Sales tipped to hit million

The Australian new vehicle market year-to-date is up by 15 per cent over last year's recovering market and could again top the one-million-unit mark.

Every brand in the top 10 was up on 2009 sales tallies to the end of August, which recorded 82,122 sales - 12 per cent better than August 2009, an increase of about 340 vehicles per day.

The year-to-date 2010 market of 695,666 vehicles is running ahead of the same period in 2009 by 15.2 per cent or 91,823 vehicle sales.

Holden's VE Commodore is in runout ahead of the Series II going on sale in and remains the top-selling vehicle in the country.

Holden's executive sales and marketing director John Elsworth said the strong Commodore sales - including a big increase in Ute sales last month - suggested continuing Commodore success and Cruze outsold Falcon for the second time this year.

"The local manufacture of Holden's best sellers is a real boost for local manufacturing in South Australia and our national automotive industry," he said.

Toyota remains the clear market leader by more than 50,000 sales and senior executive director sales and marketing David Buttner said the company's results were due to a number of factors, include strong retail offers in a competitive market.

"The improving economy, supported by solid business and consumer confidence, was also significant," he said.

Passenger car sales increased by 1586 vehicle sales (3.5 per cent) over the same month last year.

The Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) market was up by 4543 vehicle sales (32.5 per cent), led by increases of more than 25 per cent last month in all segments except large, which rose 15 per cent in August.

The Light Truck Market, increased by 2746 vehicle sales (22.6 per cent) in August, contributing to the segment's eight percent increase over 2009.

The Heavy Commercial Vehicle Market slipped by 39 vehicle sales - or 1.7 per cent - over August 2009, but in year-to-date terms heavy trucks are up by four per cent.

Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive Andrew McKellar said it was a strong August result with improved private and government fleet sales.

"The figures show sales to private buyers remain solid (up 20.9 per cent) and there has been a lift in new car purchases by government fleets (up 21.7 per cent)," Mr McKellar said.

"There is no evidence in the August data to suggest customers were distracted from their normal buying habits due to the election and the current political uncertainty," he said.

TOP 20 VEHICLES FOR AUGUST (YTD 2010)

TOP 10 BRANDS FOR AUGUST (YTD 2010)

MARKET SEGMENTS AUG  (YTD 2010, +/-)

PASSENGER CAR SALES FOR AUGUST  (YTD 2010, +/-)

SUV SALES FOR AUGUST  (YTD 2010, +/-)