November new vehicle market shows resilience

While the new vehicle market traditionally tails off towards year end, this November it has shown remarkable resilience to buck this trend. The Motor Trade Association (MTA) said the new vehicle market was up in November, and that this was the first time since 1993 that new passenger car sales in November exceeded those in October.

Registration data just released by NZ Transport Agency shows that at 7,376 units, the overall new vehicle market for November was up by 79 units (1 percent) compared to October 2010. Compared to November 2009 the market was up by 1,641 units (29 percent). For the year to date, sales were up a healthy 15,181 units compared to the same time in 2009.

New passenger car sales showed particular strength with sales of 5,869 units. While just 3 units ahead of October 2010, this was 1,383 units (31 percent) ahead of November 2009. For the year to date, sales were up 7,050 units (14 percent) compared to the same time in 2009.

Toyota led the new car market with a 24 percent share followed by Ford with a 13 percent share and Holden who captured a 9 percent share of the market.

Toyota Corolla dominated sales in terms of individual models with 658 units, followed by Suzuki Swift with 268 units just edging out Ford Falcon on 259 units.

Commercial sales of 1,507 units were up by 76 units (5 percent) compared to October 2010, and up by 258 units (21 percent) compared to November 2009. For the year to date sales were up 2,396 units (16 percent) compared to 2009.

MTA spokesperson Ian Stronach, Marketing and Communications General Manager said “The market normally begins to slow in November, but not so this year. To out-perform October is an encouraging result for the industry and bodes well for the coming months. While 2009 was a very sluggish year for the industry, it has rebounded and seems set to post some substantial gains this year.”

Used import car sales also performed strongly. Sales of 7,811 units were 853 units (12 percent) ahead of October 2010 but 1,216 units (18 percent) ahead of November 2009. Used import car sales were up 19,694 units (32 percent) compared to the same time in 2009.

Motorcycle sales went against the overall trend and continue to remain soft, with sales of 480 units, down by 14 units compared to October 2010. Year to date sales were down by 1,823 units (29 percent).

ENDS

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