RECORD YEAR FOR MOTOR INDUSTRY IN 2017 Australia’s motor industry has achieved another record year of sales in 2017, according to results released today by the industry’s official statistical service, VFACTS.

The industry posted a record December result to reach a 12-month total of 1,189,116, an increase of 0.9 per cent over 2016. It marks the industry’s fourth record in five years. The December total of 102,820 was also a record for that month, up 4.1 per cent on December 2016.

Releasing the 2017 results, FCAI Chief Executive Tony Weber said that 2017 marks the first full year in which the sales of Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) have outstripped those of passenger cars. “Australians bought 465,646 SUVs during 2017 for a 39.2 per cent share of the total market, compared with 450,012 passenger cars with a 37.8 per cent share,” Mr Weber said.

“The shift in industry dynamic we observed last year has now become entrenched in our market. It is a growth pattern that we expect will continue.” Light commercial vehicles also carried on their steady sales climb last year, up from an 18.5 per cent share of the total market in 2016 to 19.9 per cent in 2017. Mr Weber said that while the stability of the Australian economy and low interest rates were influential factors in the overall market growth, it was the fierce competition within the market place between brands which provided the momentum.

“Clearly Australian consumers recognise the value for money that is on offer in the new vehicle market, and responded accordingly,” Mr Weber said. “To have eight record months out of 12 in 2017 speaks volumes for how brands successfully placed new products and incentives into the market which kept attracting buyers into the showrooms right through the year.”

The top-selling model for 2017 was the Toyota Hilux, for the second year in a row. It was also the top-seller in December with 3,949 sales, followed by the Holden Astra (3,533), the Ford Ranger (3,458), the Holden Colorado (3,222) and the Mazda3 (2,807). Toyota was top-selling brand of 2017 with an 18.2 per cent market share, followed by Mazda with 9.8 per cent, Hyundai (8.2%), Holden (7.6%) and Mitsubishi (6.8%).

(2018-FEDERAL CHAMBER OF AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRIES)