Spring-loaded vehicle sales hint at brighter months ahead

New vehicles sales figures continue to improve, with the combined passenger and commercial markets reaching the second-highest number of sales for the year.

Motor Trade Association (MTA) said the total number of new vehicles sold increased for the second month in a row, with 9,388 new units sold overall – up 698 (8 percent) on the September figure. This is a solid 34 percent increase on the 7,026 new vehicles sold in October 2011. Year to date, total new vehicle sales are up 19 percent – certainly a positive economic signal.

MTA spokesperson Ian Stronach said: “October is often a strong month sales wise, with many of the new season’s rental fleet being included. Toyota, in particular, had a strong month, leading both the commercial and passenger sales figures.”

New car sales, of 7,336 units, increased by 699 units (11 percent), compared to the same month last year. Year to date, new car sales are ahead of 2011 by 11,236 units (21 percent).

The new commercial vehicle market held steady, at 2,052 – down a single vehicle from last month’s 2,053. However, this was a strong improvement over last year, with 454 more units sold (28 percent) compared to October 2011. Year to date, overall new commercial sales are ahead of 2011 by 2,391 units (13 percent) – another positive indicator of economic activity.

Top selling passenger car brands:

Toyota   1,862 units       25 percent market share
Ford    928 units     13 percent market share
Holden    720 units     10 percent market share

Top selling passenger car models:

Toyota Corolla 846 units
Ford Focus  344 units
Suzuki Swift    299 units

Top selling commercial vehicle brands:

Toyota     585 units      29 percent market share
Ford    261 units  13 percent market share
Nissan      227 units  11 percent market share

Top selling commercial vehicle models:

Toyota HiLux 334 units    
Toyota Hiace 232 units 
Nissan Navara 208 units 

Used import car sales were up by 645 units (10 percent) compared to September, and up 600 (10 percent) compared to October last year. Year to date, sales of used imported cars are down by 2,377 units (4 percent).

On-road motorcycle sales also strongly improved last month, with the most new cycles sold for the year – 571 units, an increase of 19 percent over October 2011. In particular, sales of new over-60cc cycles rallied, with a 23 percent increase over last October’s figure of 365 units sold.

“This will be a welcome relief for motorcycle dealers – this is the best October result since 2009. There is a way to go though, with sales currently down 13 percent year to date, but this is a strong start to summer, traditionally the time of the year when people buy bikes,” Stronach said.

Figures provided by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA).