New Zealand Tallies Best-Ever January for LV Sales

New Zealand’s accelerating new-vehicle sales show no sign of slowing from last year’s record pace with January deliveries up 11% year-on-year to a best-ever 11,667 units.

Motor Industry Assn. CEO David Crawford says sales were in overdrive as both businesses and consumers continued to loosen their purse strings.

“New-vehicle sales for 2015 have started where they left off in 2014, with the outlook for 2015 remaining very positive,” he says in a statement.

The 9,010 passenger vehicles (up 8.6%) and 2,657 commercial units (up 19%) delivered both were record results for the month.

Toyota remained the overall market leader with a 21% market share (2,409 units) followed by GM Holden with 13% (1,519) and Ford with 9% (1,006).

Toyota also continued to top the passenger-vehicle segment with a 22% market share (1,941 units), ahead of GM Holden with 14% (1,280) and Hyundai with 8% (746).

The Toyota Corolla was the month’s top-selling model with 792 units, helped by 582 rental-car deliveries. The Holden Commodore followed with 445 ahead of the Toyota RAV4 with 436.

Ford again was the CV segment leader on 504 sales for a 19% share. Toyota followed with 468 (18%), ahead of Nissan with 254 (10%).

The Ford Ranger retained its position as the monthly top-selling commercial model with 417 units (16% market share), ahead of the Toyota Hilux with 12% (324) and Nissan Navara with 10% (254).

Crawford says SUV demand continues to grow, reflecting international trends, with the segment claiming a 32% market share for the month, followed by small passenger cars (19%) and pickups/chassis-cabs (16%).