[Peakoil] Fwd: Kunstler on 2007

[Antony Barry]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "Jgoldie" <jgoldie at snowy.net.au>
> Date: 5 January 2007 9:34:38 AM
> To: "Antony Barry" <tony at tony-barry.emu.id.au>
> Subject: Re: [Peakoil] Kunstler on 2007
> Reply-To: "Jgoldie" <jgoldie at snowy.net.au>
>
> Thanks Tony. I'm accessing this email though the web so can't put  
> anything on ACT Peak Oil. Can you put the front page story from the  
> Age on for me? Thanks, Jenny
>
> Australian car sales slump as buyers go for imports
> Bridie Smith
> January 5, 2007
>
> THE Australian car industry is reeling from a dramatic slump in  
> sales, with petrol-price conscious consumers turning in massive  
> numbers from locally made vehicles to smaller imports and bicycles.
> Sales of Australian-made cars collapsed from almost 250,000 in 2005  
> to just 201,623 last year — a drop of almost 20 per cent, according  
> to preliminary figures released yesterday by the Federal Chamber of  
> Automotive Industries.
>
> At the same time, imported vehicles continued to attract buyers in  
> record numbers, achieving another lift in annual sales and further  
> increasing their share of the Australian market — to almost 80 per  
> cent.
>
> Of the top 10 selling cars last year, only three were Australian  
> made: the Holden Commodore, Toyota Camry and Ford Falcon.
>
> The figures dramatically underline the problems facing the local  
> industry, which makes only large and medium-sized cars at a time of  
> rapidly shifting consumer preference for smaller vehicles.
>
> The Holden Commodore held the number one spot for the 12th  
> consecutive year — despite its sales plunging to a 16-year low.
>
> But for the first time in recent years, a small car took second  
> place, with the formerly Australian-made, but now imported Toyota  
> Corolla replacing the locally made Ford Falcon at number two.
>
> A spokeswoman for federal Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane said the  
> challenges faced by the domestic car manufacturing industry were  
> being replicated across the globe. "It is a concern, but it's  
> certainly not all doom and gloom," he said.
>
> Peter Sturrock, chief executive of the Chamber of Automotive  
> Industries, described the trend to smaller cars as "the most  
> significant movement in the market in recent times".
>
> "Petrol has had an influence in purchasing decisions in 2006,  
> particularly mid-year when it touched the $1.45-$1.60 ranges," Mr  
> Sturrock said.
>
> "But people do like their new product and need private transport,  
> so they have adjusted their motoring habits to the higher cost of  
> fuel."
>
> Sales of more fuel efficient, light cars rose by about 20 per cent  
> last year, while large cars and medium four-wheel-drives both  
> suffered significant slowdowns.
>
> Australians bought a total of 962,521 new vehicles last year, which  
> marked a 2.6 per cent fall on 2005 figures, although 2006 remained  
> the second strongest year on record.
>
> The imported Holden Barina, meanwhile, recorded its best sales  
> figures in more than a decade, Holden spokeswoman Kate Holehouse  
> said. "Our light and small car market has definitely grown. In fact  
> we sold 3960 more Barinas last year than we did in 2005."
>
>
>
> The big four car manufacturers last month called on the Federal  
> Government to freeze tariffs on imported vehicles at 10 per cent  
> and pump an extra $1 billion into the car industry.
>
> But the Government disagrees. Freezing tariffs was not the answer,  
> Mr Macfarlane's spokeswoman said last night, adding that the $4.2  
> billion Automotive Competitive Investment Scheme would help the  
> industry adjust to tariff reductions.
>
> However, she said the 10-year-long ACIS package would be reviewed  
> in 2008.
>
> "It's just too early to consider that; we've just completed the  
> first year (of the package)" she said.
>
> Ford and Holden axed 840 jobs last year due to falling sales, while  
> more than 400 workers were made redundant from failed car  
> components suppliers, Ajax Engineered Fasteners and Huon Corporation.
>
> Ford spokeswoman Sinead McAlary confirmed yesterday the car maker  
> reached its target of 640 voluntary redundancies before Christmas.  
> The company blamed rising petrol prices and increased global  
> competition for the falling demand for large cars.
>
> Holden also cut 200 jobs last year due to reduced demand from Asia  
> for an export engine.
>
> The car industry is currently on a month-long break over Christmas,  
> with most workers returning to work on January 15.
>
> For those in the bike business, however, it's a different story,  
> with bicycle sales out-stripping vehicle sales for the seventh  
> consecutive year last year, according to the Cycling Promotion Fund.
>
> Australian bike sales extended their lead over cars for 2006, with  
> almost 1.3 million sold.
>
> CPF spokesman Ian Christie said bike sales had extended their lead  
> on car sales by 300,000 last year — a sales edge that comfortably  
> exceeds the total sales of market-leader Toyota.
>
> Bicycle Victoria facilities development manager Jason Denhollander  
> said the increase was due to a combination of elements.
>
> "There is no one silver bullet to it, it's a mix of rising petrol  
> prices, people finding public transport more crowded and health and  
> fitness," he said.
>
> Mr Denhollander said latest Bicycle Victoria figures showed there  
> was a 15 to 20 per cent increase on the number of cyclists entering  
> the CBD between 7am and 9am compared with a year ago, with the  
> majority of riders commuters.
>
> "That increase would represent about an extra 500 cyclists entering  
> the city," he said.
>
> Mr Denhollander said cyclist numbers usually dropped 30 to 40 per  
> cent drop in winter, but that was not the case last year. "In the  
> heart of this winter we had the same numbers as we would have in  
> the peak months of November and March," he said.
>
> Membership of Bicycle Victoria was also at an all-time high of 40,000.
>
> With MEAGHAN SHAW
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________________________
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