Australian car market fell by 17% on totals of March

On data, got by the analytic agency �AUTOSTAT� in the Federal chamber of automotive industry of Australia (FCAI), the sales of passenger cars, SUVs and LCV in this country in March decreased by 17, 19% to 75650 units. However, the result of March is higher by 7, 7% against the previous month; FCAI supposes that the situation at the Australian automotive market started to become stabilize.
On totals of the first quarter there were sold 212970 cars, which is by 19, 2% less than the index for the same period of 2008. Taking into consideration the negative influence of the global financial crisis on the automotive market of Australia, the result for the first three months was at the level of forecasts. FCAI note that that the fall of realization of cars in this country was less than in many economically developed countries of the world. We remind that in February the government of Australia decreased the tax rate on purchase of articles (including new cars) for commercial organizations. This �discount�, that reaches 30%, will be active until the 30th June of 2009.
Toyota is the most salable make in Australia. In March it realized 16608 cars (with market share 22%) at the Australian market. The second place belongs to brand Holden with the index 9188 of sold cars and the share 12, 1%. The third place belongs to Ford which realized 7570 cars and occupied 10%. On totals of the first quarter, the sales of Toyota constituted 44309 cars, Holden realized 26979 cars, Ford � 20986 units.