New Zealand Sales Post Third Straight Record Year

New Zealand new-vehicle sales rose 9.6% in December to finish 2016 with a record 146,573 deliveries, up 9.5% year-over-year.

It was the third straight year of record deliveries in a country with a population of 4.5 million.

Motor Industry Assn. CEO David Crawford says 2016 was a stunning year for new- vehicle sales.

“While many are writing off 2016 as a year to forget, for the new vehicle sector it was annus mirabilis,” he says in a statement. For those unschooled in Latin, it’s a phrase that translates variously as amazing year, wonderful year or even miraculous year.

“The new-vehicle market for 2016 performed significantly beyond expectations and along the way exceeded every single previous record,” Crawford says, adding, “For the first time in New Zealand history more SUVs (were) sold than passenger vehicles.”

SUVs, with 52,913 units, took 36% of the market, while other passenger vehicles claimed 34% on 49,601 deliveries and commercial vehicles grabbed 30% on 44,059 sales.

The passenger and SUV market sold 102,514 units combined, breaking a longstanding record of 97,346 units dating back to 1973. Toyota (17,872 units), GM Holden (10,378) and Mazda (9,405) led the segment.

Toyota finished the year where it started, as New Zealand’s market leader. It sold 2,917 units in December for a 26% market share, helped by strong rental sales. GM Holden followed with 1,030 units, just ahead of Ford’s 965.

Toyota easily won the 2016 sales race with 26,785 units for an 18% market share. Ford followed with 16,783 (11%), ahead of GM Holden on 14,337 (10%), Mazda on 11,219 (8%) and Mitsubishi on 9,251 (6%).

Ford led the CV segment with 9,301 deliveries for a 21% market share, driven by its Ranger, whose 8,478 sales put it atop not only the CV segment but also the entire market.

The Toyota Corolla was a distant second with 6,274 units, just ahead of the Toyota Hilux with 6,187.