydey

one thing the govt can do for the local industry is bring back the tariffs. people say aussie cars are too expensive but truth is, its expensive to manufacture cars in aus. we can never compete with offshore labour costs and production.

for some strange reason, people think that offshore products are still far superior to the homegrown products. its a mindset that is no longer applicable.

The Button plan has gone too far. Time to put up some trade barriers before it is too late.

[GS608]

Wow the ute is disappointed, 610 sales

[GTP owner]

I can see Ford slipping to 5th in the next 12 months. Sad, but we will see Ford as a minority player.

[Dr Smith]

Maybe Ford better release exactly what is coming up with V8 models now as I can't see it hurting current sales, particularly XR8 utes as there are no current sales to hurt.

[DJR-351]

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

Maybe Ford better release exactly what is coming up with V8 models now as I can't see it hurting current sales, particularly XR8 utes as there are no current sales to hurt.

agreed, you have a good point, wheres the harm ?

[Dr Smith]

Another problem for Ford is the holding pattern they're in re future Thai sourced Focus (new model) and Fiesta's. Until then they can't compete fully on a value basis as the change will allow either cheaper cars or much higher spec levels for the same dollars. 2011/12 can't come soon enough, if that makes sense.

[mik]

i like the level playing field myself , people wanna buy wanna support other countries manufacturing at the expense of our own ..........let them pay the extra tax .

[vztrt]

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/busi...-1225901082444

South Korean carmaker sees dramatic lift in sales, VFACTS numbers show

* John Durie
* From: The Australian
* August 04, 2010 1:19PM

HYUNDAI is the star performer in an Australian car market that is defying the gloom in the wider retail industry.

The South Korean carmaker has increased its sales dramatically over the last two years.

VFACTS figures for the year ended July showed total vehicle sales rose a strong 15.6 per cent, although the pace of growth slowed.

April sales were an all-time record, and year-to-date sales for the first four months were up 20 .s per cent.

The car sector is now doing better than the rest of the retail industry. Sales of private cars were flat last year, when government handouts were pumping general-merchandise sales and people were worried about their jobs.

Consumers today have slowed down on general-merchandise purchases, but, feeling more secure about their jobs, they have returned to the car market.

Its stock price was slammed down some 12 per cent, on a 6 per cent fall in earnings before interest and tax, as well as lower margins.

The stock was floated by Goldman Sachs in November, 2009, just days after the Myer IPO, and both private-equity sales have left the buyers in worse shape than the sellers.

Toyota remains the market-share leader in passenger cars, but its slice of the pie shrank from 20.9 per cent last year to 20.3 per cent this year.

Holden, in second place, has picked up somewhat to 12.9 per cent, compared to 12.5 per cent last year, while Ford has dropped to 9.2 per cent of the market.

Hyundai is fast closing the gap with Mazda, with an 8 per cent share in July, compared with 6.8 per cent a year ago and 5.1 per cent two years ago.

[Joe5619]

We do keep hearing all the time from the main man of over time, saturday shift, but where are all these cars going??? Ford have not sold that many more locally built cars, yet I'm sure they must have built allot more? Stock levels must be going up again??

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by Joe5619

We do keep hearing all the time from the main man of over time, saturday shift, but where are all these cars going??? Ford have not sold that many more locally built cars, yet I'm sure they must have built allot more? Stock levels must be going up again??

There is no more assembly plant Overtime for the forseeable future.

Things aren't that bright.

Hopefully 50th Anniversary models boost sales.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Barraxr8

There is no more assembly plant Overtime for the forseeable future.

Things aren't that bright.

Hopefully 50th Anniversary models boost sales.

Oh dear, that is a worrying development.
I wonder what went wrong in the market place to cause Falcon sales to slip that badly.

This is Falcon's 50th Anniversary and if Ford can't stage manage brilliant sales this of all years,
they never will......

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by jpd80

I wonder what went wrong in the market place to cause Falcon sales to slip that badly.

Holden, Mazda and Hyundai are hitting the advertising pretty hard at the moment, with some good ads. Also, the Commodore is in runout mode so no doubt there are some incentives to move them. The Ford ads are from last year and are lame.

I think Fords overall product mix is letting them down. Old Focus, old Territory, old Ranger, the Escape, these cars simply can't compete with more modern looking competitors with more features, with equal pricing. The ute isn't being advertised at all, which in itself is stupid, but at least with the Falcon there is a core of 2-2500 people a month that want a large RWD car with a Ford badge on it. But for how long? I think the perception of a large car with a large engine being a fuel guzzler is hurting it, as well as a lack of a decent, modern looking wagon variant. Say what you will about Holden's Sportwagon, one thing the Sportwagon has done for the Commodore volumes is kept them buoyant. It's given people one more reason to visit a Holden dealer.

I also feel that with the buying public there is a 'once bitten, twice shy' mindset that may be a hangover from quality and service standards from a few years ago.

[SVTVNM]

Not to go off topic, but maybe the CASH for CLUNKERS scheme that might be introduced should only apply to replacing the old cars with Australian made cars to help prop up the industry. Just a thought.

[Joe5619]

Originally Posted by Barraxr8

There is no more assembly plant Overtime for the forseeable future.

Things aren't that bright.

Hopefully 50th Anniversary models boost sales.

That is not good.. Are the worried at all & do they have any plans to change anything to try & help??

[Road_Warrior]

This situation with monthly sales is starting to get silly. Actually no, it was silly 6 months ago, now its absolutely diabolical.

All of those pie in the sky dreams of global RWD platforms, Lincolns and Falcon exports will become nothing more than that unless management sort this issue out. And I think it has more to do with the pointy end of the business, not the back end.

[The Snout]

I think it would be a bit rich to put tarriffs on a Mazda 3 or Ford Focus when there isn't even an equivalent Australian product you could choose from. Same for 4x4s.