Motor industry hopeful of car sales boost

Media Release

4 September 2009

Motor industry hopeful of car sales boost with warmer weather

Figures for new passenger vehicle sales in New Zealand showed that 4,417 were registered in August, down 1.2 percent on July’s registration figures. 1,076 commercial vehicles were registered in August, a drop of 15% from the 1,267 registered in July.

“The good news for passenger car sales is that it is not the lowest monthly total in our historical figures - we experienced similar numbers in 1992/93. Aso year to date this number is the fourth highest month,” says Motor Industry Association CEO Perry Kerr.

Despite the continued slide in sales, Kerr says the results were to be expected “It is still difficult trading conditions, the year to date total is in line with our revised industry forecast, overall the results were to be expected,” says Kerr. “The winter months are always slower for the industry, we are hopeful that with the first days of spring and warmer times ahead that the market will pick up.”

Toyota, Ford and Holden were still the top three marques in the new passenger vehicle sector with Toyota, Ford and Mitsubishi the top three in commercial sales. Year to date, Toyota leads with overall market share of 19.17 per cent compared to Ford with 12.42 per cent and Holden with 9.34 per cent.

For August the Holden Commodore was the top selling passenger model, followed by Toyota Corolla and in third place the Ford Mondeo. Year to date figures show the Toyota Corolla still continues as the country’s best-selling model with sales of 2,363 units sold, ahead of the Holden Commodore with 1,855 units and the Suzuki Swift with 1,587 units.

ENDS/

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