AMERICAN CARS.

Shannon News, 13 February 1925, Page 1

AMERICAN CARS.

AUSTRALIA ITS BEST MARKET.

Australia i s 10-day by far the best customer America has for automobiles, and it will surprise most motor. istN to learn that'the Commonwealth imported during the first half of last year seven times more American cars than did Great Britain. Figures for the full year (1924) are not yet available, but those for the first six montn s showed that Australia paid the United States over £3,000,000 during (the period mentioned, so that the people ot Australia are paying America over £6,000,000 a year for automobiles. The figures appended showing America's export of cars—and these do not include the 10,000 to 12,000 Fords Sent to Australia from Canada annually—are interesting and instructive:— Country. Cars. Australia 20,694 Argentine 5,827 Canada 5,016 British South Africa . . 4,406 Cuba 3,761 Mexico ~ 3,588 Japan 3,524 United Kingdom .. .. 2,877 Spain . . 2,786 Bfazil 2,401 Sweden 2,064 New Zealand 2,060 British India 1,333 Netherlands 1,324 Philippine Islands .. 1,264 Italy . . .; .. 1,192 Belgium ... .. .. ,-. .. 954

In addition to the above passenger cars Australia bought 1258 American motor trucks in the same period, mak. ing a total of 21,932 motor vehicles,or at the rate of well over 40,000 cars and trucks a yeaiv Allow for, say, 10,000 Fords being imported dur. ing- 1924, which is a low estimate, we are faced with the fa °t that the people of Australia are buying from American and Canadian sources 50,000 cars and trucks a year of a value approximating £7,000,000. These figures are amazing considering the small population. It is worthy of note that Japan bought in the first half of 1924 from America nearly a s many motor trucks as passenger cars, the imports of motor trucks totalling 3007 as against 3524 passenger cars.