Car Sales Show Spring-Time Promise
While not yet ‘business as usual’, there was a welcome return to traditional patterns of car sales in September, according to official sales registration data for the month.
The Motor Trade Association (MTA) said that the month of September consistently showed a peak in sales, and despite recent fluctuations in fortunes affecting most car dealers, this year it has been no different.
“There’s room for some optimism here,” said MTA’s Andy Cuming.
“While total sales in the month were below the level of the same month in 2008, the 27 per cent surge over August shows promise when viewed in conjunction with other economic indicators.”
There was a total of 5,593 new cars sold in September, the highest individual total for a single month so far this year. While down 16 per cent on September 2008 it is considered by industry sources as a strong result that augurs well for the remainder of the year.
“The factor of significance is that we are now looking at a pattern of sales decline being arrested,” said Andy Cuming.
“A continuing flow of smart new fuel-efficient models now entering the market with high specification and attractive pricing is proving a strong lure for car-owners and businesses who have been putting off their buying decisions.”
During the month, Toyota retained its stranglehold on new car market leadership.
Spearheaded by Corolla, New Zealand’s most popular individual model, which outsold its nearest rivals Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon by more than three-to-one, Toyota sold 1,504 new cars, for a market share of 26.9 per cent.
In second place was Ford with 642 sales for 11.5 per cent, followed by Holden in third with 508 sales (9.1 per cent), Mazda 439 (7.8), Hyundai 376 (6.7), and Suzuki 354 (6.3).
Sales of used imported cars in September showed just a small uplift from August but here again it showed the same emerging promise of moving more closely toward 2008 sales rates.
A total of 5,919, used imported cars were sold in the month, up one per cent on August, but down 17 per cent on September 2008.
“Importantly, the year to date decline from last year has now been reduced to 33 per cent, and hopes are high for emergence of a continuing strong pattern of demand,” said Andy Cuming.
Sales of new motorcycles in September bounced 30 per cent on August, but so this year, new motorcycle sales have come back to earth after repeated years of sales growth.
In the first nine months of 2009, the total number of new motorcycle sales are down 43 per cent on 2008.
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