Best June for new car sales

The Motor Industry Association (MIA) says last month was the busiest June ever and was close to being an all-time record for new vehicle sales. The association says provisional sales figures show more than 8,000 cars, about 3,500 light commercials and more than 200 heavy vehicles were registered meaning it was the fourth-busiest month since records began in the 1970s. The MIA says strong sales are being driven by the high New Zealand dollar, competitive pricing and growing consumer confidence, while about 70 per cent of sales are company vehicles with sales stronger in cities. “It’s not even throughout the country,” says David Crawford, chief executive officer of the MIA. “There are some regions where the economy is still a little bit depressed – Northland, East Coast, Hawke’s Bay, for example.” Luxury car sales are doing well and they are considered to be a leading indicator of where the economy is at and going, while Fieldays gave June another boost with many dealerships offering specials. “There has been some built-up demand with some people holding onto their cars for a bit longer than they normally would and it becomes a point in time where it’s uneconomic to hold,” says Rick Armstrong, chief executive of Auckland City Toyota. “There has been a bit of a rush in that respect, but it doesn’t show any sign of slowing up either.” Dean Sheed, general manager of Audi NZ, visited Napier on July 1 and returned to Auckland in the afternoon. “The mood in Napier is equally as positive,” he says. “It’s hard to get farmers positive at the best of times, but actually the country is doing pretty damn well.” Watch video of TV3 news report