over one million new cars in 2005

More traffic congestion:


Car sales top 1m for the year
October 13, 2005

AUSTRALIAN motor vehicle sales will exceed one million a year for the first time this year, according to the country's peak automotive industry organisation.

The chief executive of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, Peter Sturrock, said it was clear the motor vehicle market would pass a million sales before the end of the year.

Speaking at the opening of the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney today, Mr Sturrock said total sales of cars, trucks and buses had grown rapidly and continuously over the past four years, rising from less than 790,000 in 2001 to more than 955,000 last year.

"It means that the equivalent of one in every 20 Australians will buy a new vehicle this year, an extraordinary level of penetration that rivals almost any market in the world," he said.

Mr Sturrock said low interest rates, low unemployment and a healthy economy were behind the strong sales figures, which he expected to continue.

"There's no reason to assume that consumers will put the brakes on now," he said.