Kia Sportage and Mazda CX-5 beat Corolla in February sales race
More than 10,000 new vehicles were registered last month as New Zealanders continue a rush to showrooms.
This was the strongest February sales figure for more than three decades, says the Motor Industry Association.
"The anticipated slowdown in new vehicle registrations has yet to materialise as businesses and consumers continued to purchase new vehicles at unprecedented rates in February," said the chief executive, David Crawford.
Kia Sportage.
There were 10,313 new vehicle registrations during February, eclipsing the previous strongest February sales recorded in 1984, which was the only other time there were more than 10,000 registrations during February.
This year's registrations were 4.4 per cent ahead of February last year, and made up of 7,192 passenger vehicles, and 3,121 commercial vehicles, which was also the strongest February sales number on record for commercial vehicles.
Toyota maintained its margin over the rest of the sector with 15% market share (1559 units), followed by Ford with 12% market share (1,266 units) and Holden with 9% market share (894 units).
The top three selling models for the month of February were all light commercial vehicles. These were the Ford Ranger with 6% overall market share (582 units), followed by the Toyota Hilux with 4% market share (444 units) and the Mitsubishi Triton with 3% market share (289 units).
The Toyota Corolla slipped back to third place in the passenger car market behind the Kia Sportage and Mazda CX-5 which were tied for first spot with 236 registrations followed by the Toyota Corolla with 231.
Mazda CX-5.
Compared to February 2015, registrations of passenger vehicles were up 1.9% in February 2016 (136 units). Toyota remains the market leader for passenger vehicles with 13% market share (915 units), followed by Mazda with 10% (719 units) and Holden with 9% market share (645 units).
The Toyota Corolla slipped back to third place in the passenger car market behind the Kia Sportage and Mazda CX-5. There were 239 Kia Sportage registered in the month of February, followed by 236 Mazda CX-5 and 231 Toyota Corolla.
Compared to February 2015, registrations of commercial vehicles were up by10.6% (300 units). Ford was the commercial market leader for February with 21% market share (662 units), followed by Toyota also with 21% (644 units) and Mitsubishi third with 9% market share (288 units).
The Ford Ranger retained its position as the monthly top selling commercial model for February with 19% market share (582 units) followed by the Toyota Hilux with 14% (444 units) and the Mitsubishi Triton with 9% market share (289 units).
Year to date the Ford Ranger maintains a healthy lead over the Toyota Hilux with 1,243 registrations (20%) for the Ranger and 744 (12%) for the Hilux.
“Strong net immigration, a healthy tourism sector and a competitive market are helping to drive new vehicle sales which is already year to date 3% (662 units) ahead of this time last year” said Mr Crawford.