The two manufacturers have swapped market leadership throughout the year, with the same 0.2% frequently the margin separating them, and we are now seeing a saturated media blitz by Holden, with racing legend Peter Brock filling our TV screens.

In extreme close-ups, `Brockie' earnestly advises that dealers will do anything to ensure that Holden finishes 1998 as market leader for the year.

It seems a fitting end to a year in which the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries has several times had to revise its forecast of the total vehicle sales expected for 1998.

The FCAI’s standard retail report, VFACTS, began the year with a forecast of 710,000 vehicles, revising that estimate in March to 740,000 as sales began to accelerate.

By June the estimate had been adjusted to 750,000, then in August the FCAI was forecasting sales of 790,000 - now it is predicting a yearly total of 800,000 vehicles.

The November result of 70,277 new vehicle sales was yet another record month, up by 6,149 vehicles or 9.6% on November 1997 (64,128 vehicles).

The Passenger Vehicle market increased by 1,460 vehicles (3.0%) over the same month last year, while Light Truck sales grew by 4,413 vehicles (30.5%), and the Heavy Commercial Vehicle market increased by 276 vehicles (18.2%) over November 1997.

Toyota was market leader in November, followed by Holden and Ford.

Now holding the top spot in year-to-date terms, Toyota currently leads Holden with a margin of 1,678 vehicle sales, or 0.2 market share point.

The year-to-date November, 1998 market of 736,107 vehicles is running ahead of the same period in 1997 by 12.2%, or 80,239 vehicles, and the November YTD volume has already surpassed the Full Year Volume achieved in 1997.

This means the previous record year has been surpassed and a bit more in only 11 months.

4WD strength
The Light Truck market is running 35,790 vehicles (23.8%) ahead of 1997 in year-to-date terms. The strength in this Market, all year, has been the 4X4 vehicles.

The All Terrain wagon segment, after a slow-down in October, has surged again, up 23,647 vehicles (37.0%), after a huge November result. The Pick-up/Cab Chassis 4X4 continued to perform well and is up 5,941 (19.0%).

The Top 10 - how they stand
Toyota holds the top sales position in the November monthly market with 16,558 vehicles, ahead of Holden with 13,667 and Ford third with 11,693.

With a market share of 19.2%, Toyota gained the market leader title in YTD terms, while Holden’s November result sees them in second position with a market share of 19.0%, Ford’s market share of 15.9% placing them third.

Mitsubishi, with November sales of 6,529 vehicles, holds fourth position with a YTD market share of 10.4%. Hyundai sold 3,511 vehicles in November and with a YTD share of 7.3% maintained fifth place ahead of Nissan, whose 3,836 retails provided them with 5.7% market share, YTD.