NZ sales: Pick-ups take top four spots in April

THE continued popularity of dual-cab pick-ups helped push New Zealand’s new-vehicle sales to an April record, with workhorses from Ford, Toyota, Holden and Mitsubishi making up the top four best-selling models last month.

A total of 10,635 vehicles were sold in NZ last month, representing a seven per cent lift over April 2016 and marking only the second time sales have exceeded 10,000 units in April, the last time being in 1982.

Motor Industry Association chief executive officer David Crawford confirmed the increase in overall year-to-date sales, saying the record haul last month could have been bigger.

“Registration of 10,635 vehicles for the month of April confirms robust growth in the new vehicle sector which continues to perform above market expectations,” he said. “It could have been even greater if it were not for supply constraints faced by some distributors.

“Year to date, the new-vehicle sector is 13 per cent (5,804 units) ahead of this time last year, with 50,059 vehicles registered compared to 44,210 to the end of April 2016.” Sales of passenger cars and SUVs reached 6996 units last month, up just three per cent over April 2016, while 3639 commercial vehicles were registered, an increase of 15.5 per cent or 489 units.

Toyota maintained its dominant position at the top last month, with an overall tally of 1771 vehicles or 16.6 per cent share of the market, a 16.8 per cent hike over its April 2016 haul.

Ford trailed in second place on 1267 and 11.9 per cent – a drop of just nine units – and Holden on 865 units (up 4.3 per cent) and 8.1 per cent.

Mazda stayed in fourth spot with 838 sales (+4.7%) and Nissan rounded out the top five with sales of 750 units (-2.8%).

They were followed by Mitsubishi on 722 (+16.6%), lifted by a strong month for the Triton and Outlander, Hyundai with 652 (+10.1%) and Suzuki on 514, a massive increase of 33.8 per cent over last April.

Kia captured ninth spot with 497 (+9.2%) sales, led by its Sportage SUV, while Volkswagen was tenth on 415 registrations (+19.6%), with the Tiguan SUV its best seller with 173 sales for the month.

In terms of passenger and SUV sales, Toyota stayed on top with 961 units, followed by Mazda on 710 and Hyundai in third with 562 units.

Top selling passenger and SUV models last month were a trio of mid-size SUVs led by Mazda’s just-launched second-generation CX-5 on 264, Kia’s Sportage with 250 and the Toyota RAV4 with 237 units.

Toyota topped the commercial vehicle sales chart in April with a haul of 810 units, followed closely by the Blue Oval with 768 and then Holden well back in third with 322.

Ford’s Ranger kept its title as the country’s overall favourite model with 698 units in April, holding rival Toyota’s HiLux (571) at bay. Holden’s Colorado kept growing last month with 312 sales, while Mitsubishi’s Triton was the fourth-best-selling model overall on 299.

The CX-5 capped off the top five, with Nissan’s Navara gaining ground in sixth (263), followed by the Sportage (250), RAV4 (237), Toyota Corolla (211) and the Mitsubishi Outlander (209).

The RAV4, Hyundai i30 and Ranger were the three most popular models for rental car companies last month, with the Isuzu D-Max pick-up and LDV V80 commercial van rounding out the rental top five.

They were followed by the Holden Captiva, Ford Focus and Everest, Holden Commodore and Hyundai i-Max.

The most popular segment was mid-size SUV with a 16 per cent share of the NZ market, followed by 4x4 pick-up/cab-chassis on 15 per cent, then large SUVs and compact SUVs on 12 per cent apiece, rounded out by 4x2 pick-ups/cab-chassis on 10 per cent.

NZ Top 10 makes April 2017

Rank	Make	Sales	Share %
1	Toyota	1771	16.6
2	Ford	1267	11.9
3	Holden	865	8.1
4	Mazda	838	7.8
5	Nissan	750	7.0
6	Mitsubishi	722	6.7
7	Hyundai	652	6.1
8	Suzuki	514	4.8
9	Kia	497	4.6
10	Volkswagen	415	3.9