Truck sales showed very strong growth in March, with members of the industry spoken to by AutoTalk believing the market is steadily improving.
The overall market for vehicles over 3500kg GVM in March was up 25% year-on-year for the month.
Clive Jones, sales manager of Volvo Truck & Bus Motor Distributors, who saw registrations rise nearly ten-fold on last year, was very pleased.
“For us it was an extremely good month, quite exceptional.”
Maarten Durent, general manager of Southpac Trucks noted things are gradually improving.
“I have to say that in the market there is some growth, according to what we’ve seen, and also in line with what the Reserve Bank is telling us, so things are gradually improving.”
Dean Hoverd, managing director of JAC Trucks says: “I think after a bit of a slow start this year, March appeared to be a bit better than last year, and signs are for a better year this year, so things are improving.”
Colin Muir of Isuzu trucks says: “The market will probably end up at 220, and we should still be number one this year.”
Please note, that AutoTalkDiesel splits new truck registration over three sectors: Trucks 3500kg GVM to 12,000kg GVM; Trucks 12,001kg GVM and over and busses 3500kg GVM and over.
Overall market leader for the month was Isuzu on 52 units, this was a rise of 18.2% year-on-year for a 16.8% market share.
Mitsubishi Fuso was second on 50 units, up 108.3% for the month for a 16.1% share, followed by Hino on 36 units, down 12.2% for an 11.6% share.
Volvo was next on 32 units, up from three a year ago and holding 10.3% of the market, followed by Mercedes Benz on 24 units, down 25%.
The market for trucks up to 12,000kg showed the most growth of the three AutoTalkDIESEL sectors, up 29.3% to 119 units.
Isuzu led the market on 33 trucks, up 37.5% from March 2011 for a 27.7% market share.
Mitsubishi Fuso was second on 23 units, up 64.3%, followed by Mercedes Benz, down 26.9% to 19 units.
The market for trucks over 12,000kg was also strong, up 27.6% to 171.
Volvo lead on 32 units, up 966% year on year for 18.7% of the sector.
Mitsubishi Fuso and Scania were tied for second on 23 units each, while Hino and Isuzu were close behind on 21 and 19 respectively.
The bus market was down 4.8% for the month to just 20 units, the Alexander Dennis vehicles being assembled in Tauranga for use in Auckland continuing to lead with 10 vehicles.
Used trucks down
Registrations of used import commercials over 3500kg were down 16.1% for the month year-on-year to 47 units from 56 in March 2011.
Toyota was the most popular marque, representing just over a quarter of the market on 12 units, double the figure recorded a year ago.
Isuzu was second, down 26.7% to 11 units from 15.
The big American pick-ups took the next three spots, with Ford on five and Chevrolet and Dodge on three-a-piece.
