New Car Sales Hit Record High - Australia Car News

Sales of new motor vehicles jumped by the most in five months in August to reach their highest on record, a sign consumers have the confidence to splash out on big ticket items.

Government figures out this morning show new vehicle sales rose by a seasonally adjusted 3.6 per cent in August to 93,379, following a revised 1.1 per cent decline in July. Sales were up 6.4 per cent compared with August last year.

Sales of sports utility vehicles extended their meteoric run with an increase of 4.3 per cent to a fresh all-time high of 26,452. Sales of passenger vehicles rose 4.7 per cent, while sales of other vehicles, including trucks, edged up 0.4 per cent after a very strong result in July.

The robust vehicle numbers contrast with softness seen in retail sales for July and suggest consumer spending is not as weak as some fear.


Industry data out earlier in the month showed Toyota retained first place in the sales ladder with 19.2 per cent of the market in August.

Holden held second spot with 12.0 per cent. Hyundai and Ford tied with 8.3 per cent, while Mazda took 8.2 per cent.

Ford Stand-Down of 1800 Draws Nearer

A temporary stand-down of 1800 Victorian workers at Ford is increasingly likely as state and federal governments join in a bid to resolve the crisis involving a financially troubled car parts maker.

Ford says the stand-down for an estimated one or two days from Thursday would be the worst-case scenario if the dispute involving supplier CMI Industrial drags on.

About 80 workers at CMI's Campbellfield factory have been locked out since last Friday after the landlord changed the locks in a dispute over rent payment, believed to be around $150,000.

Federal Workplace Minister Bill Shorten said he's been in talks with the Victorian government over the appointment of an administrator to CMI.

"We're looking to have confirmation of a particular company who's been appointed as voluntary administrator and I'll be in touch with them," Mr Shorten said.

Ford spokeswoman Sinead Phipps said the company hoped the situation would be resolved as soon as possible.

"If it's not, we would temporarily stand down at the end of Thursday," Ms Phipps said.

She said Ford would work with the union to bring forward scheduled days off to ensure employees at its Broadmeadows and Geelong plants were paid in the event of a stand-down.

Its other suppliers would also be affected if the stand-down went ahead, but it was difficult to quantify the impact.
Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu said the government was willing to help to restructure CMI.
"Obviously that has to take place. It's one of the key suppliers to Ford and other automotive manufacturers," he told reporters.

Manufacturing minister Richard Dalla-Riva said the government had been in talks with CMI Industrial and other key parties about the company's financial difficulties.

A spokeswoman for the minister said she could not comment on details of the talks.
CMI Industrial workers met outside their factory at 7am (AEST) on Tuesday, anxious to learn of the future of their jobs. The landlord did not attend and the factory remained locked, and union officials could tell workers little as talks between CMI and Ford continued.

AMWU Victorian Secretary Steve Dargavel said he hoped the state government would resolve the situation.
"If they fix it that's great, if they don't, Ford gets stood down and their supply chain potentially gets affected too, so that would be terrible," Mr Dargavel said.

He said many more workers who supply Ford will be affected if Ford stands down workers.
"There's a lot at stake here to get it sorted quickly."

Federal opposition industry spokeswoman Sophie Mirabella said the turmoil surrounding CMI Industries and Ford was the latest in a turbulent time for the automotive industry, which would only worsen once the government's carbon tax took effect.

"At a time when the car industry is already facing serious challenges, our industries can ill afford yet another blow," she said in a statement.

The Holden EFIJY 2005

EFIJY is all about fun, emotion and imagination. It shows what a bunch of clever and talented design people can do when they are let loose to create something really wild.

A wild 21st Century hot rod reincarnating Australia's most famous car, the FJ Holden, was unveiled at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney.

EFIJY is a radical pillarless custom coupe boasting V8 Supercar power under the bonnet, Chevrolet Corvette underbody and state-of-the-art automotive technology throughout.

The "Soprano Purple" paintwork highlights its curvaceous 5.2-metre body, reinterpreting the classic design cues of the iconic 1953 FJ Holden. It delivers retro, mumbo and gizmos in one glorious package.

Obviously not intended for production, EFIJY has been a passionate side project for some Holden Design team members otherwise dedicated to creating the all-new 2006 Commodore.

A long-term dream for Chief Designer Richard Ferlazzo, EFIJY brought together almost 20 suppliers to highlight the latest in mechanical, electronic and material products and ideas.

Automotive excess pounds through a 480-kilowatt, supercharged six-litre V8 engine and airadjustable shock absorbers through to a touch control LCD screen and fan-cooled LED headlamps.

GM Holden Chairman and Managing Director, Denny Mooney, today said the EFIJY project was a bold statement on the creative talent available within Holden's design ranks.

Mr Mooney said the project was developed as a collaboration with suppliers which reduced impact on the company's heavy work schedule and ensured the highest possible quality result for the showcar.

"EFIJY is all about fun, emotion and imagination. It shows what a bunch of clever and talented design people can do when they are let loose to create something really wild," Mr Mooney said.

"This year was a fantastic opportunity for us to create something which highlights our designers' ability and versatility."

"EFIJY is sure to evoke different memories for everyone who sees it. People might focus on the FJ links, the glorious custom coupes of the 1930s or the great design flair of the 1950s.

Design philosophies

Holden Chief Designer and EFIJY project leader Richard Ferlazzo, who sketched the first EFIJY designs in 1989 and is a long-time custom car fanatic, said the car existed purely for automotive entertainment.

"Invariably, people smile when they see it for the first time. EFIJY is our accolade to the talented designers who cut loose with some fantastically flamboyant styling in the post-war 1940s and 1950s," Ferlazzo said.

"Ask the question, what would these people have created using all the skill sets and technology we have now, and EFIJY might be the all-Australian answer to that question."

"EFIJY is also aimed at the legions of custom car and hot rod enthusiasts out there whose appetites aren't generally met in the concept car arena."

"Most importantly, it sends the message that the same people who have sensible day jobs designing entirely practical cars have the passion and inspiration to create something as outrageous as EFIJY."

"We're all car nuts together and the fact that EFIJY stands on our Sydney motorshow stand goes some way to legitimising this form of automotive design in the mainstream."