Hilux storms to top spot

The Toyota Hilux was New Zealand’s best-selling new commercial model last month as this segment of the market notched up a year-on-year sales boom of seven per cent.

There were 3,774 new commercial vehicles registrations in February to 3,527 registrations in the same month of last year. 

The year-to-date total for registrations is now 7,954, which is six per cent higher than the 7,506 units for the same period last year.

The Hilux, pictured, sold 804 units for a market share of 21.3 per cent in February. Next up was Ford’s Ranger on 549 sales. The top five was rounded out by the Mitsubishi Triton with 474, Nissan’s Navara on 260 and the Mazda BT-50 with 245.

The top three marques were Toyota with 992 sales, Ford with 623 and Mitsubishi on 515.

For the year to date, Toyota accounts for 24.4 per cent of the market, or 1,938 units, while Ford and Mitsubishi have 20.7 and 11.9 per cent respectively.

Used commercials nosedive

February wasn’t such as good month for first-time registrations of used-imported commercials. Last month’s total was of 508 was down by 41.2 per cent when compared to 864 in the same month of 2020.

The year-to-date total for registrations is now 962, which is 43.8 per cent lower than the 1,711 units for the same period last year.

Toyota’s Hilux dominated in February with a market share of 67.1 per cent thanks to 106 sales.

Nissan’s NV350 came second with 44 registrations and the Isuzu Elf was third on 30. The top five was completed by Toyota’s Dyna on 28 and the Hino Dutro with 23.

A market share of 35.8 per cent saw Toyota predictably be February’s top-selling marque, although this was on the back of a 57.7 per cent fall in sales to 182 last month compared to 430 this time last year.

For the year to date, Toyota accounts for 37.3 per cent of the market, or 359 units, while Nissan and Isuzu have 16.1 and 8.9 per cent respectively.