VFACTS INDUSTRY SUMMARY - March 2013
The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries issues the following summary for the retail
sales performance of the automotive industry for March 2013.
Key Points:
 The March 2013 market of 97,400 new vehicle sales is a decrease of 216 vehicle sales or
-0.2% on March 2012 (97,616 vehicle sales). March 2013 (23.6) had 3 less selling days as
March 2012, resulting in an increase of 457 vehicle sales per day or 11.1%.
 The March 2013 industry volume is up 7,182 or 7.4% on February 2013 (90,218 vehicles). In
seasonally adjusted terms the March monthly volume equates to a 4.7% increase versus
February.
 The Passenger Vehicle Market is down by 2,432 vehicle sales (-4.8%) over the same
month last year: the Sports Utility Market is up by 1,720 vehicle sales (6.3%). The Light
Commercial Market is up by 417 vehicle sales (2.5%), and the Heavy Commercial Vehicle
Market is up by 79 vehicle sales (3.1%) versus March 2012.
 Toyota was market leader in March, followed by Mazda, and Nissan. Toyota leads
Mazda with a margin of 9,541 vehicle sales, or 9.8 market share points.
YEAR TO DATE RESULTS
The year-to-date 2013 market of 273,048 vehicles is running 12,926 vehicle sales or 5.0% ahead
of the same period in 2012. This equates to a YTD SAAR of 1.155 million vehicles. There were 3
less selling days available as in 2012, however the daily selling rate has increased by 457 or
11.1%. The Passenger Market at 133,959 vehicles is down by 5,620 vehicle sales (-4.0%). This
equates to a YTD SAAR of 0.556 million vehicles. Mixed results by segment were evident with
the Light car segment, up 1,019 (3.0%); the Sports car segment, up 2,105 (43.9%); the Small car
segment, up 562 (0.9%) and the Upper Large segment, up 449 (78.4%), whilst the Medium car
segment, down 4,800 (-23.0%); the Large car segment, down 4,327 (-27.8%) and the People
Movers segment, down 628 (-23.9%), failing to achieve the 2012 volume levels. The Sports
Utility Vehicle Market at 82,605 vehicles is running ahead of the same period in 2012 by 9,515
vehicles (13.0%), in year-to-date terms. This equates to a YTD SAAR of 0.347 million vehicles.
Segments contributing positive results were the SUV Small segment, up 4,235 vehicle sales
(28.9%); SUV Large up 2,416 (8.5%); the SUV Medium segment, up 3,340 vehicle sales (12.9%).
The only segment returning a negative result is the SUV Upper Large segment, down 476
vehicle sales (-11.4%). The Light Commercial Market at 49,642 vehicles is running 8,738 vehicles
(21.4%) above the same period in 2012, in year-to-date terms. This equates to a YTD SAAR of
0.221 million vehicles. This gain was driven by the Pick-up/Cab Chassis 4x4 segment which is
up 8,763 vehicle sales (35.4), and the Pick-up/Cab Chassis 4X2 segment, up 631 vehicle sales
(6.2%). Segments showing lower results were the Vans/CC <=2.5t down 28 vehicle sales (-3.6%).
The Light Bus <20 seats segment, down 132 vehicle sales (-18.6%); the Van/CC 2.5-3.5t
segment, down 376 vehicle sales (-8.9%) and the Light Bus => 20 seats segment, down 120
vehicle sales (-38.2%). The Heavy Truck Market at 6,842 vehicles is up on the same period in
2012 by 293 vehicle sales or 4.5%. This equates to a YTD SAAR of 0.033 million vehicle sales.
MONTHLY RESULTS
The Passenger Vehicle Market is down 2,432 vehicle sales or -4.8%. This was driven by losses in
the Medium car segment, down 1,092 (-15.0%) and the Large car, down 1,797 (-32.2%), and
the People Movers segment down 146 vehicle sales (-16.7%) and the Light car segment, down
948 (-7.2%). All other segments contributed positively with the Sports car segment, up 921
(57.2%); the Small car segment, up 529 (2.4%); and the Upper Large car segment, up 101
(45.5%) on 2012 volume levels. The Sports Utility Vehicle Market is up 1,720 vehicle sales or 6.3%
versus March 2012. Showing lower results were the SUV Upper Large segment, down 199
(-12.7%) and the SUV Large segment, down 570 vehicle sales (-5.3%). Segments returning
improved results were the SUV Small up 2,205 (41.3%); and the SUV Medium segment, up 284
vehicle sales (2.9%), versus 2012 volume levels. The Light Commercial Market is up 417 vehicle
sales or 2.5% versus March 2012. Strong results by the Pick-up/CC 4x4 up 1,094 (10.6%) were
the reason for the increase. Showing losses were the Pick-up/CC 4x2 down 471 (-11.7%); Light
Buses <20 seats segment, down 31 vehicle sales (-14.0%); the Van/CC 2.5t-3.5t segment, down
87 vehicle sales (-5.8%); the Vans/CC <=2.5t segment, down 38 vehicle sales (-11.9%) and the
Light Buses =>20 seats segment, down 50 vehicle sales (-38.5%), versus 2012 volume levels. The
Heavy Truck Market is up 79 vehicle sales or 3.1%, when compared with the same month in
2012.
TOP TEN MAKES
Toyota retains the top sales position in the March monthly market with 18,653 vehicle sales,
ahead of Mazda with 9,112 and Nissan third with 8,408 vehicle sales. Toyota, with a market
share of 17.6%, holds market leadership in year to date terms. Mazda’s March result sees it
in second position with a market share of 9.4%, with Nissan and Hyundai tied for third with
market shares of 8.6%. Holden, with sales of 8,283 and with a market share of 8.5%, is in fifth
position ahead of Ford, with 6.6% market share.
Report for the Month of
Mar-13
Marque
Standings
1
▲ Toyota
2
▲ Mazda
3
▼ Holden
4
▲ Nissan
5
▲ Hyundai
6
▲ Ford
7
▼ Mitsubishi
8
▲ Volkswagen
9
▲ Honda
10
▼ Subaru
Year to Date
Mar-13
Volume
Share
48,045
17.6%
26,752
9.8%
24,777
9.1%
23,868
8.7%
22,723
8.3%
20,746
7.6%
15,605
5.7%
12,323
4.5%
11,575
4.2%
10,429
3.8%
Year to Date
Mar-12
Volume
Share
47,375
18.2%
26,513
10.2%
28,945
11.1%
19,897
7.6%
21,731
8.4%
20,246
7.8%
15,739
6.1%
11,983
4.6%
6,429
2.5%
10,434
4.0%
Month
Mar-13
Volume
Share
18,653
19.2%
9,112
9.4%
8,283
8.5%
8,408
8.6%
8,402
8.6%
6,434
6.6%
5,147
5.3%
4,299
4.4%
3,897
4.0%
4,219
4.3%