Toyota Motor Corp., the world’s biggest automaker, led a 10 percent increase in Australian auto sales last year as government stimulus and demand for commodities bolstered the nation’s economy.
Sales of new vehicles in 2010 rose to 1.036 million from 937,328 the previous year, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries said today in a statement. Toyota’s deliveries in the nation gained 6.8 percent to 214,718, accounting for 20.7 percent of the market, the largest share.
Industrywide auto sales rose to the second-highest on record as Australia skirted the worst of the global economic slowdown amid stimulus measures and demand from China for commodities such as iron ore and coal. While Toyota remained the nation’s top brand, the Japanese carmaker lost market share to competitors including Hyundai Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co.
Toyota’s share slipped 0.7 percentage points from 21.4 percent in 2009, while Seoul-based Hyundai boosted its share to 7.7 percent from 6.7 percent, selling 80,038 vehicles. Nissan Motor Co., based in Yokohama, Japan, increased its share to 6.1 percent from 5.6 percent with 62,676 unit sales.
General Motors Co.’s Holden brand remained the second- biggest by sales, delivering 132,923 vehicles. The Detroit-based company’s market share was unchanged at 12.8 percent. Ford Motor Co., the third-largest, sold 95,284 vehicles as its share dropped to 9.2 percent from 10.3 percent.
GM’s Holden Commodore sedan was the best-selling vehicle model for a 15th straight year, followed by Toyota’s Corolla compact and the Toyota Hilux compact pickup truck.
To contact the reporter on this story: Robert Fenner in Melbourne at rfenner@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Neil Denslow at ndenslow@bloomberg.net
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