SUVs, utes the new Kiwi deal
It was only a few years ago that SUV and ute owners were a relatively rare breed in New Zealand. Oh, how the worm has turned. A new set of statistics shows vehicle preferences have changed significantly in this country over the past 15 years.
In 2002, sedans and hatchbacks dominated new vehicles market in New Zealand, accounting for close to two-thirds of all sales. But stats show things are exactly the opposite this year - the percentage has been halved in the face of challenges from SUVs and utes.
Sales of SUVs and light commercial vehicles have risen so much that last month SUVs accounted for close to 38 per cent of new vehicle sales, well ahead of the 31.5 per cent recorded by sedans and hatches, which was just ahead of the 30.5 per cent share achieved by light commercial vehicles, especially utes..
Motor Industry Association chief executive David Crawford, a self-described data geek, has been tracking the trends.
Aware of increasing media coverage surrounding the rise of SUVs and utes in the sales figures, he decided to plot the sales patterns of passenger vehicles, SUVs and light commercial vehicles every month since January 2002.
The exercise has illustrated some dramatic long-term trends. In June 2002 there were a total of 7523 new vehicles sold, and 4696 of them were passenger vehicles such as sedans and hatchbacks a 62.5 per cent share.
Another 1782 of them were utes and vans for a 23.6 per cent share - and just 1045 or 13.8 per cent were SUVs.
Five years later things had begun to change. June 2007 saw 8607 new vehicles sold, comprising 4575 (53.1 per cent) passenger vehicles, and 2215 (25.7 per cent) utes and vans. SUV sales had grown to 1817 for a 21.1 per cent share.
By 2012 the new vehicles scene had changed again, with the passenger car share falling further to 4282 (43.7 per cent), while SUVs had overtaken utes and vans to grab a 28.9 per cent share via its 2832 sales. The light commercials accounted for 27.2 per cent with 2671 sales.
Now, the new vehicle sales scene has changed even further. Statistics for June showed that sales for the month had grown to a record 13,175, with 4992 of them SUVs - a 37.8 per cent share. Passenger vehicles just held on to second place with 4162 sales for a 31.5 per cent share, while utes and vans achieved 4021 sales for a 30.5 per cent share.
Crawford says his research shows passenger vehicles dominated New Zealand’s new auto sales scene until the Global Financial Crisis hit.
‘‘The impact of the GFC was really felt in late 2008 and 2009 passenger car sales came crashing down, and they have never fully recovered,’’ he says.
‘‘On top of that there has been the Auckland economy which has been going gangbusters and which has been a major reason for the increase in SUV sales, and the Christchurch earthquake recovery which has been behind the growth in sales of commercial vehicles such as utes.’’
Crawford says it will be interesting to watch what happens over the next 10 years.
Especially interesting will be watching what impact the advent of electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and autonomous vehicles will have on sales trends.