April vehicle sales

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by FalconXR6

if lpi fg xr6 was available at $36k driveaway i probably would have bought one over my fg xr6t at the time....maybe...

So youd buy an LPG falcon of your XR6 turbo, but you didnt just buy an XR6 NA??

Confusing...

[XR Martin]

Wonder why Prado has dropped so much being a new model and all? Supply issue from Japan?

[BroadyFord]

Here we go again...

VFACTS: Ford Falcon languishes in slow April

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...2578860021F387

4 May 2011
By HAITHAM RAZAGUI
VEHICLE sales slowed 8.8 per cent in April, with only three of Australia’s top 10 brands registering growth in a month impacted by the combined Easter-ANZAC Day holiday.

Ford sold just 6413 vehicles in its third worst month in memory, with its locally made Falcon contributing 1457 units – down 47.3 per cent on April 2010.

The Blue Oval brand finished the month in fourth place, behind long-time leader Toyota (13,683 vehicles), Holden (9113) and importer Hyundai (6857).

Last month, Falcon was Ford’s only product to exceed 1000 units, as the large car had its most depressed month since January (1157) when the absence of fleet buyers normally drives down sales of the big Ford.

However, Ford’s year-to-date decline of 3.3 per cent compares favourably with local rivals Holden (down 11.1 per cent) and Toyota (down 10 per cent) in a market down 3.2 per cent.

Holden’s Commodore was the nation’s top-selling vehicle with 3075 sales for the month. Its smaller sibling, the Cruze, shifted 2582 units to make it the second-best selling small car after the Mazda3 (3044) and fourth-best selling car overall.

Ford Australia public affairs director Sinead McAlary told GoAuto that up to 25 per cent of the slowdown in Falcon sales was due to a lack of LPG – which will be rectified in the third quarter of this year after the Falcon EcoLPI launches in July – and that customers who previously bought Falcon wagons were now buying the imported Mondeo equivalent.

She also said the Falcon ute and its Holden equivalent were subject to a shift away from car-based light trucks to Ranger-type one-tonners.

Ford did not expect to benefit from a full month of facelifted Territory sales until June or July, but the brand’s new-model offensive should ease the pain by the end of the year, with the new Focus confirmed for August and the Falcon’s facelift plus the brand new Ranger ute also pencilled in for Q3.

As GoAuto has reported, Ford Australia last month reacted to the decline in Falcon sales with a 20 per cent reduction in production from July and the axing of about 240 jobs across its Broadmeadows and Geelong production facilities.

Ms McAlary said that Ford would continue to match production to demand.

Hyundai took third place in the Australian sales charts for the second time in history, beating Ford to the podium by more than 400 sales to notch up a record-breaking 9.2 per cent market share for the South Korean brand.

Its i30 small car contender racked up 2531 sales, just 51 fewer than the Holden Cruze to make it Australia’s fifth-favourite car in April, while the Getz took a winning 17.2 per cent slice of the light-car market, despite a 21.7 per cent drop in sales.

With 973 sales, the ix35 SUV was just four sales behind the Subaru Forester to become the second-highest selling compact SUV, up 67.8 per cent in April against a mammoth 163.8 per cent rise YTD.

Toyota’s HiLux was the country’s second-best seller, but the effort was not enough to lift the Japanese giant out of the doldrums. April was the brand’s third consecutive month of negative growth this year, and it is down 10 per cent year-to-date.

This month’s Toyota sales were down 18.1 per cent compared with the same time last year, only its HiAce bus and LandCruiser wagon products registering growth – up 11.2 per cent and 0.5 per cent respectively.

Year to date, those models have made 6.7 and 10 per cent gains respectively, and the only other Toyotas to increase in sales so far are the Corolla (up 0.3 per cent) and the RAV4s (up 3.7 per cent).

However, Toyota is still 22,942 units ahead of second-placed Holden year-to-date, and April’s figures show it led the medium passenger car, medium SUV, large SUV, hybrid, light truck, light bus and light van segments.

Toyota Australia senior executive director sales and marketing David Buttner said: "Toyota has been the top-selling brand for each of the past 73 months, thanks to our customers who have consistently returned to dealerships for their motoring needs."

In a market that shrank 8.8 per cent, SUVs were down 5.6 per cent, furthering their market share. The decline in medium and large SUVs was compensated slightly by gains in the compact and luxury SUV segments.

Likewise the light truck market, which declined 2.2 per cent.

Premium products proved popular, outperforming their mainstream counterparts. The light cars over $25,000 segment grew 37.8 per cent, small cars over $40,000 increased 35.7 per cent, people movers over $55,000 rose 80 per cent and luxury SUVs were up 8.7 per cent.

In each case, the YTD figures proved this to be a trend rather than an April anomaly and overall, premium passenger cars grew 0.5 per cent for the month.

Year-to-date, the Australian market has declined 3.2 per cent, 10,550 fewer vehicles sold compared with last year. In terms passenger cars, which are down six per cent YTD, only the light and upper large segments have registered modest gains of 0.4 per cent and 1.3 per cent respectively.

It could be that dealers, used to April being a traditionally slow month, were keeping their powder dry and not discounting to preserve stocks for busier months later in the year when supplies are expected to come under pressure as a knock-on effect of the Japanese earthquake.

FCAI chief executive Andrew McKellar said: “It seems likely that the timing of the Easter and ANZAC Day holidays, combined with school holidays has been the major factor contributing to lower sales in the past month.”

The large-car segment was down 24.2 per cent, with the locally-built Falcon and Toyota Aurion (down 38.8 per cent for April and down 26.3YTD) registering large drops. Although the Commodore was down slightly, it managed to decline more slowly than the overall market.

The locally built Toyota Camry and Ford Territory were also down 13.8 per cent and 44.8 per cent respectively, leaving only the Cruze as local champion, up 2.7 per cent and 12.3 per cent YTD.

Big jumps were experienced in the SUV marketplace and it was a great month – and a great year so far – for Land Rover, up 19.9 per cent with sales of its Range Rover Sport and Freelander models up 46.9 per cent and 19.4 per cent.

Other luxury SUV contenders including the new Jeep Grand Cherokee and Audi Q7 were up 42.4 per cent and 53.6 per cent respectively, while Mitsubishi’s Triton 4x4 ute was also up 80.7 per cent – against a 40.8 rise YTD.

Honda’s woes continued, a 20.2 per cent drop in April representing its fourth consecutive double-digit decline for the brand, whose sales are down 25.8 per cent so far this year.

The only Honda products making gains this year were the City (up 16.6 per cent for the month and 6.6 per cent YTD) and the Legend (down 66.7 per cent in April but up 5.9 per cent YTD).

Although only three of the top 10 brands registered growth in April, Alfa Romeo, Great Wall, Skoda and SsangYong all had a good month.

Czech brand Skoda sold 123 cars, up 89.2 per cent. Its year-to-date total of 529 units is an increase of 55.6 per cent on the back of strong Octavia sales and booming popularity of the Superb.

Alfa Romeo customers bought 110 cars – including 54 Giuliettas – helping the brand to an 80.3 per cent jump in sales as part of a 24 per cent total rise so far this year.

Great Wall has sold 2365 of its Chinese-built utes and SUVs so far this year, up 30.2 per cent, with April’s result of 711 units representing a 66.1 per cent increase. South Korean SsangYong sales were boosted by the new Korando, of which 34 contributed to its monthly total of 96, an increase of 43.3 per cent.

Other notable sales rises include the Volkswagen Polo, up 307.9 per cent, the Kia Cerato (up 36.4 per cent), Mercedes-Benz B-class (up 45.8 per cent), Ford Mondeo (up 35.1 per cent).

[jpd80]

Ford Australia public affairs director Sinead McAlary told GoAuto that up to 25 per cent of the slowdown in Falcon sales was due to a lack of LPG – which will be rectified in the third quarter of this year after the Falcon EcoLPI launches in July – and that customers who previously bought Falcon wagons were now buying the imported Mondeo equivalent.

I doubt this statement because last month, Mondeo sales were back down around 400...

Falcon sales have been flat for months but last month everyone else happened to be flat too,
it will be interesting to see whether Ford is right with it's predictions of sales increases for
the third quarter...that's not so far away in business terms.

[Joe5619]

I do try to stay postive, but I think it is really really bad at the moment.. Lets say we believe Fords 25% drop is due to no LPG, that still only works out to 2000 this month based on the 1500 sold this month.

As for the stock levels, they sold 2525 cars in April.. Divide by 290 (builds per day) & that works out to 12 days of production. Divide by 3 (currently only work 3 days a week) & that is 4 weeks of production. So at least the stock levels are not getting worse.

[Road_Warrior]

Don't forget Easter and Anzac day equating to a 5 day long weekend would have had some impact - most people the week before and the week after would not have had buying a car at the forefront of their minds. Then again, other brands seemed to do ok so go figure...

[MrZ]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

Don't forget Easter and Anzac day equating to a 5 day long weekend would have had some impact - most people the week before and the week after would not have had buying a car at the forefront of their minds. Then again, other brands seemed to do ok so go figure...

Wouldn't a long weekend mean that people have more time on their hands? On most weekends, people have to squeeze alot into just 2 days. Having 5 days means that you're able to get alot more done. Seems like the perfect time to do a car deal. Especially if the dealer is quiet, you're likely to get a better bargain.

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by Davez621

Wouldn't a long weekend mean that people have more time on their hands? On most weekends, people have to squeeze alot into just 2 days. Having 5 days means that you're able to get alot more done. Seems like the perfect time to do a car deal. Especially if the dealer is quiet, you're likely to get a better bargain.

I don't know about other states, but in WA all the yards were closed. Apart from Saturday.

[MrZ]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

I don't know about other states, but in WA all the yards were closed. Apart from Saturday.

Because we live in a backwards country where the government has the ability to force businesses to close. If this were the US, a car dealer could open on Christmas Day or Easter Sunday if they wanted to (almost none do, but at least they have the choice).

In fact, I believe in WA you have a rule which prevents almost any store opening past 6pm, including supermarkets. This is also why you're the only state that doesn't have 7-11, because they'd have to rename it 7-6.

[aualright]

Originally Posted by BroadyFord

She also said the Falcon ute and its Holden equivalent were subject to a shift away from car-based light trucks to Ranger-type one-tonners.

Yet SMH Drive was telling us the other day that the Commodore Ute was going to hit the American market and somehow transform them from driving F-Series trucks to El Caminos. If it is a dying market here why would GM bother in the US?

****

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by aualright

Yet SMH Drive was telling us the other day that the Commodore Ute was going to hit the American market and somehow transform them from driving F-Series trucks to El Caminos. If it is a dying market here why would GM bother in the US?

****

Because they can boost the production by exporting.



Holden mentality - falling sales, find other buyers

Ford mentality - falling sales, drop the product.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Wonder why Prado has dropped so much being a new model and all? Supply issue from Japan?

Yes... Hilux has been hit to, the supply issues are just starting to surface now, we should see another bad month in May for Prado / Hilux / Landcruiser.

[Poetic Justice]

Originally Posted by DASH GT

Yes... Hilux has been hit to, the supply issues are just starting to surface now, we should see another bad month in May for Prado / Hilux / Landcruiser.

Expect Toyota's numbers to drop significantly in the next few months, that's all I can say.

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by DASH GT

Yes... Hilux has been hit to, the supply issues are just starting to surface now, we should see another bad month in May for Prado / Hilux / Landcruiser.

Are you forgetting Hilux is built in Thailand? Although I suppose alot of components come from Japan, but that would be effecting all the Jap-Thai built utes.

[Poetic Justice]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Are you forgetting Hilux is built in Thailand? Although I suppose alot of components come from Japan, but that would be effecting all the Jap-Thai built utes.

Hilux production has dropped capacity.

Plus in the coming months a facelift is due for production, and there is generally a 1-2 month gap between supply released to the market when a model change occurs. This means essentially that to begin stock is tight, then when we have none to sell we will literally have none to sell.

[russellw]

The first set of graphical data is uploaded into the Tech Resources area now.

Cheers
Russ

[trippytaka]

Originally Posted by SCUD

Hilux production has dropped capacity.

Plus in the coming months a facelift is due for production, and there is generally a 1-2 month gap between supply released to the market when a model change occurs. This means essentially that to begin stock is tight, then when we have none to sell we will literally have none to sell.

Certainly facing interesting times.

[bobthebilda]

Originally Posted by SCUD

Hilux production has dropped capacity.

Plus in the coming months a facelift is due for production, and there is generally a 1-2 month gap between supply released to the market when a model change occurs. This means essentially that to begin stock is tight, then when we have none to sell we will literally have none to sell.

As the below chart, Toyota sold about 144,000 Hilux's in Thailand last year, and due to some weird anomally, they sell in the equivalent low to mid A$20 thousands in Thailand. Although the Hilux's here and there are probably not exactly the same, they would be very similar. I am pretty sure that if Toyota didnt have cars to satisfy Australian demand at mid to high A$30 thousands, they would rather sacrifice Thai sales.

All indications are that Toyota has sufficient supplies up till the end of June, but then may have trouble meeting demand.

Pos Model 2010 Thailand
1 Toyota Hilux 144,190
2 Isuzu D-Max 133,766
3 Toyota Vios 67,000
4 Honda City 48,853
5 Toyota Corolla Altis 38,000

[Poetic Justice]

I'm taking a stab in the dark by saying that Thailand probably has far more relaxed design rules compared to Australia and as a result they probably are manufactured using cheaper componentry etc... which would place them unable to sell in Aus.

Not that I believe they would take that path anyway. Even so, production if restricted will be across the globe, not just Australian delivered vehicles.

[bobthebilda]

I think the current plan B is that, with the planned 850 a month Hybrid camrys currently missing the mark by about 700 units a month, and a somewhat idle workforce in May and June, they should be releasing a Hybrid Hilux version in August.

[Poetic Justice]

Highly doubt that. Look to other Toyota suppliers around the world. If they don't have the vehicle, we won't get it. Toyota Aus gets what is already on the market elsewhere.

Hybrid Camry was already in the states before it comes here.

Hybrid Kluger is on the market in the states (Hybrid Highlander) - so that's my next guess.

[bobthebilda]

Originally Posted by SCUD

Highly doubt that. Look to other Toyota suppliers around the world. If they don't have the vehicle, we won't get it. Toyota Aus gets what is already on the market elsewhere.

Hybrid Camry was already in the states before it comes here.

Hybrid Kluger is on the market in the states (Hybrid Highlander) - so that's my next guess.

It was a joke

[MrZ]

Originally Posted by russellw

The first set of graphical data is uploaded into the Tech Resources area now.

Cheers
Russ

Hey Russ mate, a few more mistakes in your data: it's Nissan Tiida, not Tilda. And it's Mazda CX-7, not Honda CX-7. lol. Sometimes it seems like you make these typos on purpose. I must admit they're rather funny.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Are you forgetting Hilux is built in Thailand? Although I suppose alot of components come from Japan, but that would be effecting all the Jap-Thai built utes.

Lots of toyotas parts come from Japan as they share componetry across models...

Its even affecting the Australian built cars to some extent.

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by Davez621

Because we live in a backwards country where the government has the ability to force businesses to close. If this were the US, a car dealer could open on Christmas Day or Easter Sunday if they wanted to (almost none do, but at least they have the choice).

In fact, I believe in WA you have a rule which prevents almost any store opening past 6pm, including supermarkets. This is also why you're the only state that doesn't have 7-11, because they'd have to rename it 7-6.

Yes, we don't have unrestricted trading hours. Shops are allowed to open until 9pm weekdays but some still aren't allowed to open Sundays. That only applies to Perth though.

In fact, before last year, shops had to close at 6pm weeknights apart from Thursday nights which was "late night shopping"! We've had countless referendums about this crap but the doo-gooder/wowser brigade keeps on shooting extended trading down in flames with emotive bullshitty arguments and religious ******** about Sunday being a day of worship or rest or whatever.

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

Yes, we don't have unrestricted trading hours. Shops are allowed to open until 9pm weekdays but some still aren't allowed to open Sundays. That only applies to Perth though.

In fact, before last year, shops had to close at 6pm weeknights apart from Thursday nights which was "late night shopping"! We've had countless referendums about this crap but the doo-gooder/wowser brigade keeps on shooting extended trading down in flames with emotive bullshitty arguments and religious ******** about Sunday being a day of worship or rest or whatever.

Got nothing to do with Religion.
Retailers want to open late and every day, but dont want to pay penalty rates.
So at the moment, they have fixed opening hours, until the retailers/unions/Government can come up with a solution.

[sd1800]

Originally Posted by Windsor220

Large cars aren't as important as they once were. We say the same thing every month. Most have converted to SUVs

And what a sad sad reality it is.

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Got nothing to do with Religion.
Retailers want to open late and every day, but dont want to pay penalty rates.
So at the moment, they have fixed opening hours, until the retailers/unions/Government can come up with a solution.

I live in WA, you don't, and like it or not there was a religious mob who published political ads in the paper objecting to Sunday trading and encouraging others to do the same for the trading hours referendum.

[russellw]

The Supplementary Stats for April are also now uploaded into the portal - somewhat interestingly, the 1000th article in that area.

Cheers
Russ

[stang65]

[QUOTE=Davez621]Because we live in a backwards country where the government has the ability to force businesses to close. If this were the US, a car dealer could open on Christmas Day or Easter Sunday if they wanted to (almost none do, but at least they have the choice).



Yep retailers want to open extended hours close down the small shops and so on.

I recall working in A Harvey Norman store when they first started, Monday to thursday9 to 5.30 Friday 9 to 9 and Saturday 9 to 5. We had a costant flow of customer and were always busy.

Then the push for extended hours once that happen retail **** itself. We are not America we do not have the population to justify it but in the hope they will grab more business they push for it , when I left they were talking about pushing for 24 hrs pffff..

During the day there is more sales staff on the floor than customers,and if they sold $200,000 stock for the week it would be spread out over 7 days instead of 6 trading days. So they basically make the same turnover but have the higher expenses of an extra day. (sorry off topic)