New Zealand’s new truck market continued at what has become its “new normal” in August – but, at least, improved a little on the previous month’s registrations.
The comparison with last year’s pre-COVID monthly totals was slightly better – from 20% down in July, to 16% down in August.
The month saw 399 registrations in the overall truck market (over 4.5 tonnes GVM) – 19 more than July’s total, but shaded by the 476 registrations in August last year. 
The 2646 registrations year-to-date after the first eight months of the year were 26% down on last year’s 3572 sales at the same point. The YTD figure at the end of July was 27% down.
The trailer market, with 112 registrations in August, was 16% down on July’s 133 total and the 795 registrations YTD at the end of August was almost 23% down on the 1035 last year.
In the overall truck market, longtime No. 1 Isuzu (651/109) again dramatically extended its lead, with another 100-plus sales tally. Its 109 for the month, which took its YTD total to 651 trucks, was remarkable in that it actually beat its August 2019 sales (103).
Volvo (193/26) too improved on its (22) August 2019 registrations – while both Scania (192/30) and Iveco (181/31) went one better: They were ahead of their August sales last year….AND YTD tallies – Scania up from 132 to 192 and Iveco improving from 178 to 181.
The top 10 positions in the overall market were unchanged in August, with FUSO (366/34) second, ahead of Hino (344/53) and Volvo (193/26) – with Scania (192/30) closing up. Iveco (181/31) was sixth, while Mercedes-Benz (139/30), Kenworth (115/22), DAF (103/16) and UD (93/13) completed the top 10.
In the 3.5-4.5t GVM crossover segment – which was slightly ahead of last year’s YTD total registrations at the same point (323 to 319) – Fiat (169/20) extended its lead, while Mercedes-Benz (60/5) easily held onto second, ahead of Chevrolet (27/1), Renault (21/1) and Ford (19/3). 
In the 4.5-7.5t GVM division, Isuzu (188/26) improved its lead on FUSO (169/18) and the rest – with Iveco (97/18) third, followed by Hino (69/11), Foton (39/8) and Mercedes-Benz (38/12)…the top-six positions unchanged from July.
In the 7.5-15t GVM class, Isuzu (300/56) continued to race ahead of its rivals – its domination of this class evident from its YTD total representing fully 56% of the division’s 534 sales. Hino (93/18) and FUSO (82/9) retained their positions, well ahead of Iveco (30/6) and Foton (12/0).
In the 15-20.5t GVM category, Hino (72/10) increased its lead – its YTD total better than last year’s 60. The top six order was unchanged from July, with FUSO (23/0) second, ahead of UD (19/2), Mercedes-Benz (12/0), Scania (12/2) and Iveco (9/3).
The order was unchanged also in the tiny 20.5-23t GVM division, despite second-placed Isuzu (11/9) having a good month – claiming 75% of the August sales – to close up on leader Hino (16/2). FUSO (6/1) was third.  
In the premier 23t to max GVM division, Volvo (193/26) held onto the No. 1 spot with an August performance that bettered its 22 sales in the same month last year. 
While the YTD top four order was unchanged from July, second-placed Scania’s strong performance saw it improve on last year’s August and YTD tallies – 179 to 117 YTD and 28 to 19 for the month. 
Isuzu (147/18) was third, ahead of Kenworth (115/22), while DAF (96/15) overtook Hino (94/12) for fifth and FUSO (86/6) was joined in seventh-equal by Mercedes-Benz (86/18). UD (67/10) and Iveco (45/4) completed the top 10. 
Trailer market leader Patchell (88/12) slightly extended its 2020 lead, but was topped for the month by Domett (72/14), for the second month in a row. In a performance that was better than its eight registrations (and 71 YTD) a year ago, Domett overtook Fruehauf (66/5) for second. 
The rest of the top 10 held their positions, with Roadmaster (64/10) fourth, ahead of MTE (60/9),TMC (43/3), Transport Trailers (41/8), Freighter (37/7), Transfleet (31/6) and TES (27/6). Roadmaster, Transport Trailers and TES improved on their August 2019 regos, while Freighter was up on last year’s YTD and August figures (from 23 and 5 respectively).