New Zealand’s heavy truck sales had another solid month in May – although still well below alltime record level…as the effects of COVID-19 continued.

With 403 May registrations, the overall truck market (4.5 tonnes to maximum GVM), was 22.2% down on 2019’s record-breaking 518 sales for the same month.

The May performance pushed the year-to-date registration total out to 1905 registrations – compared to 2218 at the same point in 2019. That’s a 14.1% drop.

The contest to be No. 1 make for the year in the overall market (above 4.5 tonnes gross vehicle mass) tightened up in May – with FUSO outselling longtime market leader Isuzu for the month...and closing to within five regos YTD.

Thus Isuzu (362/72) remained in the lead, but only just ahead of FUSO (357/79).

Hino (273/57) also had a strong month, retaining third YTD – well ahead of a five-way fight for the next few spots.

Scania (127/43) jumped from eighth to fourth, ahead of Iveco (123/31). Volvo (113/17) dropped two spots, to sixth, Mercedes-Benz (106/22) held seventh ahead of Kenworth (105/14) – down two places. Behind them, UD (71/16) remained in ninth while DAF (61/16) came back into the top 10, displacing Foton (53/5). 

Trailer registrations totalled 128 in May – 25.6% down on the alltime record 172 registered in the same month in 2018. The 583 YTD total was 16.9% down on 2018’s best-ever 702.

In the crossover 3.5-4.5t GVM segment the Fiat (184/46) steamroller continued to crush the opposition, registering 184 YTD and 46 for May. Volkswagen (61/14) and Mercedes-Benz (25/8) held second and third respectively, ahead of Peugeot (12/0) in fourth. 

In the 4.5-7.5t GVM category, FUSO (183/29) continued to hold a handy YTD lead over Isuzu (141/33), despite Isuzu beating it for the month. Mercedes-Benz (63/11) was third YTD, ahead of Hino (59/14), Iveco (54/17) and Hyundai (30/6). 

In the 7.5-15t GVM division Isuzu (142/25) continued to extend its huge lead on Hino (95/16) and FUSO (74/21). Foton (24/3) and Iveco (18/5) were a long way back – well clear of UD (6/0), Hyundai (5/1), Mercedes-Benz (5/1) and DAF (1/0). Scania (1/1) was a newcomer in May.  

In the small 15-20.5t GVM class, Hino (35/9) retained the YTD lead and FUSO (25/6) held second place, ahead of UD (12/3). Scania (8/2) was fourth and Iveco (7/2) fifth. 

Hino (8/2) continued to lead the tiny 20.5-23t segment – but Isuzu dramatically entered the category, going immediately into second place with six registrations, ahead of FUSO (5/1). 

In the premium 23t to maximum GVM market, Scania (117/39) had a big month – jumping from third to first place YTD at the expense of former leader Volvo (113/17) and former runner-up Kenworth (105/14). 

Hino (76/16) held fourth position while FUSO (70/22) moved ahead of Isuzu (67/8). DAF (58/15), UD (53/13), Iveco (44/7) and Mercedes-Benz (32/9) all held their positions.  

Patchell (82/20) continued to extend its lead in the trailer market in May – as it has every month this year. 

Fruehauf (57/12) retained second, while Domett (42/11) went ahead of MTE (40/9) for third. The order of the rest of the top 10 was unchanged, with Roadmaster (37/8) fifth, ahead of TMC (34/9), Transport Trailers (29/6), Freighter (23/4), Transfleet (23/5 and TES (17/2).