New vehicle sales make soft start to year
There were 13,078 new vehicles registered last month, which was 6.2 per cent – or 860 units – lower than January 2019, according to Motor Industry Association (MIA) statistics.
“As expected, the new year has continued the downward trend set during 2019,” says chief executive David Crawford. “Expectations for the 2020 year is for it to be about four to five per cent down on 2019, with January coming in a bit softer than anticipated.
“Pure electric vehicles were softer with 140 units sold in January, with PHEVs up slightly at 88 units and 647 hybrid vehicles to continue their strong sales for the month.
“The registration of 9,099 passenger and SUVs for January 2020 were down 8.5 per cent, or 843 units, on 2019 volumes.
“Commercial vehicle registrations were down, just, for a fourth consecutive month with a total of 3,979 for January, down 0.4 per cent, or 17 units, compared to January 2019.”
The top models for the month of January were the Ford Ranger, pictured, on 885 units, followed by Toyota’s RAV4 with 569 sales and Hilux on 473.
Toyota remained the overall market leader with a market share of 15 per cent and 1,903 units, followed by Ford with 12 per cent and 1,534 units. Kia took third spot with a seven per cent market share and 964 units.
Passenger cars and SUV sales
The top-selling passenger vehicles in January was the RAV4 on 569 units. It was followed by Kia’s Seltos with 430 sales and the Suzuki Swift on 289. Toyota was the leading marque with a 13 per cent market share on 1,220 units. Kia followed with 11 per cent or 964 registrations, and Mazda had seven per cent with 674 units.
Sales of commercial vehicles
The Ranger has started 2020 as it finished last year by retaining top spot as the bestselling commercial model with a market share of 22 per cent and 885 units. It was followed by the Toyota Hilux with 12 per cent and 473 units, and the Holden Colorado with nine per cent and 373.
Marques frequently traded places as the leader in the commercials market during 2019 and are expected to do so again in 2020. In January, Ford regained the lead with 26 per cent and 1,024 units, followed by Toyota with 17 per cent and 683 sales. Holden was third with 10 per cent slice of registrations and 381 units.
Smaller vehicles dominate in January
The top three segments in January were, once again, medium-sized SUVs with a 19 per cent market share followed by compact SUVs with 19 per cent, and the pick-up/chassis four-by-four segment on 14 per cent.
