COVID-19 crashed the New Zealand new truck market again in February… unsurprisingly.

There was little comfort in the fact that the 321 total of new truck registrations in the overall market (4.5 tonnes to maximum GVM) for the month was 26 up on January’s disappointing tally – and also narrowly topped February 2020’s total.

But, keeping it real, in comparison to the alltime best February sales, achieved in 2019, the February 2021 figure was 68 trucks and 17.5% behind that 389-truck milestone.

Likewise, the 616 total registrations for the first two months of this year were 11.74% behind 2020’s 698 at the same point – and almost 23.5% behind 2019’s record.

NZ Transport Agency registration statistics show that the heavy trailer market continued to be pretty similar to the start of 2020 – the 105 February registrations were actually four up on the same month last year, two less than February 2019…but 16 down on the alltime best February registrations.

The 206 trailer registrations for the first two months of 2021 were just 13 behind last year’s total at the same point and 17 behind 2018’s alltime record.

In the overall 4.5t-maximum GVM truck market, FUSO (126/66) was again best for the month...and thus the year to date. It headed longtime market leader Isuzu (116/61) for the second consecutive month – claiming a 20.5% YTD market share. Following in the 2021 standings was Hino (86/50) and Kenworth (40/15), while Volvo (37/23) edged ahead of Mercedes-Benz (35/17) for fifth. 

Scania (31/19) moved up into seventh ahead of Foton (23/10) and Iveco (23/11) in 8th-equal. DAF (22/10) dropped one spot to round out the top 10. 

In the 3.5-4.5t GVM crossover segment, Fiat (60/32) raced further into the lead, way ahead of Mercedes-Benz (10/4), Volkswagen (6/0), Renault (5/2), Peugeot (4/2) and Ford (2/2). 

In the 4.5-7.5t segment, FUSO (66/36) jumped further ahead of Isuzu (42/19), with Mercedes-Benz (23/12) retaining third. Hino (16/9) moved into fourth, ahead of Hyundai (14/7), which edged ahead of Foton (13/5). 

In the 7.5-15t class, Isuzu (49/28) continued to open up its lead – although well short of the 50.7% market share (and 71 registrations) it achieved at the same point last year. Hino (36/21), FUSO (27/13), Foton (10/5), Iveco (6/3), UD (4/2), Hyundai (3/2) and DAF (1/1) followed, in that order.

In the small 15-20.5t GVM category, Hino (13/8) led clearly at the end of February, ahead of FUSO (6/2), Scania (5/4), and Mercedes-Benz (4/2). 

And in the tiny 20.5-23t division, FUSO (3/2) remained the only manufacturer to register any vehicles. 

While Kenworth’s (40/15) great start to the year in the 23t-max GVM premier division slowed in February, its 15 registrations for the month were still enough to see it retain the lead, with 40 sales. 

Volvo (37/23) remained in second place, while Scania (26/15) moved into third – clear of FUSO and Isuzu (both 24/13), these two again tying (for 4th-equal). Hino (21/12) moved up a place into sixth, ahead of DAF (20/9) – down from third in January.

UD (14/5) remained 8th, ahead of Mercedes-Benz (8/3) and MAN and Sinotruk (both 7/6) were 10th-equal. 

In the heavy trailer market, No. 1 Patchell (27/11) retained its lead, ahead of Fruehauf (21/11). Roadmaster (17/9) moved up into third at the expense of Domett (14/5).

After a three-way tie for fifth last month, MTE (10/4) again tied with TMC (10/4) for 5th-equal, while Transport Trailers (9/6) moved up a place into seventh. Freighter (8/2) dropped to 8th-equal alongside TES (8/6) and Transfleet (8/5).