Why sports activities automobiles are about to affix SUV, ute, and electrical gross sales growth in Australia

The brand new Nissan Z Coupe, the Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 twins – and the next-generation Ford Mustang – are poised to create their very own momentum and ship a lift to the struggling sports activities automobile class which has been in decline for greater than half a decade.

Gross sales of sports activities automobiles are likely to taper quickly after their arrival as a result of fanatic consumers embrace new fashions, however then shortly lose curiosity. 

Sports activities automobiles have beforehand been described as having “a half life”, whereas most car classes are likely to promote extra constantly over an extended time frame.

Figures present gross sales of sports activities automobiles in Australia are down by 29 per cent to date this 12 months alone, in an total market that has declined by 4.5 per cent over the identical interval.

After a gross sales surge pushed by the arrival of the Ford Mustang in late 2015, sports activities automobile deliveries have dropped year-on-year from a peak of 27,400 automobiles reported as offered in 2016, to fewer than 10,000 final 12 months – wiping out about two-thirds of the market section prior to now 5 years.

Nonetheless, trade analysts IHS and Blue Flag have forecast a return to sports activities automobile gross sales progress within the subsequent few years, pushed by the arrival of latest fashions.

The Subaru BRZ is already in showrooms, quickly to be joined by its Toyota GR86 twin and the brand new Nissan Z coupe. The following-generation Ford Mustang (pictured beneath in camouflage, testing within the US) is due in Australia a while subsequent 12 months after it’s unveiled in Detroit subsequent month.

The brand new Ford Mustang may also be on the grid for the beginning of the 2023 V8 Supercars collection, forward of showroom arrivals.

“Impartial market analysts, IHS and Blue Flag, forecast the (gross sales) quantity within the sports activities automobile section will proceed to develop,” Nissan Australia product planner, Travis Maher, instructed media eventually weekend’s media preview of the brand new Z coupe.

The manager mentioned the revival of sports activities automobile gross sales within the coming years may also ship a lift to the variety of new handbook transmission automobiles offered, which have been in decline lately.

“When it comes to the handbook transmissions … it’s an important a part of the Z’s success on this market,” mentioned Mr Maher.

“The brand new Z needed to have a handbook choice to dwell as much as its heritage and to supply our prospects with the transmission possibility that matches their driving fashion.

“Buyer demand seen by means of our reserve-your-car operate on the Nissan web site has been very sturdy, with 70 per cent of shoppers displaying curiosity within the handbook transmission possibility.

“Nonetheless, our modelling reveals that, over the lifetime of the car, we anticipate to see round 40 per cent (of latest Nissan Z coupe gross sales) might be handbook transmission.”

Nissan says the sports activities automobile gross sales growth might be primarily pushed by rich prospects within the jap states of Australia.

“From a goal buyer standpoint … totally on the Japanese Seaboard with a good illustration in Western Australia,” mentioned Mr Maher.

“The common family revenue of this buyer is $133,000, and has a mean age of round 40 years. They’re neither traditionalists nor progressive and sit comfortably within the center.

“This buyer believes they’ll inform the kind of particular person by what automobile you drive. And their principal purpose in life is pleasure.

“Greater than half of those prospects take into account themselves huge spenders and sometimes come from an informed, white-collar background.”

The Nissan govt mentioned the arrival of 4 new sports activities automobiles inside a 12 months of one another will assist revive the sports activities automobile section to its former glory. “Product exercise (new automobiles) brings folks into showrooms,” mentioned Mr Maher.

Nissan Australia says it has already offered out of the launch-edition ‘Proto’ variant, and is now attempting to safe a bigger allocation of the common mannequin to fulfill demand.

“Proto is totally offered out,” mentioned Mr Maher. “We’ll see inventory (of the common Nissan Z coupe) persevering with to reach in coming months. And we’ll work with prospects ship their car as quickly as doable. 

“We’re speaking to the manufacturing unit each day, attempting to safe greater than our justifiable share of manufacturing.”