The New Zealand truck market continues to establish new records.

The monthly total of 511 new registrations (GVM 4.5 tonnes-plus) is the best March result on record, a 1.5% increase on the 503 units achieved in March 2020.

A record monthly figure also boosts the YTD (January-March) total to 1306 units, which is the best first-quarter performance ever. The YTD total is just 0.46% up on March 2019 record levels but provides a good measure of the recovery since the initial impact of Covid-19 saw the market slump to 795 units in the first quarter of 2020.

It’s a slower start to the year for new trailer registrations, although the 140 registrations in March 2022 is a slight increase from 131 in the same month of 2021.

YTD registrations of 334 new trailers is just 0.8% down on 2021 figures but remains 10% behind the total of 371 achieved in the first three months of 2019 and 13% behind the record levels seen in Q1 2018 with 384 total registrations. 

FUSO continued extending its lead in the 2022 sales race with 100 registrations in March, taking it to 254 YTD. Hino also continued its strong start to the year with 82 registrations for the month (226 YTD), however Isuzu had a better month with 93 March registrations and now stands at 201 total YTD. 

Behind FUSO, Hino and Isuzu in the 4.5t to maximum GVM truck market, the March figures revealed a strong performance from Scania (89/42), moving ahead of Kenworth (81/25) to claim fourth position. Mercedes-Benz (79/31), Iveco (78/30), UD (57/22), Foton (55/18), and DAF (48/23) round out the top-10 brands.

In the 3.5-4.5t crossover segment, Fiat (78/18) is still the outright leader ahead of Volkswagen (36/12) Mercedes-Benz (26/14), Ford (15/7), Chevrolet (9/4), Renault (8/4), RAM (8/5), LDV (5/2) and new-comer Iveco (1/1).

In the 4.5-7.5t segment FUSO (107/46) leads ahead of Isuzu (71/26), Mercedes-Benz (52/24), Iveco (48/18), Hino (41/22), Foton (30/9) and Hyundai (18/10).

The 7.5-15t category saw Isuzu (73/38) move into the top spot ahead of Hino (69/20) and FUSO (57/17) registering 38 trucks in March. Foton (25/9) ranks fourth followed by Iveco (10/3), Hyundai (3/0), UD (3/1) and Mercedes-Benz (2/1).

In the small 15-20.5t category there was a lot of movement. Hino (40/16) extended its clear lead ahead of FUSO (15/7) who moved ahead of UD (12/4). Isuzu (9/5) moved ahead of Scania (7/3) and Iveco (6/4) moved ahead of MAN (4/2). 

The ever-shrinking 20.5-23t segment saw just two registrations in the month of March for Hino (3/2).

Scania’s impressive 39 registrations for the month of March moved them into the top position in the premium 23t to maximum GVM category to lead the first quarter with 82 registrations YTD.

Kenworth (81/25) is a very close second ahead of FUSO (75/30) who moved ahead of Hino (73/22). Isuzu (48/24) climbed into fifth (from seventh) ahead of DAF (47/23), UD (42/17), Volvo (27/10), Mercedes-Benz (24/5), and MAN (24/9) rounding out the top-10. 

There was no change at the top of the trailer market with Patchell Industries leading the market YTD. March registrations saw Patchells, Fruehauf and M.T.E all tied, each registering 12 new trailers.

Patchells (32/12) leads the trailer segment after three months just slightly ahead of  Fruehauf (30/12). Next was M.T.E (28/12) and Roadmaster (24/11) with Domett (20/9) and Transport Trailer (20/9) tied in fourth. TMC (16/5), Freighter (14/5), Transfleet (14/6), Freighter (14/5) and Fairfax (11/6) round out the first quarter top-10 for 2022.