Queensland bucked the national trend in the vehicle market in 2011, being the only state in Australia to experience an increase in sales.
RACQ Executive Manager Public Policy Michael Roth said a report released yesterday by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries showed that vehicle sales declined in every state and territory in Australia in 2011, except in Queensland where they rose by 2,980 vehicles or 1.4 per cent.
Vehicle sales in the rest of Australia’s states and territories decreased between 0.6 per cent for New South Wales up to 13.4 per cent for Tasmania.
Mr Roth said the sales may be the result of the number of vehicle write-offs after Queensland’s Summer of Disasters.
“The increase in vehicle sales could be linked to the number of vehicle write-offs resulting from flood and cyclone damage, with estimates of the number of write-offs across the state roughly matching the 3,000 increase in sales,” said Mr Roth.
Small cars featured strongly in 2011’s vehicle sales, with the Holden Commodore – the top selling car for the past 15 years – losing its lead position to the Mazda 3 in the small vehicle class.
Mr Roth said it is the first time a small car has taken the top seller for the past 15 years.
“Four of the top five sellers in all vehicle types in Australia last year were small cars,” Mr Roth said.
“The fuel savings and cheaper running costs of smaller cars are a big drawcard for motorists, particularly in the current economic climate.”
