January car sales figures show 12.5 percent slide, small SUV’s the bright spot.

Official V-Facts car sales figures out this week for January show a decline of 12.5 per cent compared to last year, a decrease of 10,263 vehicles. Our love affair with sports utility vehicles or SUV’s continues, last month representing 50 per cent of total sales, whereas passenger cars fell to just 28.5 percent. Three of the five best seller’s were utes – Toyota’s Hilux the top selling vehicle followed by Ford’s Ranger with Mitsubishi’s Triton taking fifth position. Third and fourth went to Toyota’s Corolla and RAV 4 SUV giving Toyota three vehicles in the top five. Toyota posting a January market share of 20.6 per cent while Holden (now in 10th position) saw its share fall to just 3.7 percent. Small SUV’s were the only segment to show growth – under $40,000 up 5.3 percent with Mitsubishi’s ASX No 1, while over $40,000 up 30.6 per cent – the big seller here Audi’s new Q3 SUV lifting sales by 227 per cent.
I’m David Berthon

Audi Q3 – No. 1 selling small SUV over $40,000
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