Big three keep majority of new-vehicle sales

By ALASTAIR SLOANE

New Zealand's "big three" carmakers had a 53.6 per cent share of this year's new-vehicle market to the end of last month.

Long-time market leader Toyota had sold 10,276 new vehicles for a 20 per cent share after seven months. Ford was next with 8966 sales for 17.5 per cent, followed by Holden with 8264 sales for 16.1 per cent. The three carmakers have shared more than 50 per cent of the market for some time.

Land Transport Safety Authority figures show 51,345 new vehicles were registered to July 31, comprising 38,870 passengers cars and 12,475 commercials.

Toyota's traditional strength in both sectors was highlighted in last month's sales alone, when it sold 1699 vehicles (1219 cars, 480 commercials) for 20.8 per cent of the market, against Ford's 1295 sales for 15.9 per cent and Holden's 1270 for 15.6 per cent.

So far this year, new-vehicle sales are up 9 per cent over the same period last year.

Sales of 8167 units last month were up 12 per cent over July last year.

In fourth place on the LTSA sales chart for the first seven months was Mitsubishi with 4867 sales for 9.5 per cent of the market.

It was followed by Nissan with 3237 sales for 6.3 per cent. Mazda was sixth with 2634 for 5.1 per cent and Honda seventh with 2548 for 5 per cent.

Then came Hyundai with 1126 sales (2.2), BMW 1076 (2.1), Subaru 897 (1.7), Mercedes-Benz 861 (1.7), Volkswagen 894 (1.7), Peugeot 813 (1.6), Suzuki 738 (1.4), Audi 570 (1.1), Chrysler 394 (0.8), Rover 363 (0.7), Kia 332 (0.6), Daewoo 156 (0.3).

Other carmakers, such as Citroen, Renault, Jaguar, Saab, Volvo and so on, totalled 2333 sales for 4.6 per cent to July 31.