New truck registrations tracked largely as expected in January, recording a strong start to the year.

Both new truck and trailer sales totals in January are ahead of January 2022 and the market is steadily tracking closer to pre-Covid record levels.

According to NZTA provisional data there were 400 trucks (with a GVM of 4.5 tonnes-plus) registered in the first month of the new year, a solid 17.6% increase on the 340 sales in January 2022. However 2019 still provides the strongest January on record for truck sales with 416 registrations.

Trailer registrations are up year-on-year for the start of 2023 with 96 sales being 11.6% ahead of the January 2022 total of 86 new registrations.

Growing sales of commercial vehicles over 4.5t are in contrast to the overall new vehicle market. January passenger car sales are 3.9% down on January 2022 and the light commercial market is down by 26.9% compared to 2022.

FUSO carried the momentum from its strong finish to 2022 to lead the January truck market with 84 registrations, a significant 20 registrations up on January 2022. Isuzu also started the new year strongly, picking up from third in the 2022 market to claim second place in January with 66 registrations, ahead of Hino on 57.

Behind the leading Japanese brand trio of FUSO, Isuzu and Hino in the 4.5t to maximum GVM truck market, the January figures showed 39 registrations for Scania to claim fourth position ahead of Volvo (30). DAF (18), UD (17) Kenworth (16), Mercedes-Benz (16) and Iveco (14) round out the top 10.

The January trailer figures reveal a significant milestone. Fruehauf topped the monthly registrations, the first time in a number of years that Patchells hasn’t occupied the number one position.

There were few surprises among the segment data from January. In the 3.5-4.5t crossover segment, Fiat (19) was the convincing leader ahead of Ford (12) Mercedes-Benz (6), Iveco (6) and Chevrolet (5).

In the 4.5-7.5t market segment Fuso (43) leads comfortably ahead of Hino (14), Isuzu (13), Iveco (8), Volkswagen (5) and Hyundai (5).

Isuzu leads the 7.5-15t segment registering 36 trucks in January, well ahead of Hino (12), and Fuso (11) and Foton (11). 

The small 15-20.5t category was led by Hino (5), ahead of UD (4), Fuso (4), Mercedes-Benz (3), Isuzu (2) and Scania (1).

The 20.5-23t segment was very quiet with Hino registering just two units. 

Scania continued as they finished in 2022 leading the 23t-max segment with 38 registrations in January.

Volvo (29) made a strong start to the year to take second position. The rest of the top-10 is completed by FUSO (26), Hino (24), DAF (18), Kenworth (16), Isuzu (15), MAN (11) and Mercedes-Benz (9).

With 12 registrations Fruehauf snuck ahead of long-term trailer market leaders Patchell’s (10) for January 2023. Next were Transport Trailer (9) and TMC (7). Roadmaster, Domett, Transfleet, TIDD, and TES all achieved four sales each while MTE, Evans, and Jackson all recorded three apiece.