New year, new car for many New Zealanders

Toyota have bolted to the front of the pack with 2512 cars sold in January and February, this year. Hyundai (1400) and Holden (1394) follow close behind. Photo / Supplied

New passenger car sales in New Zealand for the first two months of the year were up 18.7 per cent on the same period last year.

"New passenger car sales are particularly buoyant," said Motor Industry Association chief executive Perry Kerr. "However, light commercial registrations are still being impacted by stock shortages resulting from the Thailand floods of late last year.

"We were not expecting supplies to get back to normal for a few months yet."

Market leader Toyota sold 2512 cars in January and February, followed by Hyundai (1400) and Holden (1394). In the same period, Toyota sold 638 commercials against Nissan's 355 and Ford's 329.

New car sales in February (4844) were up 16 per cent on the same month last year. Commercials (1552) were down 0.5 per cent on last year's 1560.

Fiat searches for partner in Asia

General Motors and PSA Peugeot Citroen last week agreed on a planned alliance - now Fiat is scouring Asia for a possible partner.

Chief executive Sergio Marchionne says he's searching for a third partner after merging with Chrysler Group to reduce development costs and boost sales in fast- growing countries.

He said teaming with Suzuki or Mazda made sense. "Those two companies would be complementary to Fiat's activities," Marchionne said. "We talk continuously with Suzuki; we talk with Mazda; we talk with everyone."

Mazda president Takashi Yamanouchi said last month that the company was "aggressively" looking for a partner.

An Asian alliance would also help in Fiat's weakest region, which accounts for 3 per cent of revenue. Asia accounts for about 44 per cent of global automotive deliveries.

Marchionne has said carmakers need to consolidate to compete with Volkswagen, which had a 23.3 per cent market share in Europe last year. Nine of Europe's automotive and truck brands are part of Volkswagen.