KEY POINTS:
New car sales plunged 30 per cent in January from last year, but the Motor Trade Association says big rental fleet imports in January 2008 had boosted that month.
Sales of used import cars in January were down 14 per cent from December, and 42 per cent from January last year.
A total of 5425 new cars were sold in January, with nearly one in five being Toyotas.
The sales total for January was up 1 per cent from a month earlier and sales had been fairly flat for the last three months, though at lower levels than last year.
The MTA was expecting demand in coming months from buyers trying to beat price rises resulting from the fall in the New Zealand dollar.
"Most manufacturers and importers have signalled multiple price rises throughout 2009, from a combination of weakened currency and overseas cost increases," said MTA spokesman Andy Cuming.
This means that the stock of new cars and used import cars in dealer showrooms at present represented the best opportunities for car buyers looking to beat the price rises, he said.
Used car imports have been falling since the middle of last year due to higher emissions standards being applied.
In January, Toyota had a market share of 19.6 per cent, Ford had 13.3 per cent, Holden had 12.9 per cent and Mazda 8.5 per cent.
- NZPA
