New vehicle sales in Australia during 2012 were the highest on record. A total of 1,112,032 new vehicles were registered for the calendar year ending December 31, 2012. That was a whopping 10.3 per cent up on 2011 figures.
However, the numbers have to be taken in context and may not reveal the true state of the Australian automotive market.
In 2008 the world’s economy came crashing down, creating the Global Financial Crisis. Australia has escaped the worst of the GFC and our market has remained relatively buoyant.
In many countries sales have slumped and car-makers worldwide, having spotted the strength in the Australian market, have been sending cars Down Under in an attempt to reduce stocks. Another major factor was the pair of natural disasters in Asia. The Japanese tsunami and Thai floods caused chaos in vehicle manufacturing and supplies of some models stopped completely. The pent-up demand was met over the course of 2012, creating what may prove to have been an abnormal peak in 2012.
Mazda had the top-selling vehicle for the second year running, with 44,128 Mazda3s changing hands.
Toyota’s HiLux rode high on the mining boom and sports-pickup markets by taking the second spot. Toyota Corolla was third. The remaining vehicles in the top 10 are Holden Commodore, Holden Cruze, Hyundai i30, Toyota Camry, Nissan Navara, Toyota Yaris and Holden Captiva.
— Ewan Kennedy
