The new truck and bus market was down in July, with overall sales dropping 11.2% to 270 units.
The pain mostly came in the small to midsize market, with registrations of trucks up to 12,000kg GVM falling 23.3%, while trucks over that weight were up 8%.
Keith Andrews from Keith Andrews in Whangarei said the market was steady. There was nothing that stood out, it was “just a steady month.”
Jerry Kavanagh from Cooke Howlison Isuzu in Dunedin pulled no punches. “July was bloody awful. I can’t see any reason for this, it was just a general market downturn. June was starting to drop off a little, and our first 6 months hadn’t been too bad,” says Kavanagh. “Our sales used to be quite seasonal but that was many years ago.”
“The last two weeks have warmed up a bit so hopefully that continues. Mid-heavy duty trucks have had the most attention.”
Isuzu lead the overall market (trucks over 3500kg) in July, with 52 units, up 40.5% for 19.3% of the market.
Mitsubishi Fuso was strong, with 42 units 16 more than in 2011, a growth of 61.5%. Fuso’s market share is 19.3%.
Hino was in third with 27 truck, up 6 or 12.4%. Market share is 10%.
DAF was in fourth with 24, up 16 or 200%, the biggest percentage growth of the month. Market share is 11%.
Mercedes-Benz was next but saw a fall, with 20 units sold, down on last July’s 44, a drop of 54.5%. Market share is 9.2%
Trucks between 3500kg and 12000kg totalled 115, down from 150 in 2011, a fall of 23.3% caused by big losses from just three brands.
Isuzu took the lead with 37, up 10 or 37%. Market share was a solid 32.2%.
Mitsubishi Fuso was in second on 22 sales, up five or 29.4%, followed by Fiat in third with 18, up four or 28.6%. Market share is 15.7%.
Hino sold 14, up four or 40%. Share is 12.2%, while Mercedes sold seven, down 27 or 79.4%. Market share is 6.1%.
Trucks over 12,001kg saw healthy sales, with a total of 135 up 10 units or 8%.
Some big gains were made by the first few place holders, DAF seeing 24 sales, up 16 or 200% on July 2011. Market share was 17.8%.
Mitsubishi Fuso was in second with 17 sales up 11 or 183.3%. Market share was 12.6%, followed by Isuzu with 15 trucks up five or 50%. Share was 11.1%.
Freightliner sold 14, up five for 55.6%, with a share of 10.4%, while Hino sold 12, up two or 20% for an 8.9% share.
Buses over 3500kg saw a sharp fall, with a total of 20 units, down 31.0%.
Alexander Dennis took first place with 10 sales, however the maker was down four or 28.6%. Market share was 50%.
