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Australia August 2018: Mazda shines, Holden burns in 5th market decline

The Mazda3 helps the Japanese carmaker to its largest share since January.

* Now updated with the Top 45 All-brands and Top 280 All-models – click on title to see *

New vehicle sales in Australia endure a 5th consecutive month of year-on-year decline in August at -1.5% to 95.221 registrations, leading to a year-to-date volume down 0.3% to 786.294, still the 2nd largest-ever YTD tally at this stage of the year below 2017 (788.968). Looking at sales by State, only Tasmania (+12.2% to 1.726), South Australia (+1.5% to 5.878) and Victoria (+0.5% to 27.720) are up, with the remainder all posting declines: Northern Territory (-9.7% to 816), Australian Capital Territory (-5.1% to 1.464), New South Wales (-4.1% to 30.823) Western Australia (-3.9% to 8.158) and Queensland (-0.3% to 18.636). SUV are frankly back in positive at +8.3% to 41.271 and 43.3% share vs. 39.4% a year ago whereas passenger cars sink 13.4% to 30.940 and 32.5% vs. 37% in August 2017. Light commercials are down 1.3% to 19.165 and a stable 20.2% share.

The Toyota Prado surges 79% to hit its all-time record Australian ranking at #7.

Illustrating the stark contrast between the health of the SUV segment vs. the freefalling of passenger cars, every single passenger segment is down vs. 2017 with medium (-24.1%) and large cars (-60.3%) hit the hardest, while all SUV segments progress including small (+12.5%) and large (+11.7%) except upper large (-2.8%) down marginally. Private sales are down 6.8% to 42.366, business sales gain 2.8% to 38.521, rental fleet are up 0.9% to 7.279 and government purchases down 2.2% to 3.210. Petrol sales dominate at 59.711, diesel is at 30.249 and electric/hybrids at 1.416 excluding Tesla. Vehicles sold in Australia are manufacturers in Japan at 31.517 (+14.9%), Thailand at 23.832 (-1.5%), South Korea at 13.602 (-6.1%), Germany at 7.269 (+0.4%), the U.S. at 3.742 (-4.3%), the U.K. at 2.383 (-27%), Czech Republic at 1.203 (+55.8%), Spain at 1.090 (-18.5%) and China at 970 (+182.8%). Australian-made cars logically implode at just 65 vs. 5.043 a year ago (-98.7%) as all manufacturers stopped their Australian operations in 2017.

The Nissan X-Trail bounces up 89% to stay in the Top 10. Pictures caradvice.com.au

Market leader Toyota (+1.7%) goes against the grain and posts a gain to 19.8% share vs. 18.8% so far this year, but the best performer in the Top 15 is without contest Mazda, surging 23% on August 2017 to a splendid 11% share, its highest since last January (11.4%) and leading to a round 10% YTD. Hyundai (+2.6%) and Mitsubishi (+6.3%) complete a Top 4 brilliantly all in positive. It’s a different story for Ford (-10.3%) stuck in 5th place, while Volkswagen (-2%) leaps up two spots on July to #6, overstepping Kia (+2.5%) and Nissan (+8.4%) despite a loss. The nightmare continues for Holden (-37.6%), posting a ghastly 8th consecutive double-digit decline sending it to its lowest market share in Australian history at 4.57% vs. 4.59% last month. Its once-best-seller the Commodore is down an abysmal 67% year-on-year to just 682 sales, even outsold by the Ford Mustang (732)despite the arrival of a new generation… Volvo (+83.7%) and Skoda (+28.1%) lodge the largest improvements in the Top 20 while further down, MG (+577.6%), LDV (+172.9%), Ram (+163.3%), Great Wall (+144.8%), Infiniti (+97.9%), Lamborghini (+57.1%) and Ferrari (+46.2%) make waves. In contrast, Mini (-48.7%), Haval (-38.6%), Peugeot (-32.4%), Land Rover (-32%), Suzuki (-28.4%) and Audi (-25.8%) struggle mightily.

The facelifted 3 helps lift MG up 577.6% in August.

The Toyota Hilux (-0.3%) enjoys a 10th consecutive monthly win and 16th pole position in the past 18 months despite a slight decline, keeping the Ford Ranger (-2%) at a comfortable distance: 760 sales for the month, 5.853 year-to-date. The Toyota Hilux is also victorious in the lucrative 4×4 ute segment at 3.207 deliveries vs. 3.083 for the Ranger, soon helped by the much anticipated Raptor variant. The Toyota Corolla (+3%) remains the most popular passenger car in the country and the new generation should lift its volumes further up in the remainder of the year. The Mazda3 (+37%) and CX-5 (+27%) both post stunning gains, the latter holding onto the SUV throne, this time seconded by an extremely dynamic Toyota Prado (+79%) scoring a second Top 10 finish in the past 4 years alongside last May (#10) and equalling its record position at #7, also reached in May 2003April 2012 and April 2014. The Nissan X-Trail (+89%) also impresses at #9 like last month, while the Mitsubishi Outlander (+10%) rallies back up 14 ranks on July to #11.

Previous month: Australia July 2018: Holden hits lowest-ever volume, market down 7.8%

One year ago: Australia August 2017: Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger top record market

Full August 2018 Top 45 All-brands and Top 280 All-models below.

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