Commodore sales boost for Holden

The Holden Commodore has received a timely boost in popularity with its strongest monthly sales performance since September 2011.

Amid uncertainty over government subsidies and General Motors' placing in Australia, preliminary industry data obtained by Fairfax Media on Friday revealed the Commodore eclipsed 3300 sales during the month of October.

It made the Commodore the third-highest selling car for the month, behind the Toyota Corolla and Mazda3, and helped hand Holden its best monthly finish since October 2009.

The result is a stark contrast with the Commodore's peak in popularity - in 1998, when Holden was selling more than 7500 a month - but is being perceived by the brand as a glowing endorsement of its new VF model, released midyear. Before the launch, Holden was barely breaking 1500 sales per month with its family car. The October result is up 35 per cent on the same period last year.

Holden's national sales and marketing director Philip Brook said the Australian public had renewed interest in the Commodore.

"According to our internal data, Holden has recorded its best October sales since 2009 in what we expect to be a softer market in October, which is a great result," he said. "In particular, the strength of Commodore sales are fantastic, with 3316 sales. That's up 35 per cent year-on-year and our rich model mix continues."

The Commodore's sales renaissance will be confirmed when the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries releases its official October sales report on Tuesday.

Holden's other locally produced car, the Cruze, did not fare as well in early numbers, with sales down 15 per cent compared with October last year. According to year-to-date data, the Cruze ranks fourth overall in passenger sales and the Commodore fifth.

Overall volume reached about 94,000 vehicles for October, which is down about 1.7 per cent on the same period last year.

But the year-to-date reading is more positive, up about 25,000 vehicles on last year.