According to fresh data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), Australians are buying more cars than ever before. Not only that, the cars are getting more luxurious.
In 2015, Australians bought 1.15 million new cars, 3.8% more than last year and 1.6% more than the record setting year of 2013. The Toyota Corolla was again the most popular, but sales of Audi, BMW and Mercedes jumped 20%, 10% and 14%, respectively, year over year.
Low-interest rates and affordability are each playing their part in driving sales through the roof.
How you can benefit
Three companies directly exposed to rising vehicle sales are Carsales.Com Ltd (ASX: CAR), Automotive Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: AHG) and AP Eagers Ltd (ASX: APE).
Unsurprisingly, shares in all three companies have provided outperformance for investors over the long-term.
AP Eagers is Australia's oldest listed automotive group, selling eight of the top nine luxury car brands (27 in total), as well as 11 truck and bus brands.
Automotive Holdings Group (AHG) is Australia's largest automotive retailer, and a diversified logistics specialist. AHG is 19.87% owned by AP Eagers.
Finally, Carsales.Com is a name synonymous with retail car sales in Australia. It also has key interests in promising overseas businesses and complimentary automotive accessories sites providing scope for long-term growth.
Buy, Hold or Sell?
While the tailwinds of rising new vehicles sales, low-interest rates and increasing affordability may not be linear, they have provided a foothold for AHG, AP Eagers and Carsales to leverage further growth in the years ahead, in my opinion. More research is needed, but with generous dividends to boot, all three companies deserve a spot on savvy long-term investors' watch lists.
