Hybrid car sales on the rise

Western Australia’s car industry has recorded its third straight month of decline for new vehicle sales, according to the latest data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, but electric and hybrid passenger cars, and small-sized SUVs have bucked the trend.

Vehicle sales in the state for August fell 3.9 per cent to 8,158, compared with the same month last year.

On a year to date basis, vehicle sales were up slightly, rising 1.6 per cent to 65,304 in WA.        

Hybrid and electric passenger cars for personal use recorded a combined 82 per cent increase to 31 in August, and a year to date increase of 98 per cent to 218.

Hybrid cars accounted for 195 of the 218 figure.

Passenger cars overall saw a 17.9 per cent reduction in August, while small-sized SUVs recorded a 22.3 per cent month gain.

This compares to a 5.3 per cent fall by medium and large-sized SUVs during the same period.   

Holden was one the worst performing brands in August, with a 41.8 per cent decrease in new car sales, which follows their overall yearly trend of a 28 per cent fall.

Vehicle sales were off 1.5 per cent in August nation-wide, and for the year to date sales were also down 0.9 per cent to 786,294.