Car Torque: New Car sales straight up to speed

Motor Industry Association (MIA) chief executive officer David Crawford says that new-vehicle sales for 2015 have started where 2014 left off: exceptionally strong: “Businesses and consumers continued to loosen their purse strings in January, with 11,667 new-vehicle registrations resulting in the strongest January monthly sales on record.”

Both passenger and commercial sectors were each the strongest on record, ahead 8.6% and 19% respectively on January 2014.

Top brand Toyota has 21% market share overall, followed by Holden (13%) and Ford (9%). Toyota is also the top passenger-car brand (22%), followed by Holden (14%) and Hyundai (8%). The Toyota Corolla has top-selling model, its tally of 792 greatly helped by 582 rental-car registrations.

Ford claimed top billing in commercial vehicles with 19% share, followed by Toyota (18%) and Nissan (10%).

Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) continue to dominate the market, accounting for an incredible 32% of new-vehicle sales. Small cars are next most important (19%), followed by utes (16%).

Armstrong Aquires Citroen
Armstrong Motor Group has taken over the Citroen franchises for both Wellington and Christchurch, starting March and April respectively.

Chief executive Rick Armstrong says the timing is ideal, with new models on the way: “The addition of Citroen fits the growth strategy for our group in key metro areas and fits well alongside Peugeot, which we have represented since 2001, as a complimentary brand.”

Car Imports Drive Stink Bug Growth
The Ministry of Primary Industry (MPI) has introduced new treatment requirements for imported vehicles from the United States to help keep brown marmorated stink bug out of New Zealand.

Under the new rules, all new and used vehicles and parts from the US must be heat treated or fumigated with methyl bromide before being shipped to New Zealand. Previously, treatment was not mandatory and only required on a case-by-case basis according to risk-assessment by quarantine officer upon arrival.

While suitable facilities are set up in the US, interim treatment will be carried out on the water or, as a last resort, in port when shipments arrive.

The brown marmorated stink bug has aggressively established itself in the US and is also found in China, Japan and Korea. It feeds on almost any crop, disfiguring food and making it unsaleable. In winter, they seek shelter on outdoor surfaces of houses and can release a pungent odour if disturbed.