Remarkably, the New Zealand new truck market is returning to normality – with registrations in April falling just 4.5% short of the alltime record for the month.

Following a March performance that was a new record, April’s registrations in the overall market (all trucks with a GVM over 4.5 tonnes) totalled 382, just 18 shy of 2019’s April benchmark.

That was promising, particularly in comparison to the COVID-ravaged April 2020 market (when the industry saw just 89 new trucks registered).

But to keep it in perspective – the 1501 year-to-date registrations at the end of April were still 199 down (that’s 11.7%) on the same period in the 2019 boom year, according to official NZ Transport Agency data. 

On the other hand, it is a huge improvement on the 1134 YTD figure at the end of April last year.

The trailer market was also buoyant, with 118 registrations in April – eight less than in the same month in 2019. The YTD total trailer tally, at 455, was well down on the record 530, for the same period in 2018. It was, of course, well up on April 2020’s mere eight registrations for the month and 318 YTD.

In the overall 4.5t to maximum GVM market, April saw Isuzu remain in the No. 1 spot – slightly improving its lead, with 70 registrations taking its YTD total to 290. But it has taken a market share hit compared to its 2019 domination, when it held 22.8% with 388 registrations. At the end of April it held a 19.3% 2021 YTD share.

Second-placed FUSO, on the other hand, has improved its market share from 16.1% in 2019 to 18.5% at the end of April this year, with 277 YTD registrations and 67 for the month. 

There were no surprises in the crossover 3.5-4.5t GVM segment, with Fiat (138/46) continuing to open up an already-dominant lead, with a 58.7% market share over Volkswagen (47/11) and Mercedes-Benz (17/4). 

In the 4.5-7.5t GVM class, FUSO (154/39) continued its lead – although Isuzu (108/39) did match it for the month. Mercedes-Benz (52/12) remained in third, followed by Hino (45/13) – while Iveco (37/14) improved to fifth. 

In the 7.5-15t GVM category, Isuzu (117/18) still easily led Hino (79/19), with FUSO third (53/11). Foton (21/7) and Iveco (13/5) remained fourth and fifth. 

In the 15-20.5t GVM division, Hino (26/7) was matched for the month by FUSO (19/7), but still remained clearly in the lead YTD, ahead of UD (9/4) – which jumped up four places, overtaking Scania and Isuzu (both 6/1), Mercedes-Benz and Iveco (both 5/0).

In the tiny 20.5-23t segment, Hino (6/3) edged ahead of FUSO (4/1), while Freightliner (1/1) joined the segment.

In the premium 23t to maximum GVM division, Volvo (96/30) jumped ahead of Kenworth (91/23) for the first time this year. Scania (78/21) remained in third ahead of Hino (60/15) which edged ahead of Isuzu (59/12). 

FUSO (47/9) and DAF (43/7) retained their positions, while UD (40/14) gained a place – moving up to eighth, ahead of Iveco (37/8) and Mercedes-Benz (23/6), which completed the top 10. 

In the trailer market, Patchell (62/14) extended its lead – achieving an improvement on its 60/12 performance in 2019. Fruehauf (45/10) was clearly second, with MTE (31/7) joined in third-equal by Domett (31/8).

Roadmaster (29/9) was fifth, followed by TMC (25/8), Transport Trailers (23/7) and Freighter (19/7) – each retaining their positions. Completing the top 10, Transfleet (18/7) overtook TES (15/3) for ninth.