Total registrations for new trucks and buses ended the month of January up 13% to 456 from 402 in the same period in 2017.
Fuso and Isuzu are the leaders of the pack for all weight classes, both registering 66 units for the month.
It was a slight dip by one unit for Fuso compared to the previous January and a bit more of a slide for Isuzu which had registered 73 units in the same month last year.
Hino followed behind on 46 for the month.
In fourth place, Fiat rode the motorhome boom, selling 37, up 164% for an 8% market share.
Mercedes-Benz claimed fifth spot with 34, up nearly 89% for a 7.5% market share.
Registrations of used import trucks jumped a massive 47% year-on-year, although to the comparatively small total of 194.
Isuzu was the top make with 55, up nearly 62% for a 28% share of the market.
Toyota was second on 33, up 37.5% for a 17% share, and Hino took out third on 26, up nearly 37% for a 13% stake.
Mitsubishi and Nissan tied for fourth with 19 registrations each.
Isuzu general manager Colin Muir says January sales figures were not “too bad”, but could have been better.
“The number of vehicles we have ready to be registered in body builders is high, and I had expected more in January, but it’s just a timing issue to get registered.
“The pipeline of pre-sold vehicles is really strong.”
Last year was a record year for Isuzu, and staff from its 12 truck dealerships and 13 authorised facilities around the country worked hard to meet the high demand, he says.
“Our dealers are aggressively expanding their workforce and sales staff… with the growth in the market over the last few years the dealers need to expand, not just to keep up but to stay ahead.”
Fuso New Zealand managing director Kurtis Andrews says it was “great to seize the number one position for truck registrations”.
“We’re happy with the result although, while January is always a challenging sales month, 66 units was a bit below our target.
“That said, we’re starting to feel the momentum off the back of a strong 2017 result and will look to continue building on that going forward.”
Fuso, along with Isuzu, registered more than 1000 units last year and Andrews says he is looking forward to more milestones ahead.
“With our new Enduro range launching in March, additions to our network and some other exciting announcements to come later in the year, we’re looking forward to another busy year… so it’s a positive start.”
Kenworth made a big impact last month with registrations in the new heavy trucks over 23 tonne category.
The brand finished with 32 units for January, just over double its performance of 15 in January 2017.
Isuzu came in second spot for that category with 22, up from 18, followed by DAF with 21, up by a good margin from 11.
Southpac Trucks general sales manager Richard Smart, responsible for Paccar’s Kenworth and DAF brands, says it’s a “great start to the year” after a record result last year of more than 500 orders.
It was a milestone the company hadn’t achieved before.
“We finished last year taking nearly 60% of the United States market with Kenworth, more than all our competitors added together.”
The new Kenworth T610 launched in March at the Transport and Equipment Expo “is gaining solid orders” while the T659 is “secured as the logger of choice, especially in more arduous applications”.
“Our K200 cab-over sales have reached record numbers due to some uncertainly with other brands in this American sector.
“DAF-wise, the journey continues with market share growth each year. Our 6×4 tipper is one of the best-selling in its class and we have taken some new business in concrete mixing and pumping to add to our portfolio.
“February will see the opening of our additional new truck preparation building in Auckland, giving us more capacity to deal with these increases.”
Isuzu starts strong across ditch
Isuzu Australia remains the dominant force across the ditch in most 2018 commercial vehicle segments.
But Kenworth and Mercedes-Benz have kept their respective crowns in the sale of heavy trucks and light duty vans.
Isuzu owned the light truck category once again with 242 sold last month. It’s a similar story for medium duty trucks with 131 sold, just ahead of Hino on 118 for the year.
Kenworth sold 163 new big rigs, ahead of Isuzu’s second-place effort of 104 for January, while Mercedes-Benz took third with 78 sales.
All up for Australia, Isuzu achieved 477 sales for the month. Second was Hino on 314 and Daimler-owned Fuso rounded out the podium on 201.
That solid 163 figure from Kenworth just in heavy trucks, built in Bayswater, Victoria, managed a respectable fourth place.
In the NZ light commercial sector, Ford was again on top with a 20% market share or 808 units, followed by Toyota with 780 for 19% and Holden with 385 for 10%.
Ford’s dominance comes on the back of its Ranger model which has been New Zealand’s top-selling car for three years in a row.
Last year Ford registered 9420 Rangers throughout the country. Toyota Hilux followed with 8106 registrations.
In the used light commercial sector, Toyota easily took the top spot in January with 441 and a 43% market share. That was up 37, or 9%, on the same period last year.
Nissan followed behind with 210 for a 20.5% market share. That was up just over 6% or 13 compared to January 2017.
Mazda took out bronze in the used light commercial category with 78 and close to an 8% market share. That was a slight dip of 6% compared to the 83 units for the same period last year.
In the new tractor segment, John Deere took top spot with 12 registrations for a 18% market share.
Massey Ferguson was second with nine for a 13% market share and New Holland came in third with five for a 7.5% market share.
John Deere also dominated in used tractors with 55 units registered for a 34% market share.
Massey Ferguson again took second with 21 and a 13% market share.
Class came in third with 14 registrations and nearly 9% of the market.
