Diesel propulsion advances on the coattails of bumper performance
The Australian vehicle market continues to surge on the back of record light commercial vehicle (LCV) sales last month.
Latest Vfacts figures continue to chart the rise of light commercials, up 16.7 per cent, however this is largely on the back of the growing popularity of 4×4 utes for private use.
Total LCV sales August 2017 19,542 units compared to 16,749 August 2016
Diesel power plants are also benefitting from this trend with private sales of diesel LCVs up 26.3 per cent compared to the same period last year. Business buyers are still opting for oilers with sales up 18.8 per cent year on year.
The two most popular cars overall in Australia are both now diesel 4×4 utes, the Toyota HiLux in the number 1 slot and the Ford Ranger in second.
Toyota sold 4,287 HiLux units in August, with Ford Ranger pushing to bridge the gap at 3,588 units.
Mitsubishi’s valued-pitched Triton 4×4 has snatched third spot in the 4×4 ute segment behind the Toyota and Ford.
LCV sales are still, however, dominated by business buyers with 11,947 vehicles finding new homes last month.
Away from the 4×4 spotlight however, things are a little less volatile. Toyota (29.6 per cent) and Ford (14.1 per cent) continue to dominate the 4×2 ute segment.
Holden’s Commodore-based ute is still showing strong sales in the face of the local factory closing its doors next month which puts it in third spot.
Mazda has made inroads on Isuzu Ute with the BT-50 stepping up to fourth, just ahead of D-Max.
Van sales also remain steady with the Volkwagen Caddy still dominating the small van segment ahead of the Renault Kangoo.
Same goes for the Toyota HiAce in the mid-sized van segment with Hyundai iLoad in second spot. Ford and Renault continue to tussle for third spot with Renault just ahead.
The picture remains similar in the light duty segment with Isuzu’s unassailable N-Series number one, well in front of Fuso Canter and followed by the Hino 300.
The large van segment is still all about Mercedes Benz Sprinter though there’s no break down available on van numbers versus cab chassis.
Iveco Daily cab chassis continues to be well ahead of its van stable mate at 7.1 per cent of the segment tied with Ford’s Transit Heavy. Again it’s unclear what the cab chassis/van split makes up Transit sales.
Dual cab 4x4s will no doubt continue to buoy the LCV market. However behind the scenes sales of strictly working wheels are set to remain stable for the foreseeable future.