Despite the global economic crisis, 2011 was a fairly successful year for the Australia car industry. Strong sales at the end of the year helped the total new car sales reach nearly one million. While the 2011 sales fell short of the 1.04 million sold in 2010, the figures were still relatively respectable. These new car sales figures have helped to highlight the strength of Australia's economy. While the rest of the world's developed economies struggle to fight off recession, Australia continues to experience solid growth.
The Holden Commodore was the Australia's most popular new car in 2010. However, in 2011 it was over taken by the Mazda 3. Holden's mid-sized sedan has been a common sight on Australian roads since it was introduced in 1978. In November 2011, Holden released the new 2012 Commodore models (the last major update was in 2006), hoping to win back the crown of Australia's most popular new car. The new models were very well received and sales figures were highly encouraging.
Holden also produced another one of the most popular cars in Australia in 2011: the Cruze. Designed by General Motor's (Holden's parent company) and produced in South-Korea, the Cruze is a more of an international car than its bigger brother the Commodore. The new car, available as a hatchback or a small sedan, was launched in March 2011 and proved to be an instant hit. Sales were high and helped Holden to cement its position as the leader in the mid-sized car section of the market.
Toyota is another manufacturer which enjoys strong sales in Australia. Their most popular model is the HiLux, a large pick-up truck which is the country's best selling coupe utility or "ute." As with the Holden Commodore, this range of vehicles, introduced in 1976, has been long been a fixture on Australia's roads. There was a great deal of excitement in the lead up to the launch of the updated HiLux in September 2011.
The most popular new environmentally-friendly vehicle was the Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion. This ultra-economical hatchback has been critically acclaimed world-wide for its practical approach to fuel-efficiency. The car gets extremely high fuel efficiency (74.3 mpg) from its 1.6 litre TDI engine.
If you're lucky enough to own a new car, remember to be careful on the roads. Keep your distance and try to avoid innocuous hazards such as small stones being thrown up by other cars; these can be a real danger and could cause significant damage, requiring windscreen replacement or other crucial repairs.
Sean Burke writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
