Used car imports remain strong

Used imported car registrations for the month were 12,260, up 542 units, or 4.5 per cent compared to last February. Year-to-date figures also look good, up 7.6 per cent or 1782 units, and only two months have passed. As usual, Toyota topped the leader board with 3,038 vehicles sold - an increase of 10.1 per cent on the same time last year, when 2,760 vehicles were sold. Toyota holds 25.5 per cent of the market share for the year to date. Nissan followed with a 2.7 per cent increase from 2,143 passenger vehicles sold in February 2016, to 2,200 sold last month, and a 17.7 per cent share in the market.  Mazda followed closely behind with 1,871 registrations for the month - an increase of 0.5 per cent on 1,862 in the previous February. The Mazda Axela was top of the table, enjoying a 0.7 per cent increase on the same time last year. 570 vehicles were sold last month, compared to 566 in February 2016.  The Axela holds a 4.7 per cent market share for sales year to date, 2017. The Suzuki Swift and Nissan Tiida follow, both with less sales than the same month last year. The Swift was down 1.8 per cent at 551 units, down 10 sales, and the Tiida down 5.9 per cent, and 34 units on February 2016. They each hold a market share of 4.3 per cent fo all sales for 2017.