In the first half of 2022 the New Zealand heavy truck market is outperforming the other segments of the new vehicle market.

Slowing sales of passenger cars and SUVs are now running 3.2% behind 2021 volumes year-to-date while the total vehicle market is 20.4% behind 2021 levels as the brakes have been applied to utility sales since tax changes on April 1.

But the heavy truck market (4.5 tonnes GVM and above) continues to deliver record sales. YTD January-June registrations of 2727 units are running 14.9% ahead of the same half-year period in 2021 (2372 units) and ahead of the previous record first-half total of 2620 registrations achieved in 2019.

Monthly registrations of 503 units in June is 7.7% ahead of the same month last year and just seven units behind the June record of 510 registrations set in 2018.

The new trailer market recorded 118 registrations in June, down on the same month last year, when the market clocked 127 sales. It is also a sharp contrast to the 164 trailer registrations achieved in June 2018.

The top-selling truck brand for June is Isuzu with 124 units ahead of FUSO registering 116 units. FUSO retains YTD 2022 market leadership with 577 registrations ahead of Isuzu with 485. Isuzu is now ahead of Hino (June 79/YTD 469) in the 2022 sales race.

Scania (197/37) continues in a strong fourth position and Iveco (143/16) also retains fifth. UD (143/36) and Mercedes-Benz (128/22) both moved ahead of Kenworth (126/12) during June while both Foton (122/16) and DAF (73/4) held their top-10 YTD rankings. 

In the 3.5-4.5t GVM crossover segment, Fiat has reached 159 YTD by adding 48 for the month (although well behind its 216 YTD at the same point last year), followed by Mercedes-Benz (48/7) and Volkswagen (47/3). 

In the 4.5-7.5t category, FUSO (275/53) is strengthening its lead, ahead of Isuzu (148/39), Hino (100/20), Iveco (85/10), Foton (79/11), Mercedes-Benz (76/12), Hyundai (29/5) and Volkswagen (25/4).

Isuzu (191/39) continues to dominate the 7.5-15t segment, with Hino (145/26) remaining second and FUSO (114/25) third. 

In the 15-20.5t segment, Hino (60/10) leads FUSO (32/5), UD (29/7) and Isuzu (15/3) and in the very small 20.5-23t segment, Hino (10/1) remains clearly at the top ahead of Sinotruk (2/0). FUSO, Iveco and Isuzu have each registered one unit YTD in this category.

The premium 23t to maximum GVM segment sees Scania (184/36) consolidating the number one spot while FUSO (155/33) edged ahead of Hino (154/22) during June.

Isuzu (130/42) is the top-selling brand for this segment of June registrations and moves ahead of Kenworth (126/12) YTD. The rest of the top-10 remain unchanged with UD (108/28) ranking sixth ahead of  DAF (71/4), Volvo (69/13), Mercedes-Benz (47/10) and MAN (38/4).

The June trailer market figures see Patchell (70/17) increasing its YTD lead while Fruehauf (58/12) moves into second position ahead of M.T.E (52/4). 

Roadmaster (51/9) retains fourth position ahead of Domett (44/10) improving two spots to fifth, ahead of Transport Trailers (40/5) and TMC (39/8). It’s Transfleet (26/5), Fairfax (19/3) and Freighter (18/1) completing the YTD top 10.