The downward trend in new vehicle sales in Western Australia has continued for a fifth straight month, according to the latest data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries.
Vehicle sales dropped 1.7 per cent in October to 8,318, compared with the same period last year.
Sales for the year to date were still up 1 per cent on last year at 81,146.
Before the slide in new vehicle sales, which began in June, the WA car industry had recorded a five-month rise in sales.
The fall in October was led by a 25.3 per cent drop in passenger vehicle sales, while SUV sales were up 16.2 per cent.
Light and heavy commercial vehicle sales also rose last month.
Nationally, 90,718 new vehicles were sold, down by 5.3 per cent over the year.
In the 12 months to October, sales totalled 1,175,908 units, down 0.6 per cent on a year ago.
But SUV sales hit record highs of 498,850 units in the year to October.
“The passenger vehicle market is down by 8,594 vehicle sales (-23.6 per cent) over the same month last year; the sports utility market is up by 2,978 vehicle sales (8.1 per cent); the light commercial market is up by 199 vehicle sales (1.0 per cent); and the heavy commercial vehicle market is up by 372 vehicle sales (10.9 per cent) versus October 2017,” the FCAI said.
