Natural disasters, supply shortages and turmoil in financial markets have failed to put the brakes on new car sales in Australia.
A total of 1,008,437 new vehicles were sold during 2011. Although down slightly on 2010`s figures, it was only the fourth time the one million mark has been surpassed.
The Holden Commodore was knocked off its perch as Australia's best selling car.
And for the first time in several decades a small car - the Mazda 3 - topped the automotive best seller list.
Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries CEO Ian Chalmers said one million sales looked unobtainable in early 2011 as the nation battled floods and cyclones.
Winter was characterised by supply shortages from tsunami and earthquake ravaged Japan.
"Consumer confidence recovered so well in the second half of 2011 that I can announce to you today that motor vehicles sales in Australia for 2011 totalled 1,008,437," Mr Chalmers told reporters in Sydney.
It was shy of 2010`s total of 1,035,574 sales and down on the overall record, set in 2007, of 1,049,982 sales.
Mr Chalmers highlighted a growing trend towards smaller cars.
There were 41,429 Mazda 3s sold compared to 40,617 Holden Commodores.
Toyota's Hilux was the next best seller followed by its Corolla model and then the Holden Cruze.
Mr Chalmers said the automotive industry would be closely watching the introduction of the federal government's carbon tax, on July 1.
"We anticipate the cost to the Australian automotive industry will be around 30 to 50 million dollars - a cost that will be largely borne by the industry rather than consumers," he continued.
"More than 60,000 industry jobs rely on the successful management and implementation of a process to offset the carbon price-induced financial strain facing Australia's automotive manufacturers, and it is our intention to see this through."
Aussie's top ten cars 2011
* Mazda 3 - 41,429 sales
* Holden Commodore - 40,617 sales
* Toyota Hilux - 36,124 sales
* Toyota Corolla - 36,087 sales
* Holden Cruze - 33,784 sales
* Hyundai i30 - 28,869 sales
* Nissan Navara - 21,675 sales
* Toyota Camry - 19,169 sales
* Ford Falcon - 18,741 sales
* Mitsubishi Lancer - 18,717 sales
- AAP