Australia November 2011: Ford Territory at best in 5 years, Mazda3 back in pole position year-to-date UPDATED

Ford Territory

* NOW UPDATED with the Top 20 best-selling models: click on the title to see *

After months of supply chain disruption due to the Japan earthquake tsunami and Thai floods, the Australian market confirms its last quarter will be a positive one, up 1.5% year-on-year in November at 88,654 registrations and bringing the year-to-date total to 925,978 sales, down 2% but on route to pass the million mark for only the fourth year in history.

Discreetly, the Toyota Corolla catches up on a lot of missed sales and lodges its third consecutive month on top of the Australian models ranking, its fourth this year, with 3,731 sales and 4.2% share, however still #4 year-to-date at 32,468 units and 3.5%.

Mazda3

The real winner this month is the Mazda3, a strong #2 at 3,480 sales and 3.9%, a score that enables it to snap the 2011 year-to-date pole position away from the Holden Commodore once again with 38,104 sales vs. 37,803, both models being at 4.1% share. Already very weak in October, the Commodore delivers an even paltrier November at #4 with 2,808 units and 3.2%, its lowest share and first time below 3,000 monthly units in over 20 years…

The month of December will decide what will be ‘Australia’s best-selling car’, so expect Holden and Mazda to fight with heavy promotions in order to secure the #1 position the Holden Commodore has held for the last 15 years…

The Toyota Hilux holds itself onto the podium both in November (3.8%) and year-to-date (3.7%) and the Holden Cruze awaits the arrival of the hatchback, slowing down to 2.7% at #5. The Ford Territory jumps up to #7, its best position since June 2006, with an excellent 1,776 sales and 2% share. It is the first time ever the Territory outsells the legendary Falcon (#13 this month) upon which it is based.

Thanks to the new generation now in dealerships, the Toyota Yaris reappears in the Top 10 for the first time since January at #8 whereas for the Toyota RAV4 it’s a bit more of an event as it is simply the first time the RAV4 nameplate manages to break into the Australian monthly Top 10! Notice the Hyundai Accent climbing up the ladder to #21 this month, thanks in part to a significant delivery for car share company Go Get.

Previous month: Australia October 2011 VW Golf on podium

Full November 2011 Top 20 Ranking Table below.