Holden Leads New Vehicle Market

Friday, July 13, 2001

Holden Leads New Vehicle Market For The First Half Of 2001

With six months of the year gone, Holden leads the new vehicle sales race from Ford, Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi and Nissan.

An analysis of recently released Land Transport Safety Authority figures shows that Holden sold 5,555 vehicles for 16.2 per cent of the total market - 3.3 percentage points or 868 units up on the same six months last year.

With a market share of 21.8 per cent, Holden also led the passenger car market in June - the sixth successive time it has done so this year. The brand’s 4,413 sales for the six-month period was some 19 per cent up on the volume achieved during the same period last year.

Long-time Kiwi favourite and New Zealand’s best-selling carline last year - Holden’s all-conquering Commodore, again conclusively outperformed all other models - its 635 sales in June being the best individual sales month for the carline since October 1995. Year to date, the carline commands 42.3 per cent of the large car segment compared to its nearest rival’s 28.4 per cent, has amassed 2,895 sales - 953 units ahead of its nearest rival, and stretched its unbroken spell of overall market leadership to eleven months.

Also at the end of June, Holden Special Vehicles sales - New Zealand’s leading performance car brand - are 7.5 per cent ahead on the January to June period last year. Cumulatively, some 2,165 units have now been sold since the launch of the marque in this country late in 1989.

Holden’s four-cylinder car market entries - the Barina, Astra and Vectra, are also playing their part in the company’s market leading performance this year. Year to date, cumulative volume of the three European designed and built car lines is up just over 16 per cent on the first half of last year - the greatest growth being recorded by the Barina. Year on year, volume of the smallest Holden of them all is up 28.57 per cent. Launched in May, the XC Series Barina has now outsold the small car segment leader for the second month running.

During June, Holden’s light commercial vehicle product proposition - led by the two and four-wheel drive Rodeo and including the Ute and Combo ‘around-town’ van, has shown a volume improvement of 121 per cent over June 2000. Year to date 2001, volume is up 255 units or 44 per cent on the same period last year. Much of that sales surge and the consequent improvement in market position - up to third from fifth - being attributed to the March introduction of the first completely new Holden Ute for ten years.

June also proved to be a great month for Holden’s commercial vehicle ‘arm’ - Isuzu trucks. With a share of 28.4 per cent, the brand led the truck market - the eight consecutive month it has done so. Year to date June 2001, Isuzu’s market share stands at 23.6 per cent - some 4.1 percentage points ahead of second placed Mitsubishi.

According to public affairs manager Aalbert van Ham, Holden was the big winner in June and for the first half of the year. “Market leadership, the best selling car and truck range in the country, an 18.5 per cent volume increase and a 3.3 per cent lift in market share was the best possible way for Holden staff to celebrate the company’s second anniversary since its relocation to Auckland from Trentham,” he said.

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