Brand Boom Strains Australian Car Dealers, Industry Group Warns

Australia’s auto dealer group has urged the government to halt the market entry of new car brands, warning that severe oversupply and fierce price wars have pushed local dealerships into their first industrywide quarterly loss since the 2008 financial crisis.

The unprecedented plea underscores the growing strain on Australia’s new car retail industry as a rapid influx of brands largely driven by Chinese carmakers places local dealers under severe pressure.