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Morgan Roadster
Four Morgans were delivered in Australia during 2005



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5th January, 2006


Australians bought more cars and trucks in 2005 than ever before to set an all-time annual motor vehicle sales record of 988,269, according to figures released today by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI).

It was the fourth successive year of market growth. Demand since 2001 has increased by more than 200,000 vehicles or better than 27 per cent.

The 2005 sales record was 3.5 per cent up on the previous record of 955,259 set in 2004.

Passenger motor vehicle sales are up 3.2 per cent and have exceeded 600,000, finishing at 608,804.

Demand for SUVs is up 4.2 per cent to 180,292 and light commercial vehicles are 2.6 per cent ahead of 2004 at 167,878.

FCAI Chief Executive Peter Sturrock today said the market would be equally strong in 2006 and confirmed the Chamber’s assessment of 980,000 vehicle sales for 2006.

"The FCAI began 2005 with a prediction of 980,000 sales for the year and that outlook has been proven to be almost exactly correct," Mr Sturrock said.

"While general economic conditions will soften in 2006, the motor vehicle market will stabilise at its current level of strength."

The potential to reach one million vehicle sales in 2005 was lost in the last quarter.

A reduction in demand of 2.5 per cent in the last quarter halted the momentum which had resulted in eight all-time record sales months in the first three quarters of the year.

Small cars attracted big demand in 2005.

Sales of small cars exceeded 200,000 for the first time, attracting 215,324 buyers for 35.4 per cent of the total passenger vehicle market.

Significantly, demand for small cars was up 18.6 per cent year on year, while demand for large cars diminished by 15.7 per cent to 153,244 vehicles.

Holden’s Commodore was again the country’s largest-selling individual model with 66,794 deliveries in 2005. Commodore sales are down from 79,170 the year before.

"There has been a seachange in market demand," Mr Sturrock said.

"Private buyers and fleets are adjusting their purchasing patterns to suit their changing needs, including their views on the effect of petrol pricing and running costs."

Mr Sturrock said 2006 would see a fightback from manufacturers and distributors of large six-cylinder cars.

"Two manufacturers are planning the launch of significant new models in the large car market on top of Mitsubishi’s recently released 380 and Ford’s upgraded Falcon," he said.

"The large car market is uniquely Australian and it is pivotal to the success of the entire market, and to Australia’s export opportunities."

Mr Sturrock said Ford’s success with the Territory had been one of the highlights of the 2005 model year.

Demand for Territory reached 23,454, 72 per cent more than the previous year and the vehicle was instrumental in leading the 19.6 per cent increase in the medium SUV market.

"Australians’ record demand for SUVs is likely to stabilise in 2006, especially in the light of growing competition from traditional passenger motor vehicles which are becoming increasingly even better equipped and more flexible," Mr Sturrock said.

"Consumer choice has never been more varied, and it is the competitive push amongst manufacturers and distributors to meet every customer need that will spur the market in 2006."

"Forward ordering by manufacturers appears not to have slowed going into 2006 and that guarantees a buoyant and attractive environment for customers."

Toyota, Holden and Ford were the three top-selling makes in 2005, accounting for better than half total demand (51.2 per cent).

Mitsubishi was again in fifth position.

Mazda and Nissan swapped their 2004 positions with Mazda moving to fourth place for the first time with 66,250 deliveries ahead of Mitsubishi 61,907 and Nissan dropping to sixth 56,032.

Hyundai was in seventh position with 48,010 sales, narrowly ahead of Honda (47,001).

Subaru had a record year with 36,044 sales to finish ninth ahead of Kia, 10th on 25,293.



2005 Bentley Continental GT
One hundred and one Bentleys were delivered in Australia during 2005






 

 

 

National Vehicle Retail Sale Summary for 2005

 

Manufacturer / Importer

2005

2004

Alfa Romeo
 1,572    1,800  
Aston Martin
 58    not known   
Audi
 4,808    3,701  
Bentley
 101    126  
BMW
 15,910    14,860  
Chrysler
 2,479    2,167  
Citroen
 3,005    2,400  
Daewoo
 0    5,514  
Daf
 259    292  
Daihatsu
 3,007    5,016  
Ferrari
 76    69  
Fiat
 605    343  
Ford
 129,140    135,172  
Freightliner
 921    809  
Hino
 4,674    4,397  
Holden
 174,464    178,027  
Honda
 47,001    36,474  
Hyundai
 48,010    42,510  
International
 210    79  
Isuzu
 7,717    6,757  
Iveco
 2,078    2,141  
Jaguar
 975    1,015  
Jeep
 5,078    4,502  
Kenworth
 2,283    2,289  
Kia
 25,293    24,454  
Lamborghini
 32    31  
Land Rover
 3,092    3,143  
Lexus
 6,005    5,009  
Lotus
 55    81  
Mack
 1,126    1,078  
MAN
 179    176  
Maserati
 80    93  
Maybach
 3    5  
Mazda
 66,520    55,560  
Mercedes-Benz
 17,661    17,489  
MG Rover
 270    566  
Mini
 2,097    1,499  
Mitsubishi
 61,907    56,967  
Morgan
 4    7  
Nissan
 56,032    63,654  
Nissan UD
 991    975  
Peugeot
 7,025    7,005  
Porsche
 1,205    1,264  
Proton
 2,164    1,378  
Renault
 3,301    3,354  
Rolls-Royce
 10    8  
Saab
 1,510    1,848  
Scania
 389    408  
Smart
 799    479  
Ssangyong
 2,645    not known  
Sterling
 413    411  
Subaru
 36,044    33,619  
Suzuki
 13,794    7,206  
Toyota
 202,817    201,737  
Volkswagen
 15,782    10,754  
Volvo Car
 2,917    2,802  
Volvo Commercial
 1,137    1,164  
Western Star
 539    545  
TOTAL VEHICLES
 988,269    955,229  



Other Australian market news: here.



More news:

Hummer: Here In A Year
1st January, 2006
The H3 is about a year away from its Australian release. The 5-cylinder SUV will provide Holden with another 4WD model ..... more

Holden's 2006 Model Changes
31st December, 2005
Holden also announced model changes to its 2006 line-up of locally produced vehicles in preparation for an all-new Commodore which is expected to be launched in the second half of the year ..... more

The Top Drive For '05
30th December, 2005
Next Car Pty Ltd, a leading Australian automotive news journal, has announced the Volkswagen Golf GTI is their choice as the "Top Drive For 2005" ..... more

GM Reaches New Milestone in Asia Pacific
29th December, 2005
With the purchase of a midnight black Chevrolet Optra 1.8 LT, H.E. Manaspas Xuto recently became the 1 millionth buyer of a General Motors vehicle in Asia Pacific in 2005 ..... more

Game, Set And Match – To Peugeot
28th December, 2005
The Cliff Richard Tennis Classic used five vehicles loaned by Peugeot at the recently staged event ..... more

Record Year For Skoda
28th December, 2005
As early as a month before the end of the year, Škoda Auto managed to break its own annual sales record achieved last year ..... more

New Audi RS 4 Supercar
27th December, 2005
Audi’s high-performance range will feature as the hero models at the 2006 Melbourne International Motor Show, with the company displaying its new RS4 supercar alongside the superlative new Audi S8 ..... more

Japan's Mazda MX-5 Commemorative Edition
27th December, 2005
To mark the Roadster, known as MX-5 in overseas markets, winning the 2005-2006 Japan Car of the Year (JCOTY) Award, Mazda will launch a special edition Roadster, called the 'Japan Car of the Year Award Commemorative Edition' in Japan ..... more

Volkswagen Back In First Place In Europe
26th December, 2005
Volkswagen is back in first place in Europe. Measured by the number of new vehicle registrations, the brand has regained first place in 2005 ..... more

Mustang Lets Kids Put The Pedal To The Metal
25th December, 2005
Just as the 1965 Mustang was a runaway hit, so was its counterpart pedal car. Four decades later, the pedal car with the Mustang logo is back ..... more

Mitsubishi Motors Announces Production,
Sales and Exports for November 2005

23rd December, 2005
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has announced global production, as well as domestic sales and export results for November 2005 ..... more

Discovery 3 S – Amazing Drive Away Pricing
22nd December, 2005
Land Rover Australia has announced outstanding drive-away prices on the Discovery 3 S model in both V6 and TDV6 ..... more

New Peugeot 307CC Lands in Time for Summer!
21st December, 2005
The first shipments of the new Peugeot 307CC (Coupe Cabriolet) have arrived in Australia; just in time for summer ..... more

Aussie-Built V6 Engine Delivers Most Powerful Rodeo
21st December, 2005
Holden will match its high-tech Global V6 engine to the Rodeo to produce the most powerful V6 offering in the light truck’s distinguished 25-year history in Australia ..... more

Lotus Europa S - ‘Business Class by Lotus’
20th December, 2005
The new Lotus Europa S, a Grand Tourer (GT) inspired two-seater will provide Lotus customers with a spectacular sportscar with significantly enhanced levels of touring and cruising capability ..... more

Chevrolet Corvette Z06 in a Class of its Own
19th December, 2005
It isn’t often that a car is made that is so superior that it is deemed to have no competition at all, but this year, the Automobile Journalists of Canada declared the Corvette Z06 to be just such a car ..... more

Limited Edition Outlander Released For Summer
17th December, 2005
Mitsubishi Motors is releasing a limited edition Outlander with a host of desirable features for the summer period ..... more

Australian Know-How Behind India's New Ford Fiesta
15th December, 2005
The latest model in Ford's Fiesta range has just commenced sales in India – and it's thanks to a team led by Ford Australia engineers and designers that motorists in the sub-continent have a car designed specifically for their local conditions ..... more

Black Taxi is "the glory of London"
15th December, 2005
London’s iconic black cab has been hailed as "the glory of London" in a House of Lords debate ..... more

Nissan Releases the 2006 350Z
11th December, 2005
Nissan's iconic 36-year-old flagship sports car, the 350Z, has been released with new features including a more powerful engine and enhancements to its exterior and interior ..... more

Porsche Enjoys Continued Growth
9th December, 2005
Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG enjoyed continued growth in fiscal year 2004/05 (to 31st July). The manufacturer of sporty premium vehicles once again succeeded in selling more vehicles ..... more

Swift Awarded Britain's Car Of The Year
8th December, 2005
In the UK, Car magazine has just named the Suzuki supermini its ‘Car of the Year’ ..... more

Peugeot 407 Coupé – 5 Stars for Euroncap
6th December, 2005
Elegance, power and outstanding handling and dynamics, the 407 Coupé is also distinguished by its high levels of passive safety ..... more

Eclipse Spyder to Debut at NAIAS
6th December, 2005
Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) will push the limits again with the debut of two more vehicles that thrill – the 2007 Eclipse Spyder and the Concept-CT MIEV ..... more

X-Jack Wins Major Award in the USA
5th December, 2005
Innovative Australian off-road accessory company Bushranger has won a major accolade at the world’s largest aftermarket product expo, during the recent SEMA Show in Las Vegas ..... more

Max-Air at the Top of Air Compressor Field
5th December, 2005
Leading Australian off-road accessory company Bushranger has scooped the pool in a major test of aftermarket portable air compressors ..... more

Safer car design has cut road casualties
4th December, 2005
Car makers deserve real credit for dramatic improvements in safety trends over the last 10 years ..... but there are duds, such as Landwind, a Chinese import into the EU ..... more



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