New car sales up 14% in 2010

Monday 10th January 2011

New car sales in 2010 were up 14% on the year before to 62,029, while sales of new commercial vehicles rose 17.8% to 18,424.

For just the month of December, new car sales were up 14.5% from a year earlier to 4548, while new commercial sales were up to 1396 from 1012.

Used car registrations - generally imported used cars - were up 2.1% in December from a year earlier to 7766, while for the year they were up 28.9% to 88,613, New Zealand Transport Agency figures show.

Motor Industry Association chief executive Perry Kerr said the new vehicle industry had finished 2010 on a strong note and was happy with the way the year ended.

The Toyota Corolla was far and away the country's most popular new sales vehicle in 2010, with 4890 sold for the year compared to 4699 in 2009.

Holden Commodore relinquished its second place, falling from 2875 sales in 2009 to 2564 last year, while the Suzuki Swift pushed its way up from third to runner up, lifting from 2333 to 2724. Ford Falcon remained in fourth place with 2407 sales last year, up from the 2242 in 2009.

In December 537 Corollas were sold and 243 Commodores, with 225 Toyota Camrys and 223 Toyota Rav4s. Rentals accounted for 149 of the Camry sales and 135 of the Rav4s.

Toyota's Hilux remained the top-selling commercial, with 3454 sales last year and 3047 in 2009. Second in 2010, up from third, was the Nissan Navara with 2077 sales, while the Ford Ranger slipped to third with 1654 sales.

NZPA

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