Battle on for 2003 new vehicle leadership

Battle on for 2003 new vehicle leadership

Toyota and Ford were only four units apart in new car sales in August as the battle hots up for not only leadership of the 2003 new car market, but the total vehicle market as well. In total vehicle sales, the two companies are just 438 units apart with four months of the year still to go.

The August new vehicle market came slightly off the record highs experienced over the last three months, but this can be largely explained by seasonal fluctuations in rental car deliveries. 5381 new cars were delivered last month (the best August for new car sales since 1996), and 2003 is still on target to be the best new car sales year since 1990.

Of the remaining top players, Holden is entrenched in a solid third place in total vehicle sales year to date August, but is within striking distance of second-placed Toyota in new car sales. Mitsubishi is stretching its margin over Nissan, Mazda and Honda as ‘best of the rest’.

Individual model sales show an even closer fight. Year to date August, Commodore leads Falcon by 4380 to 4291, in a large car segment that keeps showing strength. Amongst the midfield runners, some of last year’s high-fliers (Toyota Camry, Honda CR-V) are falling off the pace, whilst newcomers such as Mazda6 and Honda Accord are starting to climb the rankings.

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