VFACTS November 2018: Toyota Hilux maintains 4x4 sales lead

LIGHT Commercial Vehicle sales have bucked the trend seen throughout the market, with more LCVs sold in November 2018 than were sold in the corresponding month last year.

LCV sales were up 4.2 per cent in November 2018 from November 2017; for comparison’s sake, overall national vehicle sales were down 7.4 per cent, passenger car sales were down 20.8 per cent and SUV sales were down 1.9 per cent.

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Still, year-to-date sales passed the one million mark in November, with the total number of sales coming in at 1,065,583 – a 1.9 per cent drop compared to 2017.

“The November 2018 sales reflect tougher conditions across the economy. However, it is encouraging that sales have once again passed the one million mark for 2018, with one more selling month to go,” said Tony Weber, the Chief Executive of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries. “The 1.9 per cent fall in sales … is a modest outcome within a market where consumer preferences are rapidly shifting from passenger vehicles to SUVs.”

The LCV market held a 22.3 per cent share of the market in November, and a 20.5 per cent share of the market year-to-date (218,579 overall sales).

The five best-selling 4x4s remain unchanged from the previous month (October), with the Hilux remaining well on-track to re-claim the gong from the Ford Ranger, which took home the trophy in 2017.

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LDV T60 sales continue to rise (455 units this month; compared to 342 last month); and the X-Class has made the top 20 list for the first time, registering 118 sales in November.

The Hilux 4x4/4x2 (4671 units) and Ranger 4x4/4x2 (3469) were once again one-two on the overall sales charts, and they were trailed by the Corolla (2659), Triton (2404) and i30 (2378).

Will the status quo get rocked when a bunch of new off-roaders – Jimny, Gladiator – land next year?

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