Ranger enjoys massive month

There were 5,069 new commercials sold last month, up by 24.8 per cent from 4,063 in July 2020 for a year-to-date total of 32,089.

The Ford Ranger, pictured, was July’s best-selling vehicle in this sector with a massive 1,418 registrations, which was up by 81.6 per cent compared to 781 in the same month of 2020. 

It secured a monthly market share of 28 per cent and tops the year-to-date ladder with 6,559 sales.

Ford NZ recently reported it had experienced unprecedented demand for the Ranger following the government announcing details of its clean car discount scheme, which will impose a levy on most utes from next year. 

Toyota’s Hilux was second with 809 sales, a 29 per cent increase on the same month of last year when it had 627 registrations. The model has sold 5,590 new units in the year to date.

Third place went to Mitsubishi’s Triton. Its sales rose by 27.7 per cent to 489 from 383 for 3,492 sales so far in 2021.

The top three marques for light commercials in July were Ford with 1,546, Toyota on 1,077 and Mitsubishi with 525.

Year-to-date, there have been 32,089 light commercials sold, which is 47.1 per cent more than the 21,817 at the same stage a year ago.

Demand for new commercials increased in most of the regions, with Masterton experiencing the biggest percentage jump in registrations. It recorded 70 sales last month, a climb of 70.7 per cent from 41 in July 2020.

The lower South Island also saw plenty of extra activity with light commercial sales climbing in Dunedin by 58.4 per cent, from 149 to 236, and in Invercargill they increased by 43.1 per cent, from 123 to 176.

In the main centres, Auckland’s numbers increased 31.1 per cent from 1,308 to 1,715, Wellington was up 29.5 per cent from 285 to 369, while Christchurch went from 395 to 507 for a 28.4 per cent rise.