Registration data released by NZTA show that July sales of 4446 new passengers cars were down 23% over June 2010 and 1% compared to June 2009, making it the second smallest month for the year to date.
However, the new vehicle market, on a year to date basis, is running 14% ahead of 2009 registrations.
Commercial registrations of 1551 were up just over 11% on July 2009.
“After six months of continued growth we are not surprised that the new car market has taken a very small breath,” said Perry Kerr, Chief Executive Officer of the Motor Industry Association. “Year to date the numbers of 34,728 are still ahead of our forecasts. In the commercial vehicle market the positive impact of Fieldays is still being felt which is encouraging for the economy as a whole.”
In the passenger car segment July saw a switch back to the traditional top three of Toyota (668 registrations), Ford second (502 registrations) and Holden third (441 registrations).
Year to date Toyota stays on top spot with 5896 units, followed by Holden 3663 and Ford 3465.
Commercial vehicles were a repeat of previous months, Toyota first with 363 units, Ford second with 264 and Nissan third with 263 units. Year to date places were the same – Toyota 3486, Ford 1546 and Nissan 1360.
The top two selling models in July were commercial vehicles with the Nissan Navara (with 261 registrations). The Ford Falcon was the top passenger model with 210 registrations, followed by the Toyota Corolla on 181 registrations and the Mazda3 on 164 registrations.
“We fully expect to see an improvement in the next two months as buyers move to secure deals prior to the increase in GST. It makes for something of an up and down market, but the industry is well used to coping with these sorts of swings, and will continue to cope with whatever the balance of 2010 holds for it,” says MTA spokesperson Ian Stronach.
