Australia’s new vehicle sales in November stood at 95,205 units, up by 12.4pc as compared to the preceding year, for the first time in 31 months, according to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI).
The association said that hike in sales is due to an increase in consumer confidence, backed by government support programs during the COVID-19 pandemic, the easing of lending restrictions, and the current competitive automotive market.
It added that the rise in sales is the first sign of recovery in the new auto market as the Australian economy is slowly recovering.
Passenger car sales in November stood at 20,711 units, down by 10.1pc from the preceding year, while SUV sales grew by 26.5pc to 50,016 units as compared to November 2019.
Sales of light commercial vehicle (LCV) in October stood at 21,252 units, up by 11.5pc from the previous year, while heavy commercial vehicle (HCV) sales stood at 3,226 units.
Australia’s top-selling brand in November was Toyota with sales of 23,204 units, followed by Mazda with 9,053 units, Hyundai with 6,903 units, Ford with 6,613 units, and Mitsubishi with 5,488 units.
In the Jan-Nov period, however, the country’s auto sales declined by 16.1pc to 821,316 from the prior-year period given the curbs and lockdown and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the initial months of the year.
Outlook
The association said that many Australians are choosing to buy new vehicles during the festive season in December. It is expecting to see a notable increase in family driving trips and a hike in sales during the Christmas season.