Suzuki: Swift seller zooms to top

Suzuki's Swift sold well in November despite overall low car sales. Photo / Supplied

Suzuki's diminutive Swift topped New Zealand's car sales tables in a month which saw the lowest November sales since 1998.

Passenger car sales were down 8.4 per cent on the same month last year, with the overall market 12.3per cent below last November's figure, and 28.1 per cent down year-to-date.

The good news? The decline is levelling off, with a slow recovery predicted from early next year.

Toyota is still top dog with 23.3per cent share for the month, from Ford on 10.8 per cent, Holden, Mazda and Hyundai.

Ford NZ managing director Trevor Auger says Ford's 47.7 per cent drop in November is because of fewer rental registrations than last year, and to lower stock levels as dealers try to prevent inventory from rising above demand.

Still, some brands are making a recovery. Mitsubishi's November sales were up 20 per cent this year.

That's not just thanks to a strong result for the facelifted Outlander - sales plunged in November 2008 as Mitsi put prices up sharply to offset exchange rate losses.

Meanwhile sales are up for luxury brands, which suffered an early downturn and are apparently seeing an equally early upswing.

Audi's November sales were up 39 per cent, Lexus 36 and BMW 25per cent, as sales find a new level heading into 2010.