New Zealand Closing In on Record Year for LV Sales

Records continue to tumble as the New Zealand motor industry races toward its strongest year on record.

“The Motor Industry Assn. expects total new-vehicle registrations to top 125,000 units for 2014, with the previous best year being 1984 when 123,247 new vehicles were sold,” MIA CEO David Crawford says in a statement.

MIA data shows with one month of 2014 left, more new commercial vehicles have been sold year-to-date than in any previous year.

“Year-to-date, 33,920 new commercial units have sold, which is 19.2% (5,464) ahead of this time in 2013,” Crawford says.

The previous highest year for CV deliveries was 2013 with 30,881 units.

November’s total new-vehicle sales rose 8% year-on-year to a record 11,176 units. The previous best November was 2013 when 10,388 units sold.

“Year-to-date, there have been 117,758 new vehicles sold, an increase of 13,237 units or 13% on this time last year,” Crawford says.

Passenger-vehicle sales rose 8.2% year-on-year to 8,063 units in November, the best result for the month since 1984. CV deliveries climbed 6.1% for the month to 3,113, the highest November since the MIA started keeping records in 1981.

Toyota remained the overall market leader in November with 2,431 sales, ahead of Ford (1,324) and GM Holden (1,322).

The Toyota Corolla was November’s top-selling new vehicle with 605 units, followed by the Ford Ranger (566) and Toyota Hilux (560).

Toyota topped the car market for the month with 1,708 deliveries, ahead of GM Holden (987) and Ford (695). Toyota also was the CV market leader with 723 units, ahead of Ford (629) and GM Holden (335).

The Ranger stretched its yearlong lead as the top-selling CV model with 5,626 units, followed by the Hilux with 5,336.