The Australian new car market has bucked retail trends with
official sales figures for the calendar year 2012 showing that
sales were up by 10.3% to 1.112 million units eclipsing the
previous 2007 pre GFC sales record (1.05 million units). As in the
past couple of years SUVs remain the fastest growing segment of the
market with sales up 25.3% over the previous year.
Sales of locally made Holdens fell by 7.2% and Fords by 12.7%,
with Toyota sales of locally manufactured vehicles increasing by
29.3%, largely driven by Camry sales.
Imported brands Mazda and Hyundai are now selling more vehicles
than Ford for the first time and have relegated Ford to 5th
position. Economic commentators often refer to a
"patchwork" economy; in the new vehicle market we can
definitely see this at work.
