9314.0 - Sales of New Motor Vehicles, Australia, Aug 2004  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 21/09/2004   
   Page tools: Print Print Page Print all pages in this productPrint All

MEDIA RELEASE

September 21, 2004
Embargoed 11:30am (AEST)
146/2004

Latest Motor Vehicle Sales Data

The trend estimate for sales of new motor vehicles fell slightly to 78,510 in August 2004 compared with July 2004 (78,548). When compared with August 2003 (78,683) the trend estimate has shown a decrease of 0.2%.

For the first time the Australian Bureau of Statistics also released separately identified sports utility vehicles data in the original, seasonally adjusted and trend estimates for August 2004 (see Media Note).

Sales of new passenger vehicles recorded a trend decrease for the fourth consecutive month, declining 0.4% for August 2004. Sports utility vehicle sales increased 1.8%, continuing the increasing trend since September 2003. Sales of other new vehicles decreased 0.6% in August 2004.

Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania recorded increases in the trend estimate for sales of new motor vehicles in August 2004. All other states and territories recorded decreases.

The seasonally adjusted estimate for sales of new motor vehicles rose 0.8% to 78,469 in August 2004. Passenger vehicle sales increased 1.3% to 47,872 and sales of sports utility vehicles increased 2.2% to 15,016. Sales of other new vehicles decreased 2.2% to 15,581 in August 2004.

SALES OF NEW MOTOR VEHICLES, AUGUST 2004
NSW
Vic.
Qld
SA
WA
Tas.
NT
ACT
Aust.

VEHICLE SALES
Seasonally Adjusted
24,739
20,477
17,003
5,268
7,589
1,544
726
1,123
78,469
Trend
24,969
20,099
17,211
5,189
7,531
1,630
707
1,174
78,510


PERCENTAGE CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS MONTH
Seasonally Adjusted
-1.8
4.5
-0.5
5.4
0.1
-0.8
9.7
-6.9
0.8
Trend
-0.5
-0.2
0.5
0.2
0.8
0.7
-2.5
-0.8
-0.0


PERCENTAGE CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS YEAR
Seasonally Adjusted
-5.8
0.1
9.3
-0.7
5.4
-1.3
21.2
-14.7
0.2
Trend
-5.1
-3.7
11.3
-1.8
4.2
2.1
10.6
-8.9
-0.2


This publication draws on new motor vehicle sales data provided by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI).

Media please note:

Sports utility vehicles data were previously included in the 'other vehicles' category. From now on sports utility vehicles data will be identified separately.

Further details are contained in Sales of New Motor Vehicles, Australia, (cat. no. 9314.0) available via this ABS web site.