February 2013 Sales Figures - Shock as Nissan bumps Holden

[ford man xf]

FOR the first time in Australian automotive history the top-three selling car brands in February were Japanese - and only two locally made cars barely made it into the top 10.
Toyota continued its 10-year dominance leading the market in February, with full importer Mazda maintaining second place for the third month in a row.
But in a move that has left industry veterans gob-smacked, Japanese counterpart Nissan bumped Holden off the podium to claim third place.
It is the first time in the 79-year history of Datsun-Nissan in Australia that it has outsold Holden - and the second time in a year Nissan has beaten Ford.

Perhaps more disturbingly for Australia's struggling car manufacturers - and the state and federal governments under fire for propping them up with taxpayer dollars - Nissan is selling more cars now than when it assembled them locally between 1972 and 1992.
. Holden claims its February flop was caused by a computer glitch that restricted dealers from reporting sales.

The Holden Cruze managed to scrape into the top ten.
Its one saving grace: the Commodore and Cruze were the only locally made cars to scrape into the top 10.
Japanese brands cashed in with sharper prices across a strong line-up of small cars, SUVs and utilities, confidential preliminary figures revealed exclusively to News Limited show.
The currency's crippling effect on the Australian car industry has renewed calls on the Reserve Bank to weaken the Australian dollar, which has been at record highs for two years.
Last week an RBA report released under Freedom Of Information showed the Australian dollar was over-valued by 7 per cent, but RBA governor Glenn Stevens maintains an intervention is not required.
"The sharpest prices we've seen in decades have been driven by interventions by foreign central banks,'' Holden director of government and corporate affairs Matt Hobbs told News Limited.
"It's an issue that Australian government needs to be aware of. We have not seen this sort of currency pressure since the 1970s.
''The artificially devalued Japanese Yen has enabled Australian importers of Japanese cars to offer abnormally sharp discounts. Late last year one Australian dollar bought 80 Yen, but as the Japanese currency weakened one Australian dollar was worth 90 Yen in January and climbed to almost 95 Yen at the start of March.
Honda Australia has even reverted to sourcing some cars from Japan rather than low-cost Thailand because it can get just as good a deal, if not better.
The special edition Jazz "Vibe'' sells for less than the Thailand-made versions of the same car.Brand-new models of the Nissan Pulsar, Toyota Corolla and Toyota RAV4 have been released in the past three months with the same or cheaper prices than they started with in the 1990s - despite being much better equipped.
It's not only Japanese brands reaping the rewards. The Australian car industry is caught in a pincer movement as European brands have also made the most of favourable exchange rates.
Last week Mercedes released a car that was cheaper than a Holden Commodore (when recommended retail prices are compared: $35,690 versus $35,990 plus on-road costs) and yet the baby Benz has more standard equipment.
Last year a Mercedes was the second-highest selling medium-size sedan after the Toyota Camry and ahead of the Mazda6 and Subaru Liberty.
In a further sign of the fragmentation of the new-car market, the bulk of the top 20 sellers are separated by less than 500 sales. Historically, the gaps in sales volumes between each model have been much wider.
This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling
Top-selling brands in February (and how they compare to the same month last year)

Toyota 15,992 (up 7 per cent)
Mazda 8728 (up 0.4 per cent)
Nissan 8225 (up 32 per cent)
Holden 7687 (down 20 per cent)
Hyundai 7505 (up 1 per cent)
Ford 6590 (down 5 per cent)
Volkswagen 4190 (up 1.4 per cent)
Honda 3862 (up 48 per cent)
Subaru 3104 (down 3.8 per cent)
Top-selling cars in February (and how they compare to the same month last year)
Mazda3 3378 (down 11 per cent)
Toyota HiLux 3319 (up 46 per cent)
Toyota Corolla 3158 (up 0.5 per cent)
Nissan Navara 2639 (up 30 per cent)
Mitsubishi Triton 2336 (up 72 per cent)
Hyundai i30 2055 (down 15 per cent)
Ford Ranger 1739 (up 118 per cent)
Holden Commodore 1733 (down 42 per cent)
Holden Cruze 1730 (down 39 per cent)
Nissan Dualis 1548 (up 70 per cent)

Source: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/nat...-1226589429410

[ford man xf]

Holden claims its February flop was caused by a computer glitch that restricted dealers from reporting sales.

Really??

[BroadyFord]

What's are the bets for Falcon?

I'm going to say 810-820.

I hate this time of the month... :(

[dave351cid]

notice that all sedan sales (except corolla up 1/2 %) have dropped quite a lot.
looks like utes and baby SUVs are the flavor of the month.
Ranger up 118% /

[MethodX]

Sad days.

[Chopped]

Mazda3 3378 (down 11 per cent)
Toyota HiLux 3319 (up 46 per cent)
Toyota Corolla 3158 (up 0.5 per cent)
Nissan Navara 2639 (up 30 per cent)
Mitsubishi Triton 2336 (up 72 per cent)
Hyundai i30 2055 (down 15 per cent)
Ford Ranger 1739 (up 118 per cent)
Holden Commodore 1733 (down 42 per cent)
Holden Cruze 1730 (down 39 per cent)
Nissan Dualis 1548 (up 70 per cent)


Ranger had a good month (alot are headed to mine sites)
I also thought Hyundai would beat Holden in sales before Nissan did.

[Ford_The_Win]

I don't understand how the Dualis has become so popular, I've driven a 2011 model and they're gutless and harsh-riding, and overall pretty uninspiring.

[Brazen]

With the Yen 15-20% undervalued, and the Aussie overvalued by around 7% it is a recipe for disaster.

I really think a 'temporary currency alignment tariff' for some key industries should be implemented.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Cheap finance has been the key to success for Nissan.

[Windsor220]

Do those figures seem a bit dodgy? Mitsubishi must of only sold 3000 max for the month but sold 2300 Tritons. So they didnt sell anything else?

[Pepscobra]

A sad symptom of the current state of affairs.

Local manufacturing has been given so much bad press recently from the 'government handouts' that I think people actually want it to wind up and buyers are staying away in their droves. Little do they realise what that would do to the economy as a whole.

[csv8]

New Cruze coming with more powerful engine...and dealers with cheap finance did really well. 1% ..I thought Focus would have done better ??? omens not good for FORD..really need a marketing rethink..Holden are doing a QLD special advertising campaign until March 9.
I hope Ford sales pick up from now on......

[Wretched]

well the folks finally chalked up another Focus sale last weekend, but I think it will appear in the March sales figures as it is still on the boat due to arrive in 2 weeks.
Brand new Focus ST, first time in 30 years there hasn't been a Falcon in the family.

[Sorted]

Wow Ranger up 118%
Mates company use to buy Falcon Cab Chassis now the but Ford Ranger Cab Chassis - picked up another 2 on Thursday
They have pillar less suicide rear doors for the back seat - looks awesome

[Joe5619]

Originally Posted by csv8

omens not good for FORD..really need a marketing rethink..Holden are doing a QLD special advertising campaign until March 9.
I hope Ford sales pick up from now on......

I don't agree. If those numbers for March are right then Ford's sales YTD (Jan & Feb) are up 7%. So sales are up for Ford this year. On the local front, as long as Falcon Sedan is around 1,000, territory around 1,200 & ute around 400 then all is looking great!!

[aussie muscle]

Originally Posted by MethodX

Sad days.

it is a pity more australians don't support australian built

[joolz]

Originally Posted by Brazen

With the Yen 15-20% undervalued, and the Aussie overvalued by around 7% it is a recipe for disaster.

I really think a 'temporary currency alignment tariff' for some key industries should be implemented.

If a tariff was put in place it would be protectionism according to the Government. But when overseas do it its called free trade...

[naddis01]

Originally Posted by Windsor220

Do those figures seem a bit dodgy? Mitsubishi must of only sold 3000 max for the month but sold 2300 Tritons. So they didnt sell anything else?

Look at their range. Other than Triton, that they are giving away, there isn't much there.

[XWGT]

Mazda3 3378 (down 11 per cent)
Toyota HiLux 3319 (up 46 per cent)
Toyota Corolla 3158 (up 0.5 per cent)
Nissan Navara 2639 (up 30 per cent)
Mitsubishi Triton 2336 (up 72 per cent)
Hyundai i30 2055 (down 15 per cent)
Ford Ranger 1739 (up 118 per cent)
Holden Commodore 1733 (down 42 per cent)
Holden Cruze 1730 (down 39 per cent)
Nissan Dualis 1548 (up 70 per cent)


I see workhorses making up 10,033 of a total top ten sales of 23,635.

Basically business purchases are fuelling the car economy and Commodore and Falcon if we assume 800 sales for Falcon will make up 2500 or 24,435 sales.....10% between them, which is no great suprise.

[FalconXV]

When will Falcon, Tezz figures be out?

[davenl5l]

Originally Posted by FalconXV

When will Falcon, Tezz figures be out?

computer glitch

[Resurrection]

Originally Posted by FalconXV

When will Falcon, Tezz figures be out?

Tomorrow.

[mik]

Why isn't govco pushing australian's to buy australian?
Regardless of what cars makers say in the media regarding building cars here in 2018 ?................... if things keep going the way they are , it would'nt suprise me if they where not around by then.

[Pepscobra]

Originally Posted by mik

Why isn't govco pushing australian's to buy australian?

Honestly, I think people are actually starting to (or have been for a while?) begrudge the local car-making industry. It's viewed as a charity at the moment.

I would like to see more facts/figures on how much indirect employment the local industry provides.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by mik

Why isn't govco pushing australian's to buy australian?
Regardless of what cars makers say in the media regarding building cars here in 2018 ?................... if things keep going the way they are , it would'nt suprise me if they where not around by then.

Lol the Govco don't even buy Australian made themselves... Look at Julia Gillard floating around in a WL Caprice that's 7 years old... Doesn't say much for our economy does it.

[Peter B - CV8]

Originally Posted by DASH GT

Lol the Govco don't even buy Australian made themselves... Look at Julia Gillard floating around in a WL Caprice that's 7 years old... Doesn't say much for our economy does it.

I think they keep the PM's car a bit longer - due to all the security upgrades it receives. Even the US presidents car isn't upgraded all that frequently.

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by Pepscobra

Honestly, I think people are actually starting to (or have been for a while?) begrudge the local car-making industry. It's viewed as a charity at the moment.

I would like to see more facts/figures on how much indirect employment the local industry provides.

I think it is also they're not delivering a product that the market wants (figures show that).

Buying local will get you a sedan, a ute, a SUV (which sells well) or an average small car. None in one brand either so as a consumer the choice of a local car is very limited. No one should be forced to buy a particular brand or type of car.

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by DASH GT

Lol the Govco don't even buy Australian made themselves... Look at Julia Gillard floating around in a WL Caprice that's 7 years old... Doesn't say much for our economy does it.

And Rudd has a Prius. Abbott drives a LPG Falcon.

[Pepscobra]

Abbott gets my vote!

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by Brazen

And Rudd has a Prius. Abbott drives a LPG Falcon.

Rudd did have a SYII Turbo Ghia in QLD... not sure if he still has it.

As for the prime ministers car is that special? double glazed glass etc? I'm surprised it still keeps going with the age / kms it would have done now.