March 2006 new car sales

[Falcon Freak]

Originally Posted by RATT

Fiesta 517
Focus 1316
Falcon 4363
Falcon Ute 1525
Territory 1873
Fairlane 146
Escape 230 (New model has T-bar auto, not column)
Courier 4x2 414
Courier 4x4 375

I thought you said it was a good month. Those are ordinary figures for the Falcon. Did they sell any LTDs in March?

FF

4363 is a good month! Really. In an earlier post I refered to Holden doing well in Govt fleet, while Ford did well in small business and private sales of Falcon.

Fiesta and Focus figures are also good. Fact is large car sales are down for everyone involved.

Originally Posted by markb

In the sense that when you go to trade on a newer model and it's worth less in 2 years than the trade on your 3 year old unpopular AU XR8 ute.

Anyway the only reason I am selling it is the fact that my needs have changed and a heavier duty commecial style vehicle Navara/Hilux is required.

Not disputing your reasons to change vehicles Mark. But I have to say there is a big difference between what a 02 AUIII XR8 ute is worth compared to an 03 BA XR8, to the tune of upto $5000+.

[Falcon Freak]

Originally Posted by RATT

4363 is a good month! Really. In an earlier post I refered to Holden doing well in Govt fleet, while Ford did well in small business and private sales of Falcon.

Fiesta and Focus figures are also good. Fact is large car sales are down for everyone involved.

When you said it was a good month I was expecting Falcon sales to be over the 5,000 mark.

I am waiting for the vFacts to see how the rabble in the red corner performed. I am confident that they sold more than 4,363 Commonbores.

FF

Unfortunately 4363 will probably be a considered to be a good month these days, and 5000+ units exceptional.

[markb]

Originally Posted by RATT

Not disputing your reasons to change vehicles Mark. But I have to say there is a big difference between what a 02 AUIII XR8 ute is worth compared to an 03 BA XR8, to the tune of upto $5000+.

Oh course it is different now.. I am talking about when I traded in my AU to purchase the BA.

On the subject of poor large car sales what's going to happen? the cost of oil is likley to remain in the stratosphere for the medium to long term.

I wonder if we are heading for an adjustment period where we drop our large vehicles and head for european style cars now..small, TD's etc.

I think the large car segment will always exist. But whether our local manufacturers will survive low volumes remains to be seen.

[new2ford]

Originally Posted by RATT

I think the large car segment will always exist. But whether our local manufacturers will survive low volumes remains to be seen.

Right on Ratt. The boom years are over unfortunately. Amazing even that the Territory's selling so well too. The traditional large 4WD sector (Landcruiser and Patrol) has collapsed.

I wonder if the govt orders for Commodores has something to do with their manufacturer bending the pollies' ears to do something to save Holden. The private sector on the other hand has no trouble working out which is the better car.

[Lagom]

Originally Posted by new2ford

I wonder if the govt orders for Commodores has something to do with their manufacturer bending the pollies' ears to do something to save Holden. The private sector on the other hand has no trouble working out which is the better car.

Erm, Falcon isn't outselling Commodore at a private level.

In fact the Honda Accord outsold the Falcon last year on private sales!

[new2ford]

Um, RATT says: 'Falcon private sales are higher than Commodore, but Holden have picked up some good state and fed. government contracts again. Where as Ford has gained ground in the small business sector with Falcon.' I presume he has inside industry information. So who's right?

[Falcon Freak]

Originally Posted by RATT

Unfortunately 4363 will probably be a considered to be a good month these days, and 5000+ units exceptional.

Well if that is the case then the end of the indigenous Falcon isn't that far away. Orion may be the last of a long and proudly Australian model line-up.

FF

[kcbworth]

Interesting to see the increase in focus sales. Was wondering when that would happen because it's imo easily the best car in its class (that's why i got one i guess). Still don't see many around.

Does anyone have the overall stats for the month (incl all makes)??

Originally Posted by Lagom

Erm, Falcon isn't outselling Commodore at a private level.

In fact the Honda Accord outsold the Falcon last year on private sales!

That is incorrect. Are you combining Accord Euro and the larger Accord?

[Falcon Freak]

Summary for March 2006 (March 2005 figures in brackets):

Ford - Australian manufactured vehicles

Falcon/Fairmont - 4,345 (5,026) -13.6%
Territory - 1,873 (2,275) -17.7%
Utility - 1,525 (1,762) -13.5%
Fairlane/LTD - 150 (152) -1.3%

Total - 7,893 (9,215) -14.3%

Ford - fully imported vehicles

Focus - 1,311 (801) +63.7%
Courier - 754 (662) +13.9%
Fiesta - 517 (482) +7.3%
Transit - 249 (248) +0.4%
Escape - 230 (314) -26.8%
F250 - 131 (206) -36.4%
Explorer - 18 (46) -60.9%
F350 - 12 (9) +33.3%
Econovan - 3 (36) -91.4%

Total - 3,225 (2,804) +15.0%

Local + imported = 11,118 (12,019) -7.5%

A bad month for the locally manufactured models. It appears that Falcon's good Feb 06 result was an aberation. A good month for the imported models which is more proof that people are moving away from large vehicles to smaller (imported) vehicles.

As to the dark side.........

Holden - Australian manufactured vehicles

Commodore - 5,170 (7,052) -26.7%
Ute/Crewman - 1,428 (1,389) +2.8%
Statesman/Caprice - 282 (381) -26.0%
Adventra - 221 (89) +148.3
Monaro - 120 (207) -42.0%

Total - 7,221 (9,118) -20.8%

Holden - fully imported vehicles

Rodeo - 1,810 (2,446) -26.0%
Astra - 1,768 (2,923) -39.5%
Barina - 1,367 (863) +58.4%
Viva - 974 (0) N/A
Vectra - 194 (266) -27.1%
Combo - 90 (95) -5.3%
Cruze - 75 (256) -70.7%
Tigra - 56 (0) N/A
Zafira - 0 (65) -100.0%
Jackaroo - 0 (0) N/A

Total - 6,334 (6,914) -8.4%

Local + imported = 13,555 (16,032) -15.5%

Although Holden's Commodore remains the number one selling vehicle, it is having it's worst start to a year since 1992. Bad news for most Holden models except for the Daewoo manufactured Barina.

Holden claims that they mean a lot to Australia. However:

71% of Ford vehicles sold in Mar 06 are Australian made.
53% of Holden vehicles sold in Mar 06 are Australian made.


For March 2006 the fuel types were as follows:

Petrol - 72,002 (85.6%)
Diesel - 10,749 (12.8%)
LPG - 1,056 (1.3%)
Hybrid - 214 (0.3%)

Total - 84,021 (3,135 heavy commercial vehicles not included)

For March 2005 the fuel types were as follows:

Petrol - 74,274 (88.5%)
Diesel - 8,942 (10.6%)
LPG - 653 (0.8%)
Hybrid - 107 (0.1%)

Total - 83,976 (2,662 heavy commercial vehicles not included)

As can be seen, there is a slow movement away from petrol engines. The number of LPG powered vehicles has almost doubled. It will be interesting to see the LPG sales once Ford releases the E-gas engine on more BF models.

FF

[vztrt]

Variance +/- %
MTH YTD

Ford -2.1% -4.4%
Holden -15.5% -10.2%

This is the percentage for passenger vehicles (this includes gov, fleet etc).

If you look at the difference that's beginning to happen Ford isn't doing as bad (looking at the economic climate). While Holden has been losing ground their sales are dropping. Could this be to the VE coming? Probably, but Ford is fairly level with last year's first half when they were making a profit.

[Falcon Freak]

VE start of production is scheduled for July 2006. Therefore the first cars will not go on sale until September this year. It is too early for VE to be influencing VZ sales. That usually occurs in the last couple of months before a new model release.

I still don't understand why the VZ is outselling the BF.

FF

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by Falcon Freak

I still don't understand why the VZ is outselling the BF.

FF

$$$ for fleets.

[ltd]

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

$$$ for fleets.

Exactly, Hold-on is offering executives for as little as $21500 to fleets.
That's why they consistently beat Ford, as it is a market perception that Holden selling more must make the better car. This, we know to be BS.

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

$$$ for fleets.

Specifically state and fed. govt deals. Which mean mainly unexciting cars such as White Execs and Acclaims.

[Falcon Freak]

What about your dealer RATT - do they have any fleet contracts with the government?

FF

[Lagom]

Originally Posted by RATT

That is incorrect. Are you combining Accord Euro and the larger Accord?

Entire Accord family - widebody & Euro.