MOTOR TRADE REVIVAL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18817, 21 September 1935, Page 8

MOTOR TRADE REVIVAL

SALES ALMOST DOUBLED REPLACING OLD MODELS FIGURES FOR DOMINION There is a definite revival in the motor trade in New Zealand, with a. largo increase in sales of motor cars. With the number of motor vehicles in the Dominion at 140,000, the new car registrations for July Wore 1165 and for June 1526. These figures are almost exactly double those for the corresponding months last year. For the half-year ended June 30, 7219 motor cars and 1545 commercial vehicles were sold. This is the largest business which has been done since 1929 and 1950, when t.lio sales of motor vehicles reached their peak. Garage proprietors in Gisborne report that although their sales have been mounting, the figures are still a long way from (hose of 1929, There is now a demand for the higher priced car, which is a promising sign. Secondhand cars are moving out well. “It lias really boon a phenomenal winter the way car sales have kept up,” said a prominent Auckland dealer, “ami although there is a lull at present, the prospects for the summer are good. Many of the now cars, are undoubtedly being bought lo replace old models, and there is a lot of trading-in, but a number of purchases are being made by people who have never owned a car before.”

“Taking the life of a motor-vehicle as 10 years, about 14,000 new ones are required as replacements every year,” said another dealer. “In the 'first half of the year 8764 new vehicles were sold, so that wo are doing little more Ilian replacing •worn-out cars and trucks; and there is still considerable leeway to make up after the years of depression.” The marked improvement in the sale of commercial vehicles was mentioned by another member of the motor trade, lie said trucks were an essential factor in modern commerce, and for some years replacements had been comparatively tew.

"Most of Urn sales of now ears are in the lower-priced classes, which represent excellent value.” said the head of another firm. “However, there is a trend toward the better quality vehicles.”