Toyota top seller

Press, 3 May 1984, Page 29

Toyota top seller

Although the front-wheel-drive Toyota was New Zealand’s top-selling car in March, Ford achieved its highest monthly sales level since 1974 and continued to dominate the market, holding a 21.2 per cent share for the year to date and comfortably remaining in front of Todd Motors, Ltd, the Mitsubishi assembler and distributor.

Todd held 16.6 per cent and Toyota was third with 14.9 per cent of the market at the end of the first quarter. Ford took 23.1 per cent of the March new car registrations and, all things being equal, should continue as market leader through to about the end of June at least.

First examples of the Ford Sierra station waggon will reach dealers’ showrooms within the next fortnight and already there are all the indications that demand for this British-origin vehicle will be high. Toyota New Zealand, Ltd, will show its new front-wheel-drive Corona range to motoring writers about the middle of the month, but the Johnsonville-based company has yet to say when this

new model will reach the public. Much the same position pertains in the case of the new front-wheel-drive Mitsubishi Sigma range, which will probably have its media launch before the end of May. New Honda Civics and Accords will continue to dribble on to the market over the next three months. The 1.3-litre Civic two-door hatchback has already reached some dealers and the 1.3 four-door saloon, as well as the 1984 Accord saloon, should be in the showrooms within the next few weeks.

The 10 top-selling models in March were Toyota Corolla (977), Ford Laser (965), Ford Telstar (826), Holden Commodore (614), Mitsubishi Sigma (502), Nissan Sunny (481), Honda Accord (391), Mitsubishi Mirage (372), Honda Civic (349) and Mazda (345). The top-selling car for the first quarter of 1984 was the Ford Laser (2265) and it was closely followed by the Toyota Corolla (2225) and Ford Telstar (2154). The Holden Commodore, with 1520 registrations, was quite a long way back in fourth place.