4WD sales keep positive trend for Australian auto industry

• Source: Xinhua
• [15:53 November 04 2010]
• Comments

A surge in four-wheel drive (4WD) sales kept overall vehicle sales in Australia in positive territory in October, according to an industry survey released on Thursday.

New car sales were virtually flat in October, up 0.1 percent, or just 112 vehicles, on the same month in 2009, the official data released by the Australian Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) showed.

The survey said 80,925 passenger cars, sport utility vehicles ( SUVs) and commercial vehicles were sold in the month.

The survey found the SUV segment was the only area to record an increase during October - up 22.9 percent.

FCAI Chief Executive Andrew McKellar described it as a "solid result", with sales on a par with the figures recorded in October last year.

"The market is on track for an impressive yearly total and this confirms the industry can achieve our projection of more than one million vehicle sales," said McKellar.

The survey also showed the passenger car segment slipped 2.7 percent and light commercials were down 13.3 percent.

In the year to date, 861,645 vehicles were sold with an increase of 13 percent, compared to the same period in 2009.