Sales of passenger cars, SUV and commercial vehicles across Australia hit a new April record of 87,571, 2.9 per cent above the previous best for that month set three years ago in another demonstration of the motor industry’s price-competitiveness.

SUVs (up 7.1 per cent or 2119 on April 2015) and light commercials were again the star performers, although a strong push occurred in passenger cars (up 4.7 per cent or 1656 sales) with intense competition in the small and medium segments.

The record April return comes at a time when the motor industry is facing a threat to jobs and growth from proposed new parallel import legislation, which would allow vehicles to be imported without the protection of a warranty.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, Tony Weber, said the continued sales growth in the industry was indicative of the fierce price competitiveness of the Australian new car market, and that this vigorous tax and employment-generating segment of the economy was facing significant uncertainty under the proposed Government legislation.

“By the Government’s own modelling, at least 30,000 sales could be lost out of our market, consumer protection diminished, and jobs exported overseas when this new legislation is introduced,” Mr Weber said.

“The April record just posted provides further evidence that the industry is price competitive, offering great value to buyers, delivering jobs and investment, and in no need of change.

“We are just a handful of months into 2016 and already the market is on target for another record. And yet the Government wants to put this investment, these jobs, this tax revenue, at risk. It makes no sense.”

The 87,571 vehicles sales during April were 7.2 per cent or 5,915 higher than that posted in the same month last year.

Big gains were recorded in medium SUV, sports, people mover and the upper large SUV segments in April 2016 while the small passenger (up 6.9 per cent) and medium passenger (up 6.8 per cent) were both busy parts of the market at the expense of large cars (down 6.2 per cent) and upper large (down 23.2 per cent).

Business purchases of motor vehicles in April 2016 were strong across the board, with passenger vehicles up 15.6 per cent, SUVs up 15.2 per cent and light commercials up 32.6 per cent compared with April 2015.

“The changes announced in the Federal Budget last night could further encourage business purchases of new motor vehicles,” Mr Weber said.

Toyota remained overall market leader for the month with an 18.9 per cent share, with Hyundai second (9.9 per cent), followed by Mazda (9.7 per cent), Ford (7. and Holden (7.7).

The Hyundai i30 was the nation’s bestselling vehicle (4143 sales during April) with two light commercial vehicles – the Toyota Hilux (3384) and the Ford Ranger (2973) – finishing second and third respectively, followed by the Toyota Corolla (2959), and
Mazda3 (2512).

All states and territories aside from West Australia lifted sales volume during April, compared with the same month last year. The ACT showed the largest increase with a 15.6 per cent sales boost, followed closely by big volumes across NSW (up 11.9 per cent), Victoria (up 8.1 per cent) and South Australia (up 6..

Key Points:
• The April 2016 market of 87,571 new vehicle sales is an increase of 5,915 vehicle sales or 7.2% on April 2015 (81,656) vehicle sales. April 2016 (25.0) had two more selling days than April 2015 (23.0), and which resulted in a decrease of 47.4 vehicle sales per day.
• The April 2016 industry volume is down 16,941 or -16.2% on March 2016 (104,512) vehicles.
• The Passenger Vehicle Market is up by 1,656 vehicle sales (4.7%) over the same month last year; the Sports Utility Market is up by 2,119 vehicle sales
(7.1%); the Light Commercial Market is up by 2,052 vehicle sales (14.1%); and the Heavy Commercial Vehicle Market is up by 88 vehicle sales (3.6%) versus April 2015.
• Toyota was market leader in April, followed by Hyundai and Mazda. Toyota led Hyundai with a margin of 7,924 vehicle sales, or 9.0 market share points.
• 20 years ago in April 1996, Australia’s total vehicle market was 81 per cent smaller than it is today (48,295 in 1996, as opposed to 87,571 in 2016). Although sales volumes of passenger cars were much the same compared the two periods, sales of SUVs have increased 863 per cent, and light commercials by 134 per cent.





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