Industry body cites reasons for enhanced August activity

SHIPMENTS of back ordered stock finally coming into the country was the major contributor to last month being the strongest August ever for new light vehicle registrations.

This view is expressed by the organisation representing almost all of the country’s new vehicle distributors.

Confirming data initially shared yesterday by an on-line magazine specialising in industry matters, the Motor Industry Association says the tally of 10,940 passenger cars and 3750 commercials bucks a recent softening market trend bought on by rising costs of living, high fuel prices, continued vehicle supply constraints and a weakening national economy.

MIA chief executive David Crawford says the passenger count was up 6355 units, or 138.6 percent, above the count for August of last year – though there’s recognition that was due to a huge extenuating circumstance: The Level 4 covid lockdown.

The MIA says commercial vehicle activity in the same comparable was up 1589 units/73.5 percent.

It holds that commercial registrations are recovering near to how they stood prior to the imposition of Clean Car Discount fees on April 1.

As noted yesterday, the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux, which historically were the kingpin one-tonne sellers prior to imposition of ‘ute tax’, respectively took first and second on registrations last month.

Year-to-date the market has recovered to now be slightly ahead of this time last year, up 1.3 percent, (1396 units).

August was also noticeably a strong month for fully electric vehicle registrations, with 2560 units going to new owners, the main driver being Tesla, which achieved a long awaited big shipment of pre-allocated Model 3 – the third most registered new model in August - and Model Y cars helped up by disruption in Shanghai, caused by covid. Another big shipment of Teslas is expected this month.