WA vehicle sales fall 21% in January

Vehicle sales in Western Australia have started the year in dramatic fashion, slumping nearly 21 per cent in January compared to the same month in 2008.

Latest figures from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries show there were 2002 less car sales during January, with 7648 units sold compared to the last year's 9650.

In January last year, when the global economic crisis was starting to unravel, the state's car sales rose 8.1 per cent compared to the previous corresponding period.

Queensland also recorded a substantial fall in vehicle sales during January, dropping 20.3 per cent to 13,521 units.

Other states and territories also recorded double digit falls, with New South Wales declining 18.3 per cent and Victoria dropping 16.9 per cent.

Nationally, vehicle sales dropped 18.5 per cent to 67,079 units.

Toyota was the biggest selling manufacturer in WA for January, with units sold at 1786, down from the previous corresponding period's 2209.

Holden came in second, falling 11.7 per cent to 999 units sold and Ford was third, dropping 10.6 per cent to 700 units.