The Australian new car market is off to a flying start in 2017. The figures for January have been released, and 84,910 new cars were sold representing an increase of 0.6 per cent over the same month last year.
In terms of Car Conversation starters, Toyota continues to set the pace and is likely to stay on top for the remainder of 2017.
Mazda had a brilliant January, selling 10,067 units. The Mazda 3 took opening round honours over the Toyota Corolla to be Australia’s best-selling model. Interestingly, the CX-5 remains the biggest selling SUV in the country, despite a new model being not far away.
It’s only a matter of time before SUV sales overtake those of passenger cars. SUV sales continue to grow and currently account for 40.2 per cent of the new car market. Passenger cars hold a market share of 41.1 per cent.
Holden miraculously finished in third place, propped up by 1960 Commodore sales. As the Commodore continues its farewell tour, Holden’s numbers should remain competitive.
Mercedes Benz is knocking on the door of the top 10, selling 2973 cars. The C-Class is now the default choice for anyone looking at a medium sedan in the premium category. It was the nation’s top-selling mid-sized vehicle in January. Expect the Toyota Camry to hit back after it has cleared December’s demonstrators.
Outside of the mainstream, Porsche moved 581 cars. The German brand is likely to have a record year thanks to the addition of the four-cylinder Macan and a new Panamera range. The arrival of the four-cylinder Macan also brings a lower entry price to the brand. You can now park a Porsche in your garage for $76,610 plus on-road costs.
Maserati is also off to a good start with 68 sales, an improvement of 89 per cent. With the Levante SUV now available to test drive, the Italian marque can set record numbers in 2017 if the inclusion of an SUV doesn’t eat into its Ghibli and Quattroporte sales.
Jeep continued on its downward trajectory, the brand has an image problem based around reliability and is struggling for ideas to reverse the slide.
Isuzu Ute had a disappointing month, sales were down 21 percent on January 2016. It sold 1095 Utes, in what is a very competitive segment.
Alfa Romeo will be hoping the upcoming Giulia and Stelvio can help reverse its fortunes in Australia. Disappointingly, the brand only sold 46 cars to start 2017.
Top selling brands in January
1. Toyota - 12,554
2. Mazda - 10,067
3. Holden - 7184
4. Hyundai - 6705
5. Ford - 5912
6. Mitsubishi - 5075
7. Nissan - 5012
8. Kia - 4015
9. Subaru - 4009
10. Volkswagen - 3995
Top selling models in January
1. Mazda3 - 3473
2. Toyota Corolla - 2943
3. Toyota HiLux - 2702
4. Ford Ranger - 2622
5. Hyundai i30 - 2018
6. Holden Commodore - 1960
7. Mazda CX-5 - 1924
8. Nissan X-Trail - 1759
9. Hyundai Tucson - 1678
10. Mazda CX-3 – 1486
Let’s start a Car Conversation, what do you think are the highlights and lowlights of January’s sales figures?
