New Zealand’s new truck market steadied in June as the country returned – on the home front at least – to something approaching normal in the wake of the COVID-19 lockdown.

But that new normal is, so far, substantially down on the market at the same point in 2019.

The 361 June registrations for the overall market (trucks with a GVM of 4.5 tonnes or more) amounted to a 33% decrease on June last year. May’s 372 registrations were 28% down on the same month in 2019.

The trailer market also steadied at a similar level – the 116 June registrations one more than in May…but 32% down on June 2019. 

In the overall truck market, longtime No. 1 Isuzu (441/103) led the way in June, with 103 registrations. FUSO (284/57) followed in second place and Hino (236/40) retained third position.  

The top 10 positions were unchanged from May, with Volvo (154/14) holding fourth ahead of Scania (128/19) – but fifth-placed Iveco (126/26) did close up on Scania. Mercedes-Benz (97/20), Kenworth (83/18), UD (68/7) and DAF (62/20) rounded out the top 10. 

In the 3.5-4.5t GVM crossover segment, Fiat (122/27) further extended its lead, while Mercedes-Benz (49/11) easily held onto second, ahead of Chevrolet (21/9), Renault (16/4) and Ford (15/3). 

In the 4.5-7.5t GVM division, FUSO (138/36) moved clear of Isuzu (127/26). Third-placed Iveco (63/11) held its position, as did Hino (48/12), fourth. Mercedes-Benz (24/7) edged ahead of Foton (22/5) for fifth. 

In the 7.5-15t GVM class, Isuzu (195/48) jumped further ahead of its rivals – claiming more than half of the year’s sales to date in the segment. Hino (64/7) and FUSO (62/10) continued to fight over second place, way ahead of Iveco (19/3), UD (6/0) and Foton (6/1).

In the 15-20.5t GVM category, Hino (48/11) increased its lead, while FUSO (17/3) overtook UD (16/0) for second place. Mercedes-Benz (10/2) overtook Scania (9/0) to take fourth.

In the tiny 20.5-23t GVM division, Hino (13/2) increased its lead on FUSO (4/0), Freightliner and Scania (both 1/0). DAF and Isuzu (both 1/1) joined the category. 

In the premium 23t to max GVM division, Volvo (154/14) retained its No. 1 status, ahead of second-placed Scania (118/19). Third-placed Isuzu had a big month, with 28 registrations to carry its YTD total to 113, just five shy of Scania.

The order of the next four was unchanged from May: Kenworth (83/18) was fourth, ahead of FUSO and Hino (both 63/8), with Mercedes-Benz (60/11) remaining seventh.

DAF (56/19) moved ahead of UD (46/7) for eighth, while Iveco (38/11) displaced Sinotruk (30/2) for 10th.

Trailer market leader Patchell (62/18) extended its 2020 lead – bouncing back from May, when pursuers Fruehauf (51/9) and MTE (46/5) had closed in on its YTD total. 

Roadmaster (43/10) held onto fourth, ahead of Domett (41/11) and TMC (33/8). 

The order was shuffled in the second half of the top 10 in June though, with Transport Trailers (27/11) improving from ninth-equal to seventh-equal, alongside Freighter (27/4). Transfleet (22/6) remained ninth – as TES (18/0) dropped from eighth to 10th.