Toyota Corolla And Hi-Lux 1-2 For Best Sellers In Strong October Sales
October Australian new car sales of 91,236 vehicles represented a decrease of just 1.5 per-cent on the same month last year and the industry remains on-track to again post an annual total of more than 1.0 million units in 2014.
Toyota racked-up sales of 17,832 vehicles in October – 1439 sales more than the combined totals of Hyundai and Holden who ranked second and third and good enough for the Japanese giant to secure a market share of 19 per-cent.
Toyota Corolla was Australia’s best-selling car with 3819 being dispatched in October, followed by the Toyota Hi-Lux ute (3228sales) in number two. Barring a catastrophe, Toyota Corolla will round-out the year as Australia’s best-selling individual model.
As at the end of October, Toyota has sold more than 168,491 vehicles in Australia – 78,000 ahead of second-placed Holden and is assured of securing its 12th consecutive year of market leadership.
Even Hyundai executives at this week’s launch of the Genesis luxury mid-size sedan were surprised the company’s October sales of 8,401 were good enough to beat Holden and Mazda into second place for the month.
Holden sold 7,542 vehicles in October to place third ahead of Mazda with 6,880 (hampered by run-out of Mazda2 ahead of the new model’s introduction).
Ford maintained fifth position with October sales of 6,337 vehicles ahead of Nissan (5,759).
Of the luxury brands, a special shout-out to Audi – the Ingolstadt company has so far sold 16,014 vehicles this year which is 20.4 per-cent up on 2013 and already eclipses that year’s 12-month total of 16,009.
Despite the apparent softening of the new car market in recent months, Toyota Australia boss Tony Cramb says there’s still reason to be optimistic for another bumper year.
“Healthy underlying demand and sharp retail offers through November and December will keep the total industry on track for a 2014 total of 1.1 million sales for only the third year in history,” Mr Cramb explained.
