New truck registrations are continuing a strong beginning to 2022.

January provided a positive start and the NZTA provisional data confirms the market achieved its best February result on record.

There were 455 new trucks (with a GVM of 4.5 tonnes-plus) registered during February. It’s an impressive 41.7% increase on the 321 sales in February 2021 and also an increase of 18.8% increase on 2019 figures which had stood as the strongest February sales total on record. 

The success in the truck market was reflected in the overall new vehicle market where February sales were also the highest on record. However the market is being distorted by accelerated sales of light commercial vehicles ahead of the April 1 “Ute Tax” introduction. 

It’s been a slightly slower start for new trailer registrations with 108 registrations in February 2022 being a slight increase from 101 in the same month of 2021. However, YTD trailer registrations are still down 5.8% on 2021 figures and 13% behind the total of 223 achieved in the first two months of 2019. 

FUSO slightly extended its lead in the 2022 sales race with 90 registrations in February taking it to 154 YTD. Hino also continued a strong start to the year with 88 registrations for the month (144 YTD), moving further ahead of Isuzu with 61 for the month of February and 108 total YTD. 

Behind FUSO, Hino and Isuzu in the 4.5t to maximum GVM truck market, the February figures now show 56 registrations YTD for Kenworth after achieving 30 units in February to claim fourth position ahead of Mercedes-Benz (48/27), Iveco (48/30), Scania (47/20), Foton (37/25), UD (35/18) and DAF (25/13) rounding out the top-10.

In the 3.5-4.5t crossover segment, Fiat (60/30) is still the convincing leader ahead of Volkswagen (24/14) Mercedes-Benz (12/8), Ford (8/8), Chevrolet (5/4), Renault (4/2), Ram (3/3) and LDV (3/3).

In the 4.5-7.5t market segment FUSO (61/37) leads ahead of Isuzu (45/23), Iveco (30/20), Mercedes-Benz (28/20) and Foton (21/13).

The 7.5-15t segment saw Hino (49/35) move ahead of FUSO (40/28) registering 35 trucks in February. Isuzu (35/19) ranks third followed by Foton (16/12), Iveco (7/5), Hyundai (3/0), UD (2/1) and Mercedes-Benz (1/0).

In the small 15-20.5t category Hino (24/14) is a clear leader ahead of UD (8/3), Fuso (8/5), Scania (4/1), MAN (2/0), Iveco (2/0) and Isuzu (1/1).  

The 20.5-23t segment logged no registrations in the month of February.

Kenworth’s 30 registrations in February improved their number one position in the premium 23t to maximum GVM category to lead with 56 registrations YTD.

Close behind with 26 February registrations was Hino (51/26) ahead of FUSO (45/20), Scania (43/19), UD (25/14), DAF (24/12), Isuzu (24/16), Mercedes-Benz (19/7), Volvo (17/11) and MAN (15/7) rounding out the top 10. 

There was no change at the top of the trailer market with Patchell Industries leading the market YTD, although Fruehauf topped the February registrations.

Patchells (20/10) lead the trailer segment after two months with Fruehauf (18/12) close behind. Next are M.T.E (16/11), Roadmaster (13/6), Domett (11/7), TMC (11/7), Transport Trailer (11/7) (who all tied in fifth), Freighter (9/3), Transfleet (8/4) and TES (5/4).