New truck registrations continued on a positive path in February, with registrations ahead of pre-Covid records.

The February performance of the truck segment is a marked contrast to the overall new vehicle market which experienced a downturn largely attributed to the widespread disruption caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.

Total registrations of 9,541 new vehicles for February were 23.7% down (2,960 units) on February 2022, and it was the lowest month of February since 2014.

According to NZTA provisional data, 476 new truck (with a GVM of 4.5 tonnes-plus) registrations in February is a 4.6% increase on the 455 sales in February 2022, and an increase of 22.3% increase on 2019.

Registration data shows trailer registrations making a slower start this year, from 108 total February 2022 registrations to 96 this year. Total YTD trailer registrations are however just 1.0% behind 2022 registrations, but still 13.9% behind the record of 223 in the first two months of 2018.

FUSO continues its leadership in the truck market by achieving 99 registrations in February and 183 YTD. Isuzu also continued the new year strongly with 95 registrations for the month and 161 YTD, ahead of Hino with 65 for February and 122 total. 

Behind the three Japanese brands in the 4.5t to maximum GVM truck segment, the February figures show 53 registrations for Scania (92/53) in fourth position YTD ahead of Volvo (48/27), DAF (39/21), Iveco (38/24), UD (34/17), Mercedes-Benz (31/15), and Kenworth (29/13) rounding out the top-10.

In the 3.5-4.5t crossover segment, Fiat (42/23) holds a clear lead ahead of Mercedes-Benz (28/22), Ford (26/14), Iveco (11/5), Ram (11/11), Chevrolet (9/4), Renault (6/3), Volkswagen (6/4) and LDV (1/1)

The 4.5-7.5t market segment is led by Fuso (88/45) ahead of Isuzu (39/26), Hino (27/13), Iveco (24/16), Volkswagen (12/7) and Hyundai (10/5).

The 7.5-15t segment sees Isuzu with strong February numbers (85/49) moving clear of Hino (32/20) and Fuso (27/16) with Foton (14/3) in fourth. 

The small 15-20.5t category is led by Hino (12/7), ahead of Fuso (10/6), UD (6/2), Scania (4/3), Mercedes-Benz (3/0) and DAF (3/3).

And in the tiny 20.5-23t segment Hino doubled its yearly total (4/2) with two registrations while both Isuzu (1/1) and Fuso (1/1) now figure in this segment with just one registration each.

Scania improved its number one position for the month of February in the premium 23t to maximum GVM category with 50 registrations and now 88 new units YTD.

Fuso (57/31) moves into second place ahead of Volvo (56/27). Hino (47/23) remains in fourth ahead of DAF (35/17), Isuzu (34/19), Kenworth (29/13), UD (27/15), and MAN (25/14) with Mercedes-Benz (18/9) rounding out the top-10. 

There is no change at the top of the trailer market month on month with Fruehauf continuing at the top of the leader board for second consecutive month.

Fruehauf (24/12) leads the market ahead of long-time leader Patchell (20/10). Next are Transport Trailers (17/8), Roadmaster (13/9), TMC (12/5), Domett (11/7), MTE (11/8) (who all tied in sixth YTD), TES (8/4) and Tidd (6/2) while Transfleet (5/1), Fairfax (5/3), MJ Customs  (5/3) share 10th spot YTD with five registrations each.