This story first appeared in the May issue of DieselTalk – CLICK HERE to download the magazine FREE
April was nearly a three-figure sales month for Isuzu Trucks – but not quite being able to get a couple of trucks out of the bodybuilding workshop saw the Japanese manufacturer record 96 new vehicle registrations.
Still a hugely pleasing result, following the 69 new registrations it recorded in April last year.
While the truck market overall was down nearly 9% year-on-year in April 2016, Isuzu Trucks was up year-on-year in light duty (3500-9000kg GVM) truck registrations from 20 to 48 which was pleasing result for the brand.
Isuzu Truck New Zealand general manager Colin Muir says the market is tracking in the right direction, with this month’s decline in registration numbers being less than the declines in January, February, and March.
He is confident in the company’s prediction that the overall new truck market for 2016 will be 4% to 8% down on the total for 2015.
“We’re chuffed with our performance in light duty trucks for April,” says Muir, “the fact that we have outsold our combined major competitors shows a massive market confidence in that product range (N-Series).
“It’s fantastic that we are the truck of choice in the light duty market,” he says.
However, the Japanese truck distributor saw a decrease in medium duty (9001-23,000kg GVM) year- on-year and also a decline in its heavy duty (23,001+kg GVM) registrations year on year.
Muir is philosophical about being so close to three digits last month, commenting that the body builders are still “chokka” with demand for new truck builds not ceasing.
“Dealer inquiry for new trucks is still high,” says Muir. “On one day more than two weeks ago, the entire Isuzu dealer network signed up 69 orders in one day across all three truck categories.”
Muir comments that the majority of those 69 orders received in April were for light duty trucks, as opposed to medium duty and heavy duty.
Hino Distributors saw a much improved April 2016 registration figure, growing from 41 units in April 2015 to 72 last month while Mitsubishi Fuso saw a decline from 48 registrations in April 2015 to 35 last month.
Volvo Trucks saw a marked year on year decline with registrations falling from 46 units in April 2015 to 25 last month; Fiat saw a small increase from 13 units to 19.
For the month of April, Isuzu Trucks held 26.5% of the total truck market; Hino Distributors took 19.9% market share, and Mitsubishi Fuso held 9.7% market share followed by Volvo Trucks on 6.8%.
Year-to-date, new truck registrations of 1344 units is slightly down on the 1437 units recorded in the previous corresponding period.
Total registrations of 362 units for April was an 8.7% increase over 333 units in the previous corresponding period.
Light duty trucks were significantly up year-on-year from 87 registrations in April 2015 to 144 last month, a significant strong result.
Medium duty trucks were also up slightly year on year from 72 units in April 2015 to 86 last month, but heavy duty numbers fell year-on-year from 180 in April 2015 to 132 last month.
Hilux back up on top
Toyota was the light commercial vehicle market leader with 24% share (768 units) followed by Ford at 18% (580 units) and Nissan third at 10% (327 units).
The Toyota Hilux regained its position as the monthly top-selling light commercial model for April with 17% market share (535 units). It was also the top selling model overall for the month of April.
The Ford Ranger was the second best seller with 16% market share (507 units) with the Nissan Navara at 10% (327 units).
Year-to-date, the Ford Ranger retains its lead as the top-selling light commercial model with 18% market share (2410 units) followed by the Toyota Hilux, with 14% market share (1880 units).
The top-selling three models for the month of April 2016 were again light commercial vehicles, reflecting continued high demand for 4×2 and 4×4 utes.
