New Zealand's new truck sales last year broke all previous annual records – with 5209 heavy truck registrations.

That was 781 more than the former alltime record, set in 2014.

The 1577 heavy transport trailers registered last year was also a record….but only just! It pipped 2015's previous record by two.

Official NZ Transport Agency registration statistics show that the overall new truck market was up a whopping 28% on 2016's sales.

And, while Isuzu maintained its leadership – now out to 18 years in a row as No. 1 in the overall market (trucks with a GVM of 4.5 tonnes or more) – 2017 saw Fuso emerge as a challenger.

While Isuzu broke its own record by averaging 105 new truck registrations per month, its overall market share dropped – from almost 30% in 2016, to 24.2% last year.

Fuso NZ, the new distributor for the make that was NZ's best seller until Isuzu began its long streak, improved its market share from a lowly 10.18% in 2016, to 18.33% last year – by selling 955 new trucks.

That was a 130% improvement on the 414 sold in 2016 and an 80% increase in market share.

It ranked second in 2017 sales in the overall market, displacing Hino (which sold 661 trucks, for a 12.69% share – down from 15.72% in 2016).

Fuso NZ says that, taking into account bus sales as well as truck regos, it sold 1017 units last year – smashing its own previous best year (787 in 2014) by 20%.

Fuso NZ managing director Kurtis Andrews says the company "didn't head out to set the world on fire."

With a "delivering better" focus, "our main goal for the year was to develop a business that would allow Fuso trucks to realise their potential in NZ.

"Thanks to our highly experienced and passionate dealer network, the foundation was already in place.

"There has been a massive amount of work put in at Fuso NZ and by our dealers, to build our team and operations from the ground up." The year's sales results are, he says, "testament to the effort that went in and the potential the business has."

Behind the sales record, Andrews points out, Fuso NZ now stocks a record number of parts in its Auckland warehouse – and that's "helping re-establish customer confidence in the brand.

"We now carry over 8000 stock items in our parts inventory. Previously, only around 3000 Fuso parts were available off the shelf in NZ – anything else had to be airfreighted, which often lead to unsatisfactory delays. Our off-the-shelf parts order fill rate is now at 96%."

Andrews hints at even better to come this year from the revitalised Japanese brand: "Now we're set up, we're in a position to focus on selling trucks and continuing to deliver better for our customers.

"We've got some exciting products landing in 2018 – and we're all pretty excited about the opportunities they'll bring."

In the record-breaking truck market, Fuso was joined by Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Iveco, Kenworth, Scania, Ram, Fiat and Sinotruk in increasing their market shares.

Many that lost percentage share still sold more trucks than in 2016…and some set their own new alltime or five-year sales records.

Isuzu also continued its No. 1 status in the premium 23t to max GVM market in 2017, although it did lose 2.69% share from 2016. Volvo retained second place, ahead of DAF (which achieved a five-year best).

Patchell Group extended its trailer market No. 1 streak to its eighth straight year, putting a record 186 units on the road. Fruehauf was runner-up, ahead of Roadmaster and MTE.

For a full report on last year's truck and trailer registrations, see TRT Recently Registered, on Page 95.