New Zealand’s heavy truck sales continued to be steady, but not spectacular, in June.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency statistics show that 467 trucks with a GVM over 4.5 tonnes were registered in the month – up from May’s 403 and a 16.1% improvement on the last “normal” (ie non-COVID 19-affected) June – in 2019. 

On the other hand, it lagged 8.4% behind 2018’s alltime best June, when 510 sales were recorded.

Similarly, this year’s first-half total sales of 2372 was 9.4% behind 2019’s benchmark 2620 registrations.

The trailer market, with 136 June registrations, was up on 2019’s 107, but fell short of 2018’s 164 sales. The 660 total sales for the first half was just 5% behind 2019…but 16.7% down on 2018’s alltime best.

In June 2021’s overall truck market, longtime No. 1 Isuzu shrugged off FUSO’s challenge to its lead in May – registering 126 trucks in June to FUSO’s 79. Thus it stretched its year-to-date lead on FUSO (which was down to just five trucks in May) back out to out 52 – 488 to 436.

Interestingly however, FUSO increased its market share from 15.2% to 18.4% year on year, while Isuzu dropped from 23.6% to 20.6%

Hino (340/67) was again third (for the month and the year) and Scania (177/50) and Iveco (149/26) stayed fourth and fifth respectively, while Mercedes-Benz (128/22) and Kenworth (125/20) both moved ahead of Volvo (124/11). UD (83/12) and DAF (73/12) both held their YTD places to round out the top 10. 

In the 3.5-4.5t GVM crossover segment, Fiat reached 216 YTD (way ahead of its 122 YTD at the same point last year), by adding 32 for the month, followed by Volkswagen (73/12) in a distant second and Mercedes-Benz (33/8), third. 

In the 4.5-7.5t category, FUSO (215/32) held its lead (again well ahead of its 138 YTD at the same point last year), but second-placed Isuzu (185/44) had a good month and closed the gap a little. Hino (82/23) was third, ahead of Mercedes-Benz (75/12), Iveco (67/13), Hyundai (37/7), Foton (30/1), Fiat (17/1) and Volkswagen (11/3).

Isuzu (197/55) blitzed the 7.5-15t segment, with Hino (107/12) holding second and FUSO (94/20) third. A long way behind were Foton (29/5), Iveco (24/6), UD (8/2), Hyundai (8/3) and DAF and Scania (both 1/0).

In the 15-20.5t segment, Hino (47/12) led FUSO (33/8), UD (15/3), Iveco (11/4), Scania (10/2), Isuzu and Mercedes-Benz (both 7/1), MAN and DAF (both 3/1), and Freightliner (2/0).

In the tiny 20.5-23t segment, Isuzu (11/5) took over the No. 1 spot from Hino (8/0) and FUSO (7/2). Volvo (2/2) made its debut in this division, joining Scania (2/1) in fourth-equal – both of them displacing Freightliner (1/0). 

In the 23t to maximum GVM premium division, Scania (164/47) increased its lead, while Kenworth (125/20) went ahead of Volvo (122/9) for second. Hino (96/20) retained fourth, while Isuzu (88/21) overtook FUSO (87/17) for the fifth spot. DAF (69/11), UD (60/7), Iveco (47/3) and Mercedes-Benz (41/9) all retained their places in the rest of the top 10.

In the trailer market there was no change in the order of the top 10, with YTD leader Patchell (108/26), second-placed Fruehauf (76/19) and Domett (53/11), in third, consolidating their respective places.

MTE (46/6) was fourth, ahead of Roadmaster (45/8), TMC (42/8), Transport Trailers (36/7), Freighter (32/9) and Transfleet (26/3). TES and CWS (both 20/3) again tied for 10th.