This story first appeared in the July issue of DieselTalk – CLICK HERE to download the magazine FREE
A better than expected June registration month has seen Isuzu Trucks maintain its dominant market leadership in new heavy trucks and buses over 3500kg GVM.
But a resurgent Fuso brand is fast recapturing lost market share, particularly in the light duty truck segment (3500kg to 9000kg GVM).
Taking first place on the table, Isuzu Trucks saw 125 new truck and bus registrations in June 2017, up from 106 in the previous corresponding period. In the year to date its registrations total 595, up from 541.
In second place, Fuso New Zealand registered 98 units, a significant increase over the 36 recorded in the previous corresponding period. In the year to date Fuso has registered a total of 502, up from 232.
Hino Distributors was in third place with 65 registrations for June 2017, down from 73 at the same time last year. In the year to date Hino has 314 units registered, one less than the previous corresponding period.
Fourth-placed Mercedes-Benz Trucks had 47 registered in June, up from 28 at the same time last year. In the year to date it was registered a total of 203, up from 134 in the previous corresponding period.
Another European brand, DAF, was in fifth place on the table with a strong June registration month – 32, up from eight in June 2016. In the year to date DAF has 133 registrations, up from 103 in the previous corresponding period.
Year-to-date registrations of heavy-duty trucks over 23,001kg GVM have increased to 1093, from 907 in the previous corresponding period.
June 2017 saw 226 heavy-duty truck registrations, up from 134 in the previous corresponding period.
Year-to-date registrations of medium-duty trucks from 9001 to 23,000kg GVM have increased to 573, up from 428 in the previous corresponding period. For the month of June 2017 medium-duty trucks registrations rose to 120 from 85 in the previous corresponding period.
Registrations of light-duty trucks from 3500 to 9000kg GVM in the year-to-date have exploded to 1014, from 742 in the previous corresponding period. June 2017 saw 196 light-duty trucks registered, up from 116 in the same month last year.
Well supplied pipeline
Isuzu Trucks New Zealand general manager Colin Muir says the June result was another great performance that exceeded the company’s expectations.
“There are still a lot of vehicles in the supply pipeline which are yet to come to fruition,” he says.
“We had another healthy month of wholesale sales which was pleasing – we are seeing growth of around 26% year-on-year and we’ve got good forward momentum.
“Our volume at this time of year is certainly up from that at the same time last year.”
But Muir admits the Isuzu registrations are being affected by the hard-charging Fuso brand.
“We are doing good numbers in the light-duty segment but we can’t keep up with the Fuso methodology,” he says.
“We are also doing very well in the medium-duty and heavy-duty markets. Registration growth in these two sectors is up on last year and continues to grow month-on-month which is very pleasing.”
Booming light commercials
Registrations of light commercial vehicles in June totalled 5804, up a massive 28.6% (1291) on June 2016 and 22.7% (4858) year-to-date over this time last year.
It was not only the strongest June on record for the registration of new commercial vehicles but also the strongest month since the Motor Industry Association began collecting vehicle statistics in 1975.
In the light commercial sector, Toyota was again the market leader with 22% market share (1299). It was followed by Ford with 21% (1230) and Holden third with 11% (666).
The Ford Ranger remained at the top of the bestselling vehicle model table for the month of June, with 1178, followed by the Toyota Hilux with 964 and the Holden Colorado with 650.
In the year-to-date, the three top-selling models are Ford Ranger with 4976, followed by the Toyota Hilux with 4065 and the Holden Colorado with 2384 units.
Four of the top five vehicle segments were dominated by SUVs and utes (pick-up/chassis cab) in June.
The pick-up/chassis cab 4×4 segment was the most dominant with 18% share (2807) followed by the SUV medium segment 15% (2356), then SUV large with 14% (2178 ) and pick-up/chassis cab 4×2 on 10% (1652).
