The new vehicle registration data for June has been rolled out and confirms the New Zealand market continued to build momentum through the first half of 2016.
Pushed along by several factors, including Feildays promotions and activity in the rental-car sector, the June sales total fell just short of the being the highest monthly total on record.
‘‘The 2016 new vehicle market continues to perform beyond expectations with sales in June up 5.1 per cent on June 2015 and delivering a steady 5.3 per cent growth for the year to date,’’ David Crawford, chief executive officer of the Motor Industry Association said.
New registrations of 13,699 vehicles is the second highest monthly total since sales data recording began in 1975. The record of 13,983 dates back to July 1984.
The June data completes 2016 half-year sales figures with 69,057 new vehicles registered in New Zealand compared to 65,653 this time last year, an increase of 3404. ‘‘Those distributors that attended the annual field days reported healthy demand for new vehicles. Other factors that are key drivers of new vehicles are record levels of net immigration, a healthy trade sector and strong business confidence,” said Crawford.
The June market comprised 9186 passenger vehicle registrations and 4513 commercial vehicle registrations. It was the highest June on record for commercial vehicle registrations and only the third time more than 4000 commercial vehicles have been sold in a month.
‘‘The previous two times were also in June off the back of Fieldays — 4002 registrations in 2014 and 4009 in 2015,’’ Crawford said.
The prime movers in the New Zealand market last month were again Toyota, which remained the June market leader, and booming utility sales, with the Ford Ranger leading the segment and also the most popular model of any type.
Toyota had a 19 per cent market share (2666 units) with Ford second on 11 per cent (1478 units) and Holden third with 9 per cent (1274 units).
Toyota gained a 17 per cent share (1569 units) of the passenger car segment, followed by Holden on 9 per cent (843 units). Mazda was third, just one unit behind Holden.
Four of the top-six sellers were pick-up/cab chassis utility models and also six of the top 10 with the Isuzu D-Max making an appearance.
The Toyota Highlander, Toyota RAV4 and Kia Sportage ranked third, fifth and seventh respectively as the SUV segment leaders and ahead of the only conventional passenger car in the top 10 — the Toyota Corolla, which ranked eighth.
Sales to rental car companies represented the majority of Highlander sales and almost half of the RAV4 sales.
A notable success story is sports car segment with sales of 1108 units to the end of June already ahead of the 2015 full-year total of 1007 — the growth almost entirely the result of the Ford Mustang’s success.
In the luxury car segment Mercedes-Benz clearly led the June market and at mid-year has achieved 1213 new registrations, moving further ahead of BMW with 962 and Audi with 918.
JUNE TOP 10
| 1. | Ford Ranger, 836 |
| 2. | Toyota Hilux, 811 |
| 3. | Toyota Highlander, 414 |
| 4. | Holden Colorado, 410 |
| 5. | Toyota RAV4, 396 |
| 6. | Mitsubishi Triton, 328 |
| 7. | Kia Sportage, 316 |
| 8. | Toyota Corolla, 309 |
| 9. | Nissan Navara, 303 |
| 10. | Isuzu D-Max, 287 |