Tax breaks and low interest rates drive June new-car sales

Record low interest rates and tax breaks in the budget have driven June vehicle sales to the highest total on record.

The June figure of 125,850 is 6.4 per cent more than the same month last year and leaves the industry on track to eclipse the annual high point of 1,136,227 sales in 2013.

The results, obtained by News Corp Australia ahead of their official release at noon today, show that NSW and Queensland were the states best placed to benefit from end-of-financial year deals, with sales up 12 per cent and 11 per cent respectively.

They cancelled out a small reverse in South Australia and plummeting sales in Western Australia, where demand fell by 8 per cent.

The June bonanza was fuelled by small-business buyers racing to exploit tax incentives in the budget.

Businesses bought 10.5 per cent more vehicles — almost 1000 a week — than in June last year and snapped up almost as many SUVs as traditional light commercials.

They also charged into small cars, helping Hyundai emerge with the month's bestseller in its i30, with 5520 sales.

It was enough to outshine strong demand for usual small car favourites the Toyota Corolla and Mazda3, although they both enjoyed gains of 16 per cent compared with last June.

Luxury brands enjoyed a bumper month in what is already a runaway year

Imports overwhelmed locally made models as the industry prepares to shut its Australian assembly lines over the next two years.

Ford's Falcon, despite a freshen-up six months ago, continued its slide down shopping lists with just 530 buyers, and Holden's Commodore also went south with sales down 12 per cent.

Toyota's Melbourne-made Camry, with 2600 buyers, was the only local vehicle in positive territory but the industry overall now accounts for fewer than one in every 12 vehicles bought.

Luxury brands enjoyed a bumper month in what is already a runaway year, with the German trio of Mercedes, BMW and Audi leading the charge.

Mercedes's mid-size C-Class is the luxury bestseller, with 890 buyers last month and almost 4860 year-to-date, followed by the Audi A3 and BMW X5.

Meanwhile, Porsche is on track for its most successful year down under, fuelled by the clamour for its mid-size Macan SUV, with sales up 71 per cent for the month and more than 60 per cent for the year.