Motorists are embracing outdated four-wheel drives that will soon be replaced as April sales hit a record high.
The popularity of cars with higher ground clearance has surged during the past year with Australians banned from travelling overseas wanting to go off road.
But in some cases, sales of outdated SUVs have multiplied even though they are set to either be replaced or axed by 2022.
Mitsubishi is this year ending production of the Pajero after 40 years but this didn’t stop sales from soaring fivefold or by 396 per cent to 263 in April 2021, up from just 53 a year earlier, Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries data showed.
Motorists are embracing outdated four-wheel drives that will soon be replaced as April sales hit a record high. Mitsubishi is this year ending production of the Pajero after 40 years but this didn’t stop sales from soaring fivefold or by 396 per cent to 263 in April 2021, up from just 53 a year earlier, Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries data showed
Toyota LandCruiser 200-series sales almost tripled to 2,595 from 924 a year earlier, or by 181 per cent, despite new pictures emerging of the next 300-series model which will have a twin-turbo V6 instead of a V8.
In another rarity, the Ford Ranger has outsold the Toyota HiLux for the first time since September 2020 and topped Australia’s monthly sales chart for the first time since 2017 even though it is being replaced next year.
Its monthly sales tripled or rose by 226 per cent to 5,021 from 1,540.
The outgoing Ranger formed the basis of the old Mazda-BT50 and the new Ranger, due for release in 2022, will form the platform of the next Volkswagen Amarok.
The Ford Everest, which is based on the outgoing Ranger, saw its sales climb five-fold from 178 to 958 – or by 438 per cent.
Last month, 92,347 brand new vehicles left the showroom in Australia – the highest April sales tally on on record.
Sales more than doubled, rising by 137.2 per cent compared with a year earlier, bouncing back from the low of October when Melbourne was still in lockdown.
In the 12 months to April, sales totalled 1,000,676 – a 13-month high – to be up 1.0 per cent on a year ago.
SUVs last month took out four spots in the top ten, and comprised 53 per cent of new vehicle sales with 49,176 sold out out of 92,347.
Utes taking another four spots on the top ten, with 21,714 sold compared with 18,064 for passenger cars.
Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive Tony Weber said the record April sales were a sign of an economy emerging from Covid.
Toyota LandCruiser 200-series sales almost tripled to 2,595 from 924 a year earlier, or by 181 per cent, despite new pictures emerging of the next 300-series model which will have a twin-turbo V6 instead of a V8
‘New vehicles sales are a direct reflection of the performance of the broader economy in terms of consumer and business confidence,’ he said.
CommSec senior economist Ryan Felsman said car sales were surging without the need for discounting, with Taiwan struggling to produce enough computer chips for global car makers.
‘While the global semiconductor chip shortage is weighing on the supply of new cars for eager car buyers, its boosting the profits of car dealerships with less price discounting due to low inventories and strong buyer demand,’ he said.
The Reserve Bank of Australia on Tuesday revealed for the first time that it expected unemployment to fall to 4.5 per cent by the end of next year for the first time since November 2008, during the Global Financial Crisis.
In another rarity, the Ford Ranger has outsold the Toyota HiLux for the first time since September 2020 and topped Australia’s monthly sales chart for the first time since 2017 even though it is being replaced next year. Its monthly sales tripled or rose by 226 per cent to 5,021 from 1,540
‘A pick-up in business investment is expected and household spending will be supported by the strengthening in balance sheets over the past year,’ it said.
Stronger business and consumer sentiment is good for car sales.
The jobless rate was 5.6 per cent in March and was 5.1 per cent in February 2020 just before the pandemic.
Wages last year grew by just 1.4 per cent and they haven’t been above 3 per cent since March 2013.
Wages growth hasn’t been above 4 per cent since March 2009 and were at 4.3 per cent in December 2008 when the unemployment rate had a four in front of it.
The Ford Everest, which is based on the outgoing Ranger, saw its sales climb five-fold from 178 to 958 – or by 438 per cent
