The Suzuki Swift was the best-selling new passenger car in New Zealand in May, trumping long-time front-runner the Toyota Corolla.
There wasn’t much in it, the Swift (above) and Corolla each sharing four per cent of the segment but Swift recording 272 registrations to Corolla’s 241. In third place was the Mazda CX-5 with 230 units, a continuing reflection of the strong SUV market.
It was the strongest May since Motor Industry Association records began almost 40 years ago. New-vehicle sales totaled 10,064 units, made up of 6802 cars and 3262 commercials.
MIA chief executive David Crawford said the numbers “reflect the current strong economic conditions as sales records continue to fall.”
At the end of May 49,639 new cars and commercials had been sold, an average of just under 10,000 vehicles a month. Annualised, 2014 numbers could reach around 120,000, roughly 7000 vehicles up on 2013.
Car sales for the first five months of 2014 were up 3574 units (11%) on the same period last year. Commercial sales were up by 2313 units, or a whopping 20%. May alone saw an increase of 455 cars and 685 commercials over May 2013.
Toyota was the overall market leader for the month with a 19% share (1931 units). Ford was second on 11% ( 1118) and Holden third, also with 11% (1090).
Toyota led passenger car sales with a 15% share (996), with Holden second on 12% (798) and Ford third with 8% (562). Toyota also headed the commercial segment with 29% (935) followed by Ford at 17% (556) and Holden third at 9 % (292).
The Toyota Hilux wrested last month’s commercial sales title from April’s leader the Ford Ranger. Hilux sold 566 units (17%) and Ranger 503 (15%). But Ranger remains the segment leader so far in 2014 with 2183 sales (16%) to Hilux’s 2069 (15%).
The sale of sports utility vehicles grew to 30% of the overall market in May, followed by pick-ups/chassis-cabs with 22% and small passenger cars at 16%.
Top 15 passenger cars to the end of May
1. Toyota Corolla 1980; 2. Suzuki Swift 1181; 3. Holden Commodore 1095; 4. Mazda CX-5 1056; 5. Holden Captiva 941; 6. Mazda3 926; 7. Volkswagen Golf 882; 8. Hyundai Santa Fe 813; 9. Mitsubishi Lancer 794; 10. Toyota RAV4 771; 11. Toyota Yaris 737; 12. Ford Focus 732; 13. Holden Cruze 727; 14. Hyundai IX35 717; 15. Nissan X-Trail 664.
Top 15 brands to the end of May
1. Toyota 8306; 2. Ford 5382; 3. Holden 4929; 4. Hyundai 3491; 5. Nissan 3257; 6. Mazda 3236; 7. Mitsubishi 3012; 8. Volkswagen 2273; 9. Suzuki 2200; 10. Honda 1353; 11. Kia 1251; 12. Mercedes-Benz 988; 13. BMW 950; 14. Audi 893; 15. Subaru 736. Others: 7382. Total: 49,639.
Top 15 passenger cars in May
1. Suzuki Swift 272; 2. Toyota Corolla 241; 3. Mazda CX-5 230; 4. Toyota RAV4 229; 5. Holden Commodore 213; 6. Holden Captiva 211; 7. Holden Cruze 179; 8. Mazda3 175; 9. Toyota Yaris 175; 10. Nissan X-Trail 151; 11. Volkswagen Golf 147; 12. Toyota Highlander 139; 13. Hyundai Santa Fe 132; 14. Ford Kuga 124; 15. Hyundai IX35 115.