Australia January 2012: Holden Commodore not Holden’s best-seller for the first time since 1978, passed by Holden Cruze
Holden Cruze
* NOW UPDATED with the Top 50 best-selling models: click on the title to see! *
New car sales in Australia are up an encouraging 4% in January at 76,783 registrations. A few big benchmarks are passed this month. First, the Mazda3 confirms its title of Australia’s best-selling car acquired in 2011 when it put an end to 15 years of Holden Commodore domination by reaching its best-ever monthly market share this month at an outstanding 5.3% thanks to 4,045 sales. It is the third time in 8 months the 3 leads the Australian monthly ranking after June and August 2011, and the fourth time ever with January 2009. The 3 also hits the highest market share by any model in Australia since the 5.5% of the Toyota Corolla in January 2011.
Mazda3
The second benchmark, and it’s a massive one, is the Holden Cruze passing the Commodore for the first time in history to become the brand’s best-seller at #3 overall with 2,445 units and 3.2% share thanks to the addition of the new hatchback version also produced in Adelaide. It is the first time since its launch in 1978 that the Holden Commodore is not Holden’s top seller. In January it falls to just 2,170 units and 2.8% share, its lowest ever monthly volume and market share.
Ford Falcon
Finally the Ford Falcon, once the Commodore’s archenemy, suffers from large cars going out of fashion in the country and the effect of a freak hailstorm in Melbourne that damaged 500 vehicles in December to hit its lowest monthly volume ever recorded since the launch of the Falcon nameplate in 1961, falling below 1,000 units for the first time at 931 sales and 1.2% share.
Notice also the fantastic 6th place of the Mazda2, leading its category with 1,624 units and 2.1%. This is the 2′s highest monthly ranking ever, beating the 7th place it reached last August. The Ford Focus is up to a brilliant 8th position, the Holden Barina up to #11, Mazda CX-7 up to #14 and the Toyota Hilux is down to #17, penalised with supply issues from Thailand. Great Wall is up 68% on January 2011 at 868 sales.
Previous post: Australia Full Year 2011: Mazda3 breaks 15 years of Holden Commodore domination
One year ago: Australia January 2011: Toyota Corolla #1 for third consecutive month
Full January 2012 Top 50 Ranking Table below.
Australia January 2012:
| Pos | Model | Jan | % | Dec | 2011 | Pos |
| 1 | Mazda3 | 4,045 | 5.3% | 2 | 41,429 | 1 |
| 2 | Toyota Corolla | 3,383 | 4.4% | 1 | 36,087 | 4 |
| 3 | Holden Cruze | 2,445 | 3.2% | 4 | 33,784 | 5 |
| 4 | Holden Commodore | 2,170 | 2.8% | 3 | 40,617 | 2 |
| 5 | Hyundai i30 | 1,986 | 2.6% | 5 | 28,869 | 6 |
| 6 | Mazda2 | 1,624 | 2.1% | 13 | 17,501 | 12 |
| 7 | Nissan Navara | 1,609 | 2.1% | 8 | 21,675 | 7 |
| 8 | Ford Focus | 1,576 | 2.1% | 9 | 12,863 | 19 |
| 9 | Mitsubishi Lancer | 1,470 | 1.9% | 12 | 18,717 | 10 |
| 10 | Toyota Yaris | 1,352 | 1.8% | 6 | 16,214 | 14 |
| 11 | Holden Barina | 1,318 | 1.7% | 17 | 8,208 | 38 |
| 12 | Toyota RAV4 | 1,292 | 1.7% | 11 | 13,125 | 18 |
| 13 | Toyota Camry | 1,290 | 1.7% | 10 | 19,169 | 8 |
| 14 | Mazda CX-7 | 1,167 | 1.5% | 28 | 9,714 | 30 |
| 15 | Toyota Kluger | 1,105 | 1.4% | 14 | 11,692 | 24 |
| 16 | Mitsubishi Triton | 1,098 | 1.4% | 20 | 17,188 | 13 |
| 17 | Toyota Hilux | 1,080 | 1.4% | 7 | 36,124 | 3 |
| 18 | VW Golf | 1,051 | 1.4% | 23 | 18,682 | 11 |
| 19 | Nissan X-Trail | 1,048 | 1.4% | 21 | 12,089 | 22 |
| 20 | Toyota Land Cruiser | 1,003 | 1.3% | 32 | 9,119 | 35 |
| 21 | Holden Captiva7 | 997 | 1.3% | 27 | 10,324 | 29 |
| 22 | Toyota Aurion | 989 | 1.3% | 31 | 8,915 | 36 |
| 23 | Hyundai i20 | 986 | 1.3% | 22 | 8,708 | 37 |
| 24 | Ford Falcon | 931 | 1.2% | 15 | 18,741 | 9 |
| 25 | Suzuki Swift | 889 | 1.2% | 18 | 12,388 | 20 |
| 26 | Ford Fiesta | 888 | 1.2% | 33 | 12,286 | 21 |
| 27 | Toyota Prado | 882 | 1.1% | 35 | 10,849 | 28 |
| 28 | Nissan Dualis | 880 | 1.1% | 26 | 9,214 | 34 |
| 29 | Hyundai ix35 | 865 | 1.1% | 30 | 11,487 | 26 |
| 30 | Ford Territory | 804 | 1.0% | 16 | 13,866 | 16 |
| 31 | Subaru Forester | 784 | 1.0% | 19 | 13,142 | 17 |
| 32 | Mitsubishi ASX | 728 | 0.9% | 38 | 6,430 | 49 |
| 33 | Subaru Liberty | 725 | 0.9% | 78 | 3,898 | 67 |
| 34 | Hyundai Elantra | 710 | 0.9% | 36 | 4,574 | 61 |
| 35 | Honda Accord Euro | 709 | 0.9% | 37 | 4,879 | 57 |
| 36 | Holden Colorado | 687 | 0.9% | 34 | 11,824 | 23 |
| 37 | Mazda6 | 663 | 0.9% | 42 | 5,794 | 54 |
| 38 | Subaru XV | 655 | 0.9% | - | 0 | - |
| 39 | Kia Cerato/Koup | 655 | 0.9% | 51 | 6,952 | 42 |
| 40 | Kia Rio | 644 | 0.8% | 46 | 6,187 | 51 |
| 41 | Toyota Land Cruiser Ute | 638 | 0.8% | 39 | 6,523 | 47 |
| 42 | Ford Ranger | 618 | 0.8% | 40 | 15,586 | 15 |
| 43 | Hyundai Accent | 603 | 0.8% | 25 | 3,625 | 70 |
| 44 | Mazda BT-50 | 560 | 0.7% | 44 | 9,645 | 31 |
| 45 | Mitsubishi Outlander | 532 | 0.7% | 45 | 7,599 | 39 |
| 46 | Mitsubishi Pajero | 475 | 0.6% | 43 | 6,852 | 43 |
| 47 | Holden Commodore Ute | 473 | 0.6% | 41 | 9,489 | 33 |
| 48 | Holden Captiva5 | 468 | 0.6% | 49 | 4,799 | 59 |
| 49 | Toyota Hiace Van | 464 | 0.6% | 47 | 6,034 | 53 |
| 50 | Subaru Outback | 462 | 0.6% | 66 | 4,770 | 60 |
Source: VFACTS, www.caradvice.com.au
The marketing fools at Holden and Ford do not understand the market. It is unbelievable that such hot country (read evaporation of fuel) with such big spaces (read high k’s covered per year) do not offer diesel versions of the Commodore or Falcon, especially in the Ute forms or for taxis. People don’t buy them because they are not offered. They have engine designs from their parent companies that would fit the bill.
They deserve to go out of business.
I have the 3 top sellers in each category,which makes intertesting reading…
LIGHT CARS
MAZDA 2…1624
TOYOTA YARIS 1352
HOLDEN BARINA 1318
SMALL CARS
MAZDA 3…4045
TOYOTA COROLLA 3383
HOLDEN CRUZE 2445
MEDIUM CARS
TOYOTA CAMRY 1290
HONDA ACCORD EURO 709
MAZDA 6…663
LARGE CARS
HOLDEN COMMODORE 2170
TOYOTA AURION 989
FORD FALCON 931
The strange thing about Mazda is Australia is one of the FEW markets in the world in which they sell well…
@Miguel
I don’t know if I’d call our car market “interesting”. As one of the few RHD car markets in the world, we miss out on some great LHD-only models, mostly from the USA. For example, the Mercedes GLK isn’t available here. But I guess you always want what you can’t have.
@mfabio83
Here in Portugal they sold just 20 ( twenty ) cars in January… It’s unbeliavable. Down 87% from last year.
I agree with you on the 5, it really is rather unfortunate looking ( it’s already receiving a small re styling btw, but those lines on the side are still there ) and am also hopeful for the CX5. A friend of mine who knows nothing about cars has already mentioned it to me, and if Mitsubishi can sell bucketloads of dull-as-dishwater ASXs then Mazda is sure to have a hit on their hands.
@mfabio83
Mazda is a great marque with excellent reliability. Their cars have charisma and are stylish. I´m very found of the mazda MX5; to me is the most attractive roadster nowdays. The 3 is a solid mid compact and the 6 a great executive. The 2 is cute and has good engines. Mazda have cars that last forever.
@tuga
you’re right. the only Mazda that i don’t like is the Mazda5, the old generation was better for me. Here in Italy Mazda sell so few cars for each model: 2, 3, 6… it’s a great pity because they are car so good. I think that with the new CX-5, at least in Italy, Mazda could sell so as good as Nissan do with his Crossover Qashqai and Juke
Great to see Mazda doing well somewhere. I really don’t get why they don’t sell more in Europe, the 2 and the 6 are really great cars with great looks, and the 3 is a good drive and very reliable ( although the hatch is somewhat awkward i guess ).
Matt,I hope you will be able to publish thr full list once details are available.
Thanks once again.
Another interesting car market with good cars…