2009 Sales Figures

[Swordsman88]

thanks russ. Helpful link, lots of interesting data....

[Archilino]

Maybe the falcons $36,990 driveaway XR6 deal is hurting the mondeo? When a mum & dad go into a local dealer to check out a mondeo and find next to it an XR6 with its body kit and wheels etc its a deal too good to refuse?

Having said that maybe im clutching at straws as the falcons sales seem to have stabilised at 2700-2900 odd.

[FERG_51]

Looks like the SDIDIDIDIDI BS advertising worked. Theyre good.

[phillyc]

Originally Posted by Archilino

Maybe the falcons $36,990 driveaway XR6 deal is hurting the mondeo? When a mum & dad go into a local dealer to check out a mondeo and find next to it an XR6 with its body kit and wheels etc its a deal too good to refuse?

Yes, a fellow at work went to the local Ford dealer about 3 weeks ago and came to the same conclusion. As nice as the Mondeo is. Ford $2k more he could get an FG XR6. He didn't buy either, but, i reckon he will weaken in the next little while.

Originally Posted by Archilino

Having said that maybe im clutching at straws as the falcons sales seem to have stabilised at 2700-2900 odd.

The factory is making ALL the cars that it currently can. It works out a very consistent 5200-5500 vehicles per month. 2800 Falcons, 1200 Territory & 1200 Utes. remainder are exported to NZ. The model mix is 90% XR6 & G6ET for Falcon and plenty of Ghia Territory's.

But there is talk of increasing the line rate when production resumes next week.

[Swordsman88]

Originally Posted by phillyc

Yes, a fellow at work went to the local Ford dealer about 3 weeks ago and came to the same conclusion. As nice as the Mondeo is. Ford $2k more he could get an FG XR6. He didn't buy either, but, i reckon he will weaken in the next little while.
The factory is making ALL the cars that it currently can. It works out a very consistent 5200-5500 vehicles per month. 2800 Falcons, 1200 Territory & 1200 Utes. remainder are exported to NZ. The model mix is 90% XR6 & G6ET for Falcon and plenty of Ghia Territory's.

But there is talk of increasing the line rate when production resumes next week.

Is that xr6 in general (inc. turbo) phyllic? Ford is pushing the XR6 NA at present pretty hard...obviously they have worked out how to turna buck on that model very well (wouldn't cost FA more to build than an XT one woudl think) and are happy with the 36990 drive away or whatever it is.

They say the G6ET is a large % of the sales i just wonder what percentage is XR6 NA...seems all the rental fleet falcons are XR6 etc. Its one thing saying 'X% are XR sales'....but what SORT of XR???

[phillyc]

Originally Posted by Swordsman88

Is that xr6 in general (inc. turbo) phillyc? Ford is pushing the XR6 NA at present pretty hard...obviously they have worked out how to turna buck on that model very well (wouldn't cost FA more to build than an XT one woudl think) and are happy with the 36990 drive away or whatever it is.

They say the G6ET is a large % of the sales i just wonder what percentage is XR6 NA...seems all the rental fleet falcons are XR6 etc. Its one thing saying 'X% are XR sales'....but what SORT of XR???

There was several articles this year which discussed the mix. They have previously said, the base model was accounting for 3-4% around April 2009 ytd. It didn't change much during the year.

The XR8 is also just 2% or something silly. There was an article comparing the sedan/ute (where the XR8 sells strongly). Pretty sure it was an analysis about Burela's comment about the v8 having a future with Ford. Hello Coyote!

The remainder are the XR6, XR6T, G6E, G6ET and the G6 which wasn't pulling it's weight at all, which is why the G6 SVP came about.

Back in September 2009, they were talking about dealer allocation for the G6ET being booked out 4 months in advance. Limited by the ability to build the turbo mills.

I reckon you'd have 60% XR6, 20% G6E, 15% split between XR6T/G6ET.

[Swordsman88]

Originally Posted by phillyc

There was several articles this year which discussed the mix. They have previously said, the base model was accounting for 3-4% around April 2009 ytd. It didn't change much during the year.

The XR8 is also just 2% or something silly. There was an article comparing the sedan/ute (where the XR8 sells strongly). Pretty sure it was an analysis about Burela's comment about the v8 having a future with Ford. Hello Coyote!

The remainder are the XR6, XR6T, G6E, G6ET and the G6 which wasn't pulling it's weight at all, which is why the G6 SVP came about.

Back in September 2009, they were talking about dealer allocation for the G6ET being booked out 4 months in advance. Limited by the ability to build the turbo mills.

I reckon you'd have 60% XR6, 20% G6E, 15% split between XR6T/G6ET.

OK great...thanks phillyc. Gee, the XR6 has come a long way since the days of my old girl the EF. Its a rarity to see a (proper) EF/EL XR6....not only because some have gone to the big car park in the sky, but also because they just didn't build as many of them as a %. What 60% of EF sales were Gli or something...and another 25% futura?? I think i heard that once....

[vztrt]

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...2576A30024FFCA

Car market closes 2009 with a tax bang

Record December sales help car industry surge back to health

6 January 2010

By RON HAMMERTON

THE Australian motor industry closed out 2009 on a high as it continued its second-half sales rally with a record December performance.

While overall sales for the 12 months were down 7.4 per cent on 2008, December sales were up 15.9 per cent on the same month last year to a new December benchmark of 88,708, beating the previous record of 86,250 set in 2007.

The last hurrah for 2009 was prompted by a recovering economy and a last-minute rush for vehicles prompted by federal government tax breaks for small business, which ended on December 31.

Ute sales rocketed upwards, with December sales of 4x4 utes – popular with farmers and tradesmen alike – up 57 per cent on December 2008. Prestige car sales also spiralled by more than 60 per cent for the month.

Despite the end of government incentives, the market is set retain the benefit of the tax breaks for a while yet as many new-car buyers delay delivery into 2010. Market leader Toyota – which took the sales crown for the seventh straight year – says most car companies are carrying “huge” order banks into 2010.

And most car companies are predicting that sales will maintain 2009 levels this year, before edging up towards the magic million mark in 2011.

According to official VFACTS sales figures, the Australian motor industry sold 937,328 vehicles in the 12 months to December 31, 74,836 fewer vehicles than 2008’s 1,012,164 units but well above predictions of about 850,000 units made 12 months ago when the economy was sliding into the depths of the global financial crisis.

Despite the dire predictions, improved consumer confidence overlaid with various government stimulus packages and low interest rates lifted sales to more normal levels in the final eight months of the year, culminating in the whopping 88,708-unit sales tally in December – 12,198 more vehicles than December 2008.

Federal Automobile Chamber of Commerce chief executive Andrew McKellar described the result as exceptional, “given all the challenges and uncertainties thrown at the industry by the global economy”.

“The ‘game changing’ measure that restored confidence in the marketplace and stimulated additional demand was the bonus tax break for business,” he said.

“The final outcome for the year has surpassed the industry’s original expectations by some 57,000 vehicles and a significant proportion of this additional volume can be attributed to the tax break.”

Looking ahead, the FCAI forecasts that new vehicle sales in 2010 will exceed 940,000.

“The challenges of the past year have not yet fully passed so 2010 will be a year of consolidation for the industry,” Mr McKellar said.

Toyota was the number-one manufacturer for the seventh consecutive year, also topping 200,000 sales for the sixth year in a row. It retailed 200,991 vehicles in 2009 to secure a dominant 21.4 per cent share of the market.

This was well ahead of second-placed Holden on 119,568 (12.8 per cent) and third-placed Ford, on 96,501 units (10.3 per cent).

However, Toyota’s sales declined 37,990 units over 2008, a fall of 15.9 per cent. By comparison, declines by Holden (-8.3 per cent) and Ford (-7.8 per cent) were more in line with the average market drop of 7.4 per cent.

Hyundai was the stand-out performer of 2009, enjoying a 39.2 per cent sales rise in the year to December 31, selling 63,207 vehicles compared with 45,409 the previous year. It also lifted its market share to 6.7 per cent, compared with 4.5 per cent in 2008.

This effort lifted the Korean importer to fifth place in the market, ahead of Mitsubishi and Nissan.

Ironically, it has just announced the sudden departure of its sales and marketing director, Kevin McCann.

Mazda sales slipped just 2.6 per cent to allow the company to grab fourth spot and hang to the number-one importer mantle 77,739 sales. Its market share crept up 0.41 percentage points, to 8.3 per cent.

Honda was the biggest loser among the top ten car companies, dropping 21.2 per cent of sales. It finished the year in eighth place, with 41,443 units or 4.4 per cent. In 2008, it held 5.2 per cent.

Sixth-placed Mitsubishi, which has been in recovery mode since its mid-sized Magna went out of production in 2008, came storming back in December with a dramatic 60.5 per cent increase over the corresponding month last year, shrinking its 2009 12-month sales deficit to 6.1 per cent.

Mitsubishi sold 56,998 units for a 6.1 per cent share.

Nissan sales declined 10.7 per cent, to 52,901 units and a 5.6 per cent share, while Subaru volumes slipped 5.2 per cent to 36,506 units and 3.9 per cent share.

Apart from Hyundai, the only car company in the top ten to increase volume was Volkswagen, which clawed a 0.7 per cent increase, to 30,087 units (3.2 per cent).

The Holden Commodore was again Australia’s top-selling car, although it was knocked off its perch in some months during 2009 by Toyota’s Corolla and HiLux ute, which both won their respective segments.

Commodore sales were down 13.1 per cent to 44,387 units, compared with 51,093 units.

Sales of its large-car rival, the Ford Falcon, declined only 2.9 per cent as it recorded 31,023 retails for the year, but the big Ford could only manage fifth place on the sales chart, behind Commodore, second-placed Corolla (39,013 units, -18.6 per cent), HiLux (38,457, -10.5 per cent) and Mazda’s top-seller, the Mazda3 (35,293, +4.6 per cent).

The biggest sales impact was made by Hyundai’s i30 small car, whose sales have more than doubled in the past 12 months from 10,201 units in 2008 to 21,414 vehicles last year – a rise of 110 per cent.

The icing on the cake for Hyundai was the performance of its ageing Getz light car, which gained 13.8 per cent, to 19,643 units, to finish in the top ten, in ninth spot.

The top ten was rounded out by the Toyota Yaris, which summed up Toyota’s fortunes for 2009 by declining 25.5 per cent, to 19,447 units.

However, Toyota Australia’s senior executive director of sales and marketing David Buttner said today that Toyota had shunned distress marketing in 2009, instead opting to protect its resales values and current customers.

He said that in the last seven months of 2009, Toyota’s average monthly sales had improved 25.7 per cent over the first five months.

Mr Buttner said Toyota had gone from carrying “large” excess stocks in early 2009 to now carrying a record customer order bank.

He said Toyota had ordered an extra 6000 imported cars to cover its sales for the first quarter of 2010, and was also preparing to ramp up local production to cover improving export demand.

Mr Buttner said he expected Toyota to out-perform the market in 2010, although he cautioned that conditions remained “challenging”.

Alarmingly for the local industry in 2009, sales of locally produced cars again fell more than the market average, declining 13.9 per cent.

Toyota’s locally made Camry and Aurion suffered more than their Aussie rivals on the domestic market, Holden’s VE/WM models and Ford’s Falcon. Combined domestic sales of the Toyota duo were down 18.5 per cent, compared with Holden’s 13.5 per cent decline and Ford’s 6.0 per cent fall.

Imported car sales were also down, but only by 6.1 per cent.

Passenger car sales were down from 596,545 in 2008 to 540,562 last year, a fall of 9.4 per cent.

The large car segment – mostly comprised of Holden’s Commodore and Ford’s Falcon – fell at double the rate of the market, down 14.8 per cent.

The medium car market – which is dominated by Toyota’s Camry – was down 11.7 per cent.

Light cars – predicted to be one of the big winners in tough times – actually fell slightly more than the average, down 8.0 per cent.

Small cars also failed to make great inroads, down 6.3 per cent for the year.

And despite the economic doom and gloom, sports car sales rose by 5.4 per cent, although sales of the most expensive models above $200,000 declined by 41 per cent.

SUV sales were down 3.4 per cent, but this segment still managed to increase its market penetration by 3.2 percentage points to 20.1 per cent – now second only to passenger cars (57.7 per cent, down 1.3 percentage points).

Compact SUV sales held up better than most, falling just 1.2 per cent, while the medium SUV segment slipped just four per cent.

Large SUVs took a 26 per cent sales hit, but just to prove there is money in the market, luxury SUVs gained 7.0 per cent, mainly on the back of a slew of new models.

Light commercial vehicles – a major beneficiary of the government’s tax benefits – also lifted their slice of the market, up from 18.3 per cent in 2008 to 19.3 per cent, although sales volumes of these light trucks fell 2.1 per cent.

Passenger car sales were down from 596,545 in 2008 to 540,562 last year, a fall of 9.4 per cent.
2009 top car companies:
Toyota 200,991 -15.9%
Holden 119,568 -8.3%
Ford 96,501 -7.8%
Mazda 77,739 -2.6%
Hyundai 63,207 +39.2%
Mitsubishi 56,998 -6.1%
Nissan 52,901 -10.7%
Honda 41,443 -21.2%
Subaru 36,506 -5.2%
Volkswagen 30,087 +0.7%%

[auslander]

Originally Posted by Archilino

Falcon ute beat holden ute by 76 units for the year.

I for one will be buying a ford ute for the first time soon. I'd consider myself a Holden bloke, i genuinely reckon the Holden is a better car. But will still be buying a Ford this time round. For one reason only.

Bench Seat! (due to the fact the missus will only go with a ute that will fit the 3 of us in it)

There's 76 sales atleast.

[Swordsman88]

Originally Posted by auslander

I for one will be buying a ford ute for the first time soon. I'd consider myself a Holden bloke, i genuinely reckon the Holden is a better car. But will still be buying a Ford this time round. For one reason only.

Bench Seat! (due to the fact the missus will only go with a ute that will fit the 3 of us in it)

There's 76 sales atleast.

I hope you don't take this as being rude auslander (not my intention) but i'd like to know why/how you see the Holden as being the better car. i.e. what model/s where you looking at and how does the Holden suit you better.

I ask because its not often we get a Holden fan on here that is both
a: buying a ford instead of a holden
b: is man enough to say he would still RATHER buy the holden......

Too bad Holden dont 'make a bench seat hey LOL!

[mcnews]

The Holden has IRS rear end is perhaps the main benefit. It nearly had me going Maloo instead of F6 as I like to punt hard on gnarly country backroads and the Ford can get a little too snappy at the rear when surface gets rough, on smooth surfaces there is absolutely no problem, but when it roughs up then things can get pretty snap happy. My BF F6 on 18s wasn't too bad but on 19s it could get very skaty, the FG F6 rolls on 19s and seems better planted than the BF but perhaps a little softer. But really driving them back to back there is nothing that can put a smile on your dial like the F6 power delivery, I even like the look of the Maloo (in white) better but as a package the F6-ZF combination just can't be beat, the SP can't even challenge it let alone beat it, the Maloo can challenge but it is no match for the thrust of the F6 when overtaking etc.

[merlin]

I think Falcon had a really good year in 2009 if you look at the mix of models they sold (i.e. a lot of higher end private sales).

Can't understand the Commodore sales - I have driven many VE's - they are terrible from chassis handling to build quality (electrics anyone?), just rubbish. Oh well.

New Fiesta looks like a very intersting car to me - great looks, awesome economy ect but I agree, like most of Fords smaller range it is overpriced for its segment. I'm not saying its bad value (its quite good value) but buyers in the small car segment shop on price as number 1 priority, its well known. They wouldn't even consider Fiesta when you have Barina, Getz/i20 undercutting it (even though its a much better car than these). Unless of course Ford are just going for niche sales (premium small car).

[buggerlugs]

Hyundai looks like it was the big winner for 2009...........

[Wally]

Originally Posted by merlin

........Can't understand the Commodore sales - I have driven many VE's - they are terrible from chassis handling to build quality (electrics anyone?), just rubbish. Oh well.

.........

If you hop into any car, different to the one you drive regularly, the handling and feel will be awkward. Throw in some negative brand bias and the driving experience will be a negative one. I remember taking an RX3 out for a drive when they were new, and like a true blooded Aussie there was no way it was going to be as good as the Fords and Holdens; it was better in so many ways to the local stuff, but it was "jap crap".... I even found myself having one of those conflict talks with my other self, which I won to my satisfaction. LOL

[4VCLEVO]

Do we have all the wagon sales for the year and december?
Holden wagon
falcon wagon
mondeo wagon

[stevz]

Originally Posted by merlin

Can't understand the Commodore sales - I have driven many VE's - they are terrible from chassis handling to build quality (electrics anyone?), just rubbish. Oh well.

Get your hand off it mate, the VE has been widely praised for its chassis/handling.

[Scott]

Originally Posted by russellw

The annual comparison data is now posted in the Tech Area.

Thanks Russ - in the last two charts, is there an error in the overall market share of either Ford or Holden?

[BLUEYBA]

Originally Posted by stevz

Get your hand off it mate, the VE has been widely praised for its chassis/handling.

I can't say for the upper spec Commodores but I have driven an Omega and what a heap of crap to drive and the interior is shocking. I'll take my BA over that anyday

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by Wally

If you hop into any car, different to the one you drive regularly, the handling and feel will be awkward. Throw in some negative brand bias and the driving experience will be a negative one. I remember taking an RX3 out for a drive when they were new, and like a true blooded Aussie there was no way it was going to be as good as the Fords and Holdens; it was better in so many ways to the local stuff, but it was "jap crap".... I even found myself having one of those conflict talks with my other self, which I won to my satisfaction. LOL

It was better than the local stuff until it came to the RX3s first service where it would have required an engine rebuild :

[FalconXR6]

Originally Posted by BLUEYBA

I can't say for the upper spec Commodores but I have driven an Omega and what a heap of crap to drive and the interior is shocking. I'll take my BA over that anyday

Agreed.
Base model VE's are ridiculously ordinary for handling and steering.
Drivertrain is just a joke for a current model vehicle - I've driven EA Falcon's that were smoother and more refined.

The BA Falcon has it's measure - FG slaughters it.

[auslander]

Originally Posted by Swordsman88

I hope you don't take this as being rude auslander (not my intention) but i'd like to know why/how you see the Holden as being the better car. i.e. what model/s where you looking at and how does the Holden suit you better.

I ask because its not often we get a Holden fan on here that is both
a: buying a ford instead of a holden
b: is man enough to say he would still RATHER buy the holden......

Too bad Holden dont 'make a bench seat hey LOL!

The 2 Australian utes, or for that matter cars in general are much the same quality. But staying with utes as the example they are very much a muchness. To me atleast.

I'm talking here the base models not the flash SSV's or XR8's etc.

Both have same sorta build quality, can handle the same conditions very well. So it comes down to whats included.

The Holden ute comes with standard independent **** end, has a proper ute body and to top it off stability control as a standard feature. This last thing i feel is a major winner. Anyone who has been in a vehicle with ESC knows the hand of god effect this technology has when needed, a deadset life saver IMO.

The ford on the other hand, has a better motor, FG looks pretty good, has the option of bench seats, and the Egas option is nice. Plus the live axle on these are pretty well bullet proof and can handle a decent load and not much can stuff up on a trusty live axle.

The holden interior is pretty plane jane on the poverty pack, whilst being in the odd FG lately for test drives, i reckon the Ford interior is superior.

I'm going to buy an FG ute or tonner with Egas. Or atleast i was, thinking about it now. Because if you want Egas you have to have the older 4 speed transmission and ESC is not even an option in the egas. Yet it is on the xr6 egas ute! IF i wanted an xr6 egas, i could get ESC. Yet the excuse for the base model not getting ESC is "it's incompatible with the electronics" HUH?

I assume thats the same reason for the 4 speed on the egas? Holden are the same. You get the older ancient 4 speed on the Omega as well and the older motor(which maybe a good thing,I think the sidi motors are sus).

So, yeah i think the holden overall is a better option, JUST. But Ford still have what we used to have in a ute. The option of a Bench seat, bullet proof rear end that can handle a fairdink load. And BTW, looks like i may go the petrol ute way, so i can get some of that 5 speed auto love and ESC option, and still have my Bench seat.

[Swordsman88]

Originally Posted by auslander

The 2 Australian utes, or for that matter cars in general are much the same quality. But staying with utes as the example they are very much a muchness. To me atleast.

I'm talking here the base models not the flash SSV's or XR8's etc.

Both have same sorta build quality, can handle the same conditions very well. So it comes down to whats included.

The Holden ute comes with standard independent **** end, has a proper ute body and to top it off stability control as a standard feature. This last thing i feel is a major winner. Anyone who has been in a vehicle with ESC knows the hand of god effect this technology has when needed, a deadset life saver IMO.

The ford on the other hand, has a better motor, FG looks pretty good, has the option of bench seats, and the Egas option is nice. Plus the live axle on these are pretty well bullet proof and can handle a decent load and not much can stuff up on a trusty live axle.

The holden interior is pretty plane jane on the poverty pack, whilst being in the odd FG lately for test drives, i reckon the Ford interior is superior.

I'm going to buy an FG ute or tonner with Egas. Or atleast i was, thinking about it now. Because if you want Egas you have to have the older 4 speed transmission and ESC is not even an option in the egas. Yet it is on the xr6 egas ute! IF i wanted an xr6 egas, i could get ESC. Yet the excuse for the base model not getting ESC is "it's incompatible with the electronics" HUH?

I assume thats the same reason for the 4 speed on the egas? Holden are the same. You get the older ancient 4 speed on the Omega as well and the older motor(which maybe a good thing,I think the sidi motors are sus).

So, yeah i think the holden overall is a better option, JUST. But Ford still have what we used to have in a ute. The option of a Bench seat, bullet proof rear end that can handle a fairdink load. And BTW, looks like i may go the petrol ute way, so i can get some of that 5 speed auto love and ESC option, and still have my Bench seat.

Seems like you have given it some thorough thought.....Thanks for the response - i would agree with most of your conclusions in particular the notes over the interior of the VE (looking quite dated now...).

I hope you enjoy your Falcon ute....by the sounds of it a R6 model might be the go if you can stretch to it...

[falcom]

Does anybody have the December sales figures?

[russellw]

Originally Posted by GTP006

Thanks Russ - in the last two charts, is there an error in the overall market share of either Ford or Holden?

I shall have a look - the figures I keep don't exactly match as I ignore vans but they don't look right compared to the set I just finished which include them.

Cheers
Russ

[Scott]

Originally Posted by russellw

I shall have a look - the figures I keep don't exactly match as I ignore vans but they don't look right compared to the set I just finished which include them.

Cheers
Russ

Thanks - the bit I noticed is that both the Ford & Holden charts show equal market share over the past 3 years.... to two decimal places.

[russellw]

I suspect that you are right - the numbers between the two data sets (that set and the newly posted one) will differ as they use different criteria.

Cheers
Russ

[russellw]

Fixed now.

It was an error in the formula.

Cheers
Russ

[Romulus]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Just recently Holden have successfully negotiated with the rental car companies to buy Commodore wagons.

Great. Remind me to stay away from those rental companies.

[russellw]

Originally Posted by falcom

Does anybody have the December sales figures?

December primary statistics

December Supplementary statistics

2009 Year end review

2009 Segment Analysis

Cheers
Russ

[Romulus]

Is there data available on the sales breakdown of the model line up between the Falcon and Commodore i.e. the % of G6, G6E, XR6, XR6T, XR8 vs. Omega, Berlina, SS, SSV etc?

I'd be really interested to see whether the Falcon is becoming more of a higher-spec'd vehicle compared to the Commodore, and whether Ford is seen as producing a more desirable car compared to it's rival, Commodore.