Record March 2010 new car sales! - VFACTS

[Brazen]

From VFACTS

NEW VEHICLE MARKET POSTS RECORD MARCH RESULT

7th April, 2010

Strong sales across all vehicle segments has resulted in a record monthly sales figure for March, eclipsing the previous record set in 2007 by 352 vehicles.

Official VFACTS data released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) shows that 94,744 passenger cars, SUVs and commercial vehicles were sold in March, up 25.2 per cent (or 19,094 vehicles) on the same month in 2009.

“This is an outstanding March result and provides further evidence that the marketplace is returning to pre-global financial crisis levels,” FCAI Chief Executive Andrew McKellar said.

SUV sales led the charge in March increasing by 44.1 percent, followed by passenger cars (up 23.5 per cent), heavy commercials (up 20.2 per cent) and then light commercials (up 12 per cent).

“Business sales show some signs of easing following the phase out of targeted tax breaks but it is pleasing to see renewed growth from private buyers,” he said.

“With warnings of further interest rate rises, private buyers should move to take advantage of the current rate levels,” Mr McKellar said.

Sales to car rental companies increased 331.5 per cent during March in line with increased tourism and business activity.

Toyota retained the top selling position in March, increasing its market share to 21.4 per cent; followed by Holden with 12.4 per cent and then Ford with 8.5 per cent.

Year-to-date, 251,827 vehicles have been sold – an increase of 38,857 vehicles (18.2 percent) compared to the first three months of 2009.

Be interesting to see the individual model breakdown.

[jpd80]

Top selling cars for March 2010
1. Holden Commodore 4209
2. Toyota HiLux 3935
3. Hyundai i30 3678
4. Mazda3 3562
5. Toyota Corolla 3555
6. Ford Falcon 2496
7. Mitsubishi Lancer 2245
8. Nissan Navara 2154
9. Holden Cruze 2125
10. Toyota Yaris 2114

Top selling brands for March 2010
Brand March 2010 sales Jan-March 2010 sales
1. Toyota 20,306 (51,684)
2. Holden 11,795 (33,476)
3. Ford 8092 (21,970)
4. Hyundai 7797 (21,213)
5. Mazda 7453 (21,114)
6. Nissan 6558 (15,298)
7. Mitsubishi 5556 (14,622)
8. Honda 4153 (10,261)
9. Subaru 3679 (10,217)
10. Volkswagen 3034 (8369)


In a near record month, Falcon only pulls 2496 sales, that's gotta be worrying....
There's only about 300 sales difference between N0.6 and N0.10 and if Ford
don't get going the Falcon may slip out of the top 10 by the end of the year..

[Wretched]

Hyundai only 295 units behind Ford this month.
About 700 or so behind in YTD.

[Quicksand]

And here come the usual responses:

-Ford have production levels set low at the moment but they could build more if they wanted to...
-At least Ford are turning a profit (are they?)
-Ford sell more private vehicles and less fleet so the second hand value is better these days
-Ford aren't focusing on market share at the moment
-The FG is getting old now so people dont want it
-There is a new V8 and model revamp coming so people are holding off
-etc etc etc blah blah blah

The same stuff every month. The excuses are running thin IMO.

[ThePistonHead]

Originally Posted by Inducted_Breeze

And here come the usual responses:

-Ford have production levels set low at the moment but they could build more if they wanted to...
-At least Ford are turning a profit (are they?)
-Ford sell more private vehicles and less fleet so the second hand value is better these days
-Ford aren't focusing on market share at the moment
-The FG is getting old now so people dont want it
-There is a new V8 and model revamp coming so people are holding off
-etc etc etc blah blah blah

The same stuff every month. The excuses are running thin IMO.

Agreed. Same thing was said before the FG launch.

Things are not looking good.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by Inducted_Breeze

And here come the usual responses:

-Ford have production levels set low at the moment but they could build more if they wanted to...
-At least Ford are turning a profit (are they?)
-Ford sell more private vehicles and less fleet so the second hand value is better these days
-Ford aren't focusing on market share at the moment
-The FG is getting old now so people dont want it
-There is a new V8 and model revamp coming so people are holding off
-etc etc etc blah blah blah

The same stuff every month. The excuses are running thin IMO.

The VE is 2 years older yet still sells quiet well?

Ford have major dramas, the biggest however being supply ISSUES and the bad media lately with Egas issues, Territory balljoint issue etc.

The marketing is losing confidence in Ford.. FAST

[Professor Farnsworth]

that's a disturbingly low amount of Falcons sold, and Commodore is back to the top. Just goes to show their marketing is still better, as the Falcon, one eyed view or not, is the superior car at this point.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Professor Farnsworth

that's a disturbingly low amount of Falcons sold, and Commodore is back to the top. Just goes to show their marketing is still better, as the Falcon, one eyed view or not, is the superior car at this point.

See Prof, it's the same old problem:
Ford has Falcon + Ute + Territory
but Holden has Commodore + Sportwagon + Ute + Statesman/Caprice + Captiva

Instead of new Territory, invest money in a Falcon Sportwagon and use the
new Explorer, things may have been different but that is not our chosen path....

[Professor Farnsworth]

Originally Posted by jpd80

See Prof, it's the same old problem:
Ford has Falcon + Ute + Territory
but Holden has Commodore + Sportwagon + Ute + Statesman/Caprice + Captiva

Instead of new Territory, invest money in a Falcon Sportwagon and use the
new Explorer, things may have been different but that is not our chosen path....

only the first three you metioned should be included in the Commodore list i'm talking about though, equal to Falcon's sedans, wagon, and ute

[Smoke Pursuit]

No utes are included in those figures.. Utes are on their own.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Professor Farnsworth

only the first three you metioned should be included in the Commodore list i'm talking about though, equal to Falcon's sedans, wagon, and ute

Sorry, I confused you,
Ford is not covering the Sportwagon sales and by funding the new Territory
has denied itself the use of new Explorer. Had they taken new Explorer,
they could have funded FG Sportwagon and increased product sales.

All I hope is that new Explorer sells about 2,000 to 2,500/month
otherwise head office will be asking serious questions about FoA
spending money on duplicate products...

[Joe5619]

Originally Posted by Inducted_Breeze

And here come the usual responses:

-Ford have production levels set low at the moment but they could build more if they wanted to...
-At least Ford are turning a profit (are they?)
-Ford sell more private vehicles and less fleet so the second hand value is better these days
-Ford aren't focusing on market share at the moment
-The FG is getting old now so people dont want it
-There is a new V8 and model revamp coming so people are holding off
-etc etc etc blah blah blah

The same stuff every month. The excuses are running thin IMO.

Who needs exsues?? Falcon is up for the month 25% from last year & up 22% YTD from last year.. This is a great result. Market share increase for the Falcon as well...

Commodore only up 16% for the month & YTD 14% from last year!!


Look at the numbers porperly boys & girlsm before you start saying Holden is doing better than Ford!!

[Brazen]

Wait till Holden brings out their rumoured dedicated LPG Commodore. Commodore is still selling really well considering its age and no visual updates.

Does anyone have the Territory's figures?

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Joe5619

Who needs exsues?? Falcon is up for the month 25% from last year & up 22% YTD from last year.. This is a great result. Market share increase for the Falcon as well...

Last year was horrid, Gosh I hope it was the lowest point and Falcon is on the mend.
If we can relaunch XT, maybe with R6 Ute nose and 6-speed auto, maybe some fleet sales
come back and Falcon build numbers look better, we need to do something to boost sales...

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by Joe5619

Who needs exsues?? Falcon is up for the month 25% from last year & up 22% YTD from last year.. This is a great result. Market share increase for the Falcon as well...

Well said....
Some people have no idea...I wish some of you would get over this pre-occupation you have with selling the most cars at any cost..
Its a totally flawed concept if you have to "buy" market share and loose money doing it: AKA Holden...
Ford don't have the manufacturing capacity of Holden, end of story, both operate with different fixed costs, Ford don't need to make as many cars as Holden do to cover fixed costs, and Ford have clearly stated a desire to maintain build rates that are efficient which means the greatest chance of a profit.

Ford have shown an increase in sales for the month and increase in sales YTD, a good result, in isolation and a great result if it means profitability.

[Brazen]

Hyundai i30 third best selling car in the country!

Also if you take out Falcon wagon, I doubt the Falcon would have been in the top 10.

[Joe5619]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Last year was horrid, Gosh I hope it was the lowest point and Falcon is on the mend.
If we can relaunch XT, maybe with R6 Ute nose and 6-speed auto, maybe some fleet sales
come back and Falcon build numbers look better, we need to do something to boost sales...

OK, up YTD 20% from 2 years ago & when the FG was first lanched.. Best Falcon numbers for at least 2 years & best FG ever!!

Commodore down YTD 1% from 2 years ago.. And a massive increase in market share to the Falcon

Again look at the numbers porperly!!

Analysis of numbers is what I'm paid to do!!

[Professor Farnsworth]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Well said....
Some people have no idea...I wish some of you would get over this pre-occupation you have with selling the most cars at any cost..
Its a totally flawed concept if you have to "buy" market share and loose money doing it: AKA Holden...
Ford don't have the manufacturing capacity of Holden, end of story, both operate with different fixed costs.

Ford have shown an increase in sales for the month and increase in sales YTD, a good result, in isolation and a great result if it means profitability.

everyone my friend, is fully entitled to their own opinion.

given the relatively fresh faced FG in comparison to the stone age faced VE, with plenty of time for people to get their head around what the FG has to offer, i would have predicted the Falcon sales to be far higher than this data indicates. I'm sure a lot of others would too.

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by Professor Farnsworth

everyone my friend, is fully entitled to their own opinion.

given the relatively fresh faced FG in comparison to the stone age faced VE, with plenty of time for people to get their head around what the FG has to offer, i would have predicted the Falcon sales to be far higher than this data indicates. I'm sure a lot of others would too.

Agreed, but 75% of Commodore sales are to Fleets or leases!!!!
Fleet managers choose the cheapest cars, not necessarily the BEST cars....

Id love to see the figures for private sales of VE versus FG... i BET the FG would be ahead.

Fords model mix shift up the range is testimony to this.

[Brazen]

On sheer numbers I would bet that more private buyers buy Commodore than Falcon, just seeing how many private people buy the Sportwagon makes me confident of this. On percentage terms it might be different as Falcons sell a lot less. Who knows.

Having no data means that I have no way of knowing for sure. As long as Ford is profitable that is the main thing.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Agreed, but 75% of Commodore sales are to Fleets or leases!!!!

Be careful, a lot of those "fleet" sales are actually user chooser novated leases
and while Falcon does well with 95% of sales being XR and G series, Holden sells
roughly the same number of mid and high series cars but then goes on to add
Omega sales as well. Ford needs to reconnect with fleet managers and a
reemergence of a new base model with 6-speed auto could do that.

While I'm disappointed with sales of falcons, I can understand that Ford is about to
go after fleets again so it will be interesting to see how all of this pans out..

Originally Posted by Joe5619

OK, up YTD 20% from 2 years ago & when the FG was first lanched.. Best Falcon numbers for at least 2 years & best FG ever!!

Commodore down YTD 1% from 2 years ago.. And a massive increase in market share to the Falcon

Again look at the numbers porperly!!

Analysis of numbers is what I'm paid to do!!

Then you would know that the FG didn't launch until April 2008
and the figures you're comparing are dying last quarter of BF II.

A good result for FG compared to BF II but the low numbers in a bumper month are concerning...

[bobthebilda]

Its quite mind boggling, that someone would actually go out, and buy a car that was released 4 years ago. You can go to government auctions now, and pick up VE commodores for $16000 (with mid 30000K's on the clock), and they are basically the same cars that are being made now. It would seem to be a bad investment to buy a commodore for $36000 and being driving along the same car that was brought for 55% less.

[Brazen]

Like how the RTV was released with the BAII, I would love to see a new RTV with FGII to take some of those off-road ute sales.

[jpd80]

On a different note, does anyone have the figures for individual figures Falcon /Holden/Toyota products?
If so would you please post them....

[Joe5619]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Be careful, a lot of those "fleet" sales are actually user chooser novated leases
and while Falcon does well with 95% of sales being XR and G series, Holden sells
roughly the same number of mid and high series cars but then goes on to add
Omega sales as well. Ford needs to reconnect with fleet managers and a
reemergence of a new base model with 6-speed auto could do that.

While I'm disappointed with sales of falcons, I can understand that Ford is about to
go after fleets again so it will be interesting to see how all of this pans out..


Then you would know that the FG didn't launch until April 2008
and the figures you're comparing are dying last quarter of BF II.

A good result for FG compared to BF II but the low numbers in a bumper month are concerning...

Consider Falcon & Commodore as 2 make market for on second

2008: Falcon: 34.6%
2008: Commodore: 65.4%

2010 Falcon: 39.2%
2010 Commodore: 60.8%

That is close to a 5% increase on market share in 2 years (based on my model theory).. How is that bad? Forget the days of 4-5-6-7K falcons sold evey month, they are gone.. What we do have is a Falcon with growth in sales numbers & market share!!

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Agreed, but 75% of Commodore sales are to Fleets or leases!!!!
Fleet managers choose the cheapest cars, not necessarily the BEST cars....

Id love to see the figures for private sales of VE versus FG... i BET the FG would be ahead.

Fords model mix shift up the range is testimony to this.

Private sales arent like they use to be either, remember the amount of dealer bonus Ford / FPV have to provide to move alot of these non fleet cars.

Ford still need to get Falcon sedan numbers up regardless of what anyone says. They need 3000 units per month if not a few more to keep it viable, specially now wagon is gone and contributed roughly 500 a month.

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by Joe5619

Consider Falcon & Commodore as 2 make market for on second

2008: Falcon: 34.6%
2008: Commodore: 65.4%

2010 Falcon: 39.2%
2010 Commodore: 60.8%

That is close to a 5% increase on market share in 2 years (based on my model theory).. How is that bad? Forget the days of 4-5-6-7K falcons sold evey month, they are gone.. What we do have is a Falcon with growth in sales numbers & market share!!

I dont know, but I never really thought of market share as an important figure, you cant pay the bills with it.

Technically the Statesman/Caprice has 100% of the Aussie-made LWB segment, doesnt mean they sell a lot...

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Joe5619

Consider Falcon & Commodore as 2 make market for on second

2008: Falcon: 34.6%
2008: Commodore: 65.4%

2010 Falcon: 39.2%
2010 Commodore: 60.8%

That is close to a 5% increase on market share in 2 years (based on my model theory).. How is that bad? Forget the days of 4-5-6-7K falcons sold evey month, they are gone.. What we do have is a Falcon with growth in sales numbers & market share!!

Hmm, that makes sense, probably with a bit of alcohol and reflection maybe things aren't so bad.
I'm gonna sit back for a while and see what others think...

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Hmm, that makes sense, probably with a bit of alcohol and reflection maybe things aren't so bad.
I'm gonna sit back for a while and see what others think...

I personally think a measly 5% increase in share from record shocking lows is pathetic. Especially with a brand new model against an aging competitor. But Im a scmhuck so it doesnt matter what I think :-)

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by bfiipursuit

Private sales arent like they use to be either, remember the amount of dealer bonus Ford / FPV have to provide to move alot of these non fleet cars.

Ford still need to get Falcon sedan numbers up regardless of what anyone says. They need 3000 units per month if not a few more to keep it viable, specially now wagon is gone and contributed roughly 500 a month.

None of us really know how many units they need to make each month to remain viable because that number will change based on model mix and what margin they're sold for.

I totally agree though that Ford should strive to sell more cars... BUT at a profit.

What i do know is id rather sell 2500 cars a month with an incremental increase in sale YTD and return a small profit than sell 5000 cars a month, loose some market share and make a loss doing it....

Some though will still see the 5000 sales as some kind of victory or success.