New Zealand’s new truck market continued to run at record levels in March – with the overall market’s best-ever figures for the month.

The 495 registrations of trucks with GVMs over 4.5 tonnes was 6.7% up on March 2018 and 2.3% ahead of the previous record of 484, set in 2017. 

The 1300 trucks (4.5t to maximum GVM) registered to the end of March was also the best first-quarter performance ever, almost 10% better than the old mark.

The trailer market, while still buoyant – with 153 March registrations – was eight short of last year’s record March and the 371 YTD total was also down on last year’s 384.

In the overall 4.5t-max GVM market Isuzu was in its usual No. 1 spot, with 104 registrations its best monthly total since last November, taking its YTD sales out to 291.

Second-ranked FUSO (215/75) similarly had its best month since last September – and Hino (171/68) had its best since August last year. Volvo (119/50) though did even better: Its 50 March registrations total amounted to its best month in four years.

Kenworth (79/29) held fifth, while Mercedes-Benz (65/28) overtook DAF (64/23) for sixth.

Iveco (57/27) moved up to ninth behind UD (60/25), with MAN (40/9) dropping a place. Scania (36/16), Sinotruk (22/10), Foton (15/9) and Freightliner (15/6) were next.

Notable among the rest was Western Star – notching-up its first two registrations of the year.

In the crossover segment (3.5-4.5t GVM) Fiat (67/30) continued to dominate – way ahead of second-placed Mercedes-Benz (19/9). The class saw two newcomers – Nissan and Iveco, with one registration apiece.

In the 4.5-7.5t GVM class, FUSO (85/30) eased out its lead on second-placed Isuzu (66/27), while Iveco (38/19), in third, opened a gap on Mercedes-Benz (24/9) and Hino (20/7).

In the 7.5-15t category Isuzu (127/34) remained the runaway leader YTD, but only narrowly beat Hino (64/31) for the month – the Hino performance seeing it overtake FUSO (50/16) for second place for the year. Iveco (8/4) moved up one place to fourth-equal YTD with UD (8/2). DAF (4/2) and Foton (3/2) each gained a spot, while Mercedes-Benz (3/0) lost one. 

In the 15-20.5t division Hino (22/6) slightly increased its YTD lead on UD (15/5). FUSO (14/6) and Isuzu (10/3) were in order behind. MAN joined the category with two registrations.

In the tiny 20.5-23t class, FUSO (5/1) retained its lead over Hino (4/2), UD (2/2) and MAN and Sinotruk (both 1/1).

For the third consecutive month, Volvo (119/50) led the YTD standings in the 23t-max GVM premier division – also claiming No. 1 honours for the month. Isuzu (88/40) overtook Kenworth (79/29) for second place, while FUSO and Hino continued to fight over fourth place – both registered 22 in March and so extended their 2019 tallies to 61 registrations.

DAF (59/21) and MAN (37/6) retained their places, while Mercedes-Benz (35/17) joined UD (35/16) in eighth-equal. Scania (29/11) held 10th, while Sinotruk (19/9) and Freightliner (15/6) each moved up one place – both at the expense of Mack (14/3).

Newcomers to the segment were Hyundai, with two 6x4s, and Western Star – the latter posting its first sales of the year.

In the trailer market, No. 1 Patchell (48/20) increased its lead over Roadmaster (31/9) and TMC (30/10). Transport Trailers (27/12) improved two places – as did did Fruehauf (26/15), which was fifth-equal with MTE (26/8), which lost a spot.

Domett (25/8) dropped two places YTD, while Jackson (12/5) retained eighth – ahead of TES (11/4), and Transfleet (10/3), which slipped to 10th. Well back, MaxiCUBE registered its first units for 2019.