Bumper March Drives Talk Of 1 Million Car Sales

The Age

Thursday April 5, 2007

Ian Porter

THE new-vehicle market is closing in on its first 1 million sales in a year as registrations rocketed 8.3 per cent last month to 94,392 cars and trucks.

Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive Peter Sturrock said it seemed inevitable sales would reach 1 million vehicles, a "remarkable achievement".

"With 8 per cent growth, we would be well and truly over 1 million. It's running at (a rate of) 1.1 million at the moment," he said. "It has surprised a number of industry analysts and it shows no sign of abatement."

While small imported cars continued to race ahead, Mr Sturrock said the often predicted recovery in sales of locally made large cars seemed to have arrived.

Commodore was again the nation's best-selling car, with 5752 registered.

Toyota's gamble on making the Camry a four-cylinder-only car and introducing the Aurion as its "big 6" also appears to be paying off.

The Aurion last month topped 2000 sales for the first time, according to the chamber's Vfacts registration figures, lifting the model to seventh.

The Camry eased to sixth place but sales stayed comfortably above 2500.

Ford's Falcon also had its best month for the year, with 3249 sales placing it in third place. Mitsubishi's 380 recorded just over 1000 sales.

"Large cars had good growth in March, up 4 per cent," Mr Sturrock said.

"It was a recovery we had been expecting, but it's nice to see the numbers on the board."

Mazda and Honda, the two biggest importers, again had record months. The Mazda3 was only just pushed into fourth place by the Falcon. Honda's Civic came in at 11th.

Mr Sturrock also applauded the Reserve Bank's decision not to raise interest rates.

"In the past we haven't had much reaction to interest rate changes, but this will be good for the overall economy."

March top sellers

1) Holden Commodore 5752

2) Toyota Corolla 4029

3) Ford Falcon 3249

4) Mazda3 3182

5) Toyota Yaris 2702

6) Toyota Camry 2574

7) Toyota Aurion 2037

8) Hyundai Getz 1895

9) Honda Accord 1775

10) Holden Astra 1771

Others:

17) Ford Territory 1383

25) Mitsubishi 380 1022

© 2007 The Age

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