Boom Year

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 812, 5 November 1929, Page 6

Boom Year

Huge Motor Imports in Nine Months Judging by the figures for the first nine months of the year, 1929 will be a boom year in motor importations and sales. All records have been eclipsed. The number of cars imported shows an 80 per cent, increase over the corresponding figure for last year. The total dutiable value is £3,279,936, which is nearly double the £1,650,483 for the same period of last year. The value was £1,424,550 for 1927. As the months of October, November and December are usually the best ones for motor importations and sales, the figures for the whole of 1929 should constitute a great record. DUTIABLE VALUES Following are details of the dutiable values of cars, chassis and commercial vehicles imported during the first three quarters of 1928 and 1929, together with the country of origin:

The imports covered in all 22,605 vehicles, of which commercial types numbered 4,384. The 18,221 classified as cars included 643 chassis without bodies. The increase in cars was 80 per cent, over the 1928 totals, while the 1928 imports were 34 per cent, higher than those for the corresponding three quarters of 1927. The greatest increases were in Canadian and British cars. Canadian imports were more than four times last year’s figures. There are special reasons for the exceptional figure. The largest selling Canadian car, “Ford,” was out of production for the greater part of last year, and another factor is that additional cars have qualified for the Canadian tariff. English cars and car chassis imported in the nine months numberedr 2,723, an increase of nearly 67 per cent, on last year’s number. ANNUAL TOTALS Following are the numbers of cars

1929. 1928. United States. £1,475,756 £1,005,233 Canada 1,197,752 253,936 Great Britain . 597,528 392,266 Belgium .. 6,595 5,426 Italy 1,579 298 France 600 21,673 Germany .. .. 126 1,651 Totals .. .. £3,279,936 £1,680,483