Commodore gets off to early sales lead as market maintains its strength

Sales of cars and commercials in January maintained their momentum, being roughly a percentage point ahead of those in January last year.

But new cars were marginally down. Land Transport New Zealand figures show that 7295 new vehicles were sold in the month, with Toyota New Zealand - which has just celebrated its 17th consecutive year as market leader - taking an early lead.

Toyota, with January sales of 1168 vehicles took 16 per cent of the market. In second place was Holden with 1124 (15.4 per cent), followed by Ford with 1085 (14.9 per cent).

Then came Honda with sales of 657 (9.0 per cent), Mitsubishi 538 (7.4 per cent), Nissan with 495 (6.8 per cent), and Mazda with 423 (5.8 per cent).

Peugeot was the best-selling European brand in New Zealand last month (see Page 19) with its 148 new-car sales up a record 39.6 per cent, thanks largely to the new turbodiesel 407 model.

The result gave the French carmaker a 2.7 per cent share of the market, its biggest monthly chunk ever.

Of the 148 sales, 39 per cent were diesels, a record percentage for any motor franchise in New Zealand.

Motor Industry Association chief executive Perry Kerr said: "W'ere continuing to enjoy the buoyant market which is a flow-on from the favourable economic conditions combined with the improved value represented by new vehicles.

"Never before have new vehicles been priced lower in real terms, and depreciation is now at much more manageable levels than it was in the nineties.

"Were looking forward to another good year."

Toyota, Ford and Holden started the year locked in their traditional tight battle for top spot, with just 31 units separating them in the total vehicle market.

Honda was the big mover, leaping into a clear fourth place with 657 sales.

Commodore got away to a big lead in the individual model stakes with nearly double the sales of the second-placed Falcon.

New vehicle sales during 2004 totalled 98,792 and were 7.4 per cent ahead of those the previous year.