VFACTS Says The Cliff Is Here, New Car Sales Plummet.
Figure released by VFACTS on May 5th show that the Australian new car market has taken a hammering from the Covid-19 lockdown. Compared to April 2019, sales are down by a massive 48.5% in new vehicle numbers, with just 38,926 units sold. in context however, it’s still a tick under 1,300 units per day. The YTD or year To date figures aren’t quite as drastic, though, with figures for April totalling 272,287 sales, down from 344,088 in 2019. This measures out as a 20.9% decline.
In brand respect, Toyota’s Corolla, Kia’s Cerato, and the Hyundai i30 took the top three places in the sub-$40K segment, with 27.3%, 19.6%, and 15.9% respectively. In the $40K and above price range, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class sold 217 for a whopping 44.1% market share. BMW’s 1-Series came second with 116 units or 22.1%, with the Audi A3 and BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe tying for 3rd, with 65 units each and 12.4%.
In the medium car segment and sub-$40K, the Toyota Camry smashed the field, selling 675 units for a 74.5% share. The next was the Mazda 6, with a paltry 71/7.8%. Skoda’s Octavia just edged the outgoing Kia Optima by 5 units, 39 vs 34, for a final share of 4.3%.
BMW took the crown in the above $60K bracket, with the 3 Series moving 254 for a 43.9% share. 2nd and 3rd went to Mercedes-Benz, with the CLA-Class and C-Class. Respectively 94 and 87 found new homes, making a share of 16.3% and 15.1% each.
For the Large Sedan segment for under $70K, there were three, being the Kia Stinger, the outgoing Holden Commodore, and Skoda’s Superb. The Stinger sold 75 units for a 70.1% share, the Commodore a shadow of its former glory with just 30 and 28%, whilst the Superb was invisible with just 2 or 1.9%. There was a surprise in the over $70K bracket with the Maserati Ghibli claiming 3rd spot. 11 were sold for an 11.8% share, but it was Germany taking the crown, with the E-Class from Mercedes-Benz holding off the BMW 5 Series, with 36 and 30, for 38.7% and 32.2% each.
In the People Mover segment Kia’s aging Carnival still won hearts aplenty, with 220 units or 68.3%. The Hyundai iMax was 2nd, moving 30 units for 9.3%, just ahead of Honda’s Odyssey, for 26 and 8.1%. In the pricier $70K and above area, Toyota’s Tarago replacement, the HiAce based Granvia, battled a similarly LCV based duo from Mercedes-Benz, with the V-Class and Valente notching 9 and 7 behind the 10 for the Granvia.
Ford’s Mustang continued to dominate the Sports Car market in the sub-$80K segment. 146 or 43.5% sold, more than double the BMW 2 Series with 62/18.5%. Above $80K and it was the 4 Series from BMW, selling 50 for 31.3%. The sibling Z4 was 3rd at 16/10.0% whilst Mercedes-Benz slotted in at 2nd with their C-Class Convertible/Coupe moving 38 for a 23.8% share.
In the hotly contested SUV brackets, inside the SUV Light, Mazda’s CX-3 doubled its nearest rival, the VW T-Cross, with 394 and 188, or 38.3% and 18.3%. In the Small SUV, sub-$40K segment, Mazda again featured, with its new CX-30 2nd behind the Toyota C-HR. 480 vs 452 for a share of 14.0% and 13.2%. 3rd went to Hyundai for the Kona, pipping the Kia Seltos by just one unit, with 379 and 378, making a share of 11.1% and 11.0%. BMW nailed top spot in the above $40K, with the X1 selling 22 for a 27.2% share.
Things were much, much tighter in the Medium sub-$60K battlefield. The bulldog faced RAV4 won the day with 1,911/32.4%, ahead of the 648/11.0% Mazda CX-5. For third it was an amazing tussle, with the Subaru Forester just edging ahead at 510/8.7% over the Hyundai Tucson (494/8.4%), Nissan X-Trail and Mitsubishi Outlander (469/459 and 8.0%/7.8%) and Kia’s Sportage at 439/7.5%.
Above $60K and it was the same, with BMW’s X3 1st at 263/22.5%, and tying for 2nd with the X4 and GLC-Class from Mercedes-Benz both on 162/13.9%. Just behind was The NX from Lexus, with a 12.0% share and 140 units. In the Large SUV and under $70K, Toyota’s Prado swept all before it, with 947/25.9%. In a distant 2nd place was Izusu’s MU-X at 339/9.3%. 3rd went to Toyota and the Kluger with 313/8.6%. The BMW X5 took the crown above $70K, with 232/29.3%, ahead of the GLE-Class from Mercedes-Benz at 117/14.8% and the Lexus RX just behind at 106 units for 13.4%.
In the Upper large segment, Toyota’s soon to be replaced 200 Series LandCruiser blew away the Nissan Patrol, itself recently refreshed, at 924/86.0% vs 150/14.0%. In the same segment but at $100K and above, BMW’s X7 lead the field ahead of the GLS-Class from Mercedes-Benz and the LandRover Discovery, with 34/19.1% and 28/15.7%.
Heading into the Ute segments and Toyota’s HiLux won both the 4×2 and 4×4 sectors. In the 4×2 the HiLux was a clear leader on 456/36.9% but not quite so tight in the 4×4. Here is was 1,883 for 26.9%, ahead in this sector to the Ford Ranger on 1,419/20.0%. The D-Max 4×2 was 2nd in that class with 198/16.0, putting the Mazda BT-50 to 3rd on 147/11.9. 3rd in the 4×4 was the outgoing Holden Colorado, with 780/11.0%.
Finally, in overall sales for April 2020, Toyota was a clear leader with 10,325, ahead of Mazda (3,022) and Kia (2,492). On a YTD, it’s Toyota, Mazda, and Hyundai replacing Kia, with 60,396, 23,766, and 18,941, just under 1,000 units ahead of Kia.
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John Grainger says:
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May 7th, 2020 at 7:35 pm
Dave Conole says:
Hello John. Please call our main office number to further this inquiry. Thank you.
May 11th, 2020 at 5:09 pm