Australia's new car sales jump in August

Australia's new motor vehicle sales increased significantly in August 2011 compared with the same month in 2010, figures released on Monday by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) showed. The FCAI said new vehicle sales hit 88,082 in August, up 7.3 percent on the same month a year ago. "These positive figures are good news for the automotive industry in Australia, and put the industry firmly on track to achieve the one million sales target for 2011," FCAI acting Chief Executive Steve Payne said in a statement on Monday. Payne said the big jump in new vehicle sales in August reflected a range of factors, including the attractive large range of models available to Australian buyers. "We're continuing to see a recovery in supply from earthquake and tsunami-damaged Japan, along with stronger sales in Queensland as the state recovers from severe weather events earlier in the year," he said. Most of the August improvement came in the four-wheel drive category, which rose 19.4 percent in the month, the FCAI said. Toyota was the best selling brand in August, with 15,885 vehicles sold for an 18 percent market share, followed by locally manufactured Holden and the Japanese Mazda, with 13.1 percent and 10.4 percent market share, respectively. The Mazda3 was Australia's biggest-selling model in August and Mazda had its best-ever month, according to the FCAI.