Ford's Ranger overtook Toyota's Hilux model as the biggest selling commercial model.
New vehicle sales in New Zealand surged to a record in 2014, aided by a buoyant economy and cheaper prices.
New vehicle registrations exceeded 126,000 last year, beating the previous record of 123,247 in 1984 and ahead of the 113,294 recorded for 2013, according to provisional figures from the Motor Industry Association.
Demand was underpinned by a stronger local currency, with the kiwi gaining 8.3 per cent against the yen during the year helping importers reduce their prices. Meanwhile, the underlying strength in the economy, which expanded at a 2.9 per cent annual rate in the third quarter, gave consumers the confidence to spend on big-ticket items like cars.
"The New Zealand economy is strong," said MIA chief executive David Crawford. "The outlook for 2015 is for another strong year, but I don't anticipate significant growth over 2014 volumes, more likely a small to modest increase."
Crawford estimates new vehicle sales may increase to 127,000 to 128,000 this year as lower dairy commodity prices and a weaker currency are balanced against a more buoyant beef and sheep sector.
Sales of light commercial vehicles helped new vehicle sales in 2014, registrations jumping about 20 per cent to more than 36,000, reflecting the buoyant rural economy as farming incomes were boosted by high milk prices and good growing conditions.
Ford's Ranger overtook Toyota's Hilux model as the biggest selling commercial model, ending the 32-year run for the Toyota model, the provisional figures showing it achieved an extra 560 sales.
Meanwhile, sales of passenger vehicles appear set to total more than 90,000 in 2014, exceeding the 82,400 tally for 2013, but remaining below the 1973 record of 97,346, the MIA said.
The Christchurch rebuild and fast-growing Auckland fed the strongest vehicle markets last year, helped by demand from tradespeople.
Sales were also boosted by distributors providing a large number of models at competitive prices, Crawford said.
New Zealand is not the only country to have seen a 2014 surge in new vehicle sales, as consumers in the US, buoyed by a resurgent economy, holiday sales, cheap petrol and a love affair with pickup trucks, headed to car dealers in droves last month.
Toyota, Fiat Chrysler, Nissan, Honda and General Motors all reported strong December and annual US sales, with Nissan and Honda hitting record numbers for the year. Ford faltered but remained the top-selling brand in the US last year.
The figures pointed to a strong finish for 2014. Analysts are predicting US sales of 16.5 million vehicles, up 6 per cent from last year and a return to pre-recession levels. And Americans are expected to continue buying cars in big numbers this year. Sales are forecast to reach 17 million for the first time since 2005, close to the record of 17.3 million set in 2000.
While sales will grow this year, they will grow at a slower pace than the double-digit increases the country saw in 2011 and 2012, when the industry was still powering back from the recession. That's good news for buyers, who can expect to see bigger discounts in competitive segments like midsize cars as automakers fight to get noticed and steal sales from each other.
Kelley Blue Book expected December sales to be up nearly 10 per cent over the previous year to 1.5 million, thanks to holiday promotions and milder-than-usual weather. Automakers report US December and full-year US sales on Monday.
Fiat Chrysler led the way with a 16 per cent increase over 2013, selling just over 2 million cars and trucks. It was the company's best year since 2006.
Fiat Chrysler was led by the Ram pickup truck, with sales up 24 per cent for the year. Pickup truck sales rebounded for nearly all automakers through 2014 as small businesses regained confidence and gas prices fell, making the trucks more attractive. Sales of the Jeep Cherokee small SUV were seven times larger than last year, reaching nearly 179,000. Jeep brand sales rose 41 per cent for the year to more than 692,000 vehicles, an annual record.
SUVs of all sizes also were hot sellers last year as buyers went for higher seating positions and better cargo-hauling space.
Toyota's sales rose 5 per cent last year to just over 2 million. Toyota ended the year on a high note, with December sales up 12 per cent. Toyota said its luxury Lexus brand set an all-time monthly sales record in December.
Nissan's sales grew 11 per cent for the year to 1.39 million to set an annual record for the company. Nissan's sales were led by the redesigned Rogue small SUV, with sales up 22 per cent.
At General Motors, a 19 per cent sales gain in December helped drive annual sales up 5 per cent to 2.94 million cars and trucks. In December, the Buick brand posted a 32 per cent sales gain, while GMC was up 23 per cent. Both brands advertised 20 per cent discounts off sticker prices.
GM's full-size pickups, the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, each posted gains of more than 30 per cent for the month. The company sold over 81,000 big pickups.
Honda said its sales last year rose 1 per cent to 1.54 million cars and trucks. That was enough to post the second-best results in company history and a record for the Honda brand. Honda was led by the CR-V small SUV with a 10 per cent sales gain to 335,000. That broke the SUV's annual sales record.
Despite strong sales of the new aluminium-bodied F-150 last month, Ford sales were flat for the year at 2.5 million. But Ford laid claim to being America's top-selling brand for the fifth straight year, and the F-Series remained the top-selling vehicle in America. Ford's December sales were up 1 per cent from a year ago for its best December since 2005. Big pickup sales were flat compared with last year at just over 74,000.
Volkswagen, which has struggled in the US for several years, couldn't take advantage of the growing market last year. Its sales were down 10 per cent. But December numbers were up slightly as sales of the newly revamped Golf compact more than doubled.
Low interest rates and loosening credit standards are drawing buyers. Gas prices - which started the year down 33 per cent to $2.23 per gallon nationally, according to AAA - are giving buyers more confidence, whether they're buying their first subcompact or upgrading to a bigger SUV.
And people continued to buy more expensive vehicles. TrueCar reports that the average sales price in 2014 hit more than $33,000, up 1.9 per cent from a year ago.
-AP