Australia's car market scored second highest annual sales in 2006 despite high petrol prices.

Preliminary figures released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) on Thursday show that a total of 962, 521 cars, trucks and buses were sold in Australia in 2006.

The figure is 2.6 percent down on the record of 988,269 set in 2005.

FCAI Chief Executive Peter Sturrock said in a statement that the result was excellent given the combined effects of interest rates and fuel prices.

"The rise and fall of fuel prices during 2006 was as unpredictable as it was dramatic and interest rate speculation created further uncertainty among consumers, so in those circumstances sales were encouragingly strong," he said.

Toyota was the best-selling brand in 2006 for the fourth year in a row with a 22.2 percent share of the total market.

It was followed by Australia's local brand Holden (15.2 percent) , Ford (11.9 percent) and Mazda (6.6 percent) -- their finishing positions unchanged from 2005.

Light car sales rose by 20,196 or 21.1 percent while small car sales remained much the same, up 1,345 or 0.6 percent.

"Light cars became more popular last year, not just because they were more fuel-efficient, but because they were roomier, more practical and better specified for the money than ever before," said Sturrock.

Source: Xinhua