Large cars lose out in New Zealand

Large cars, once the first choice by executives or families, have fallen from a dominant 24% of new car sales in 2004 to just 14% in 2010 in New Zealand. They are now the smallest segment of the market. Motor Trade Association Marketing and Communications General Manager Ian Stronach said it was “a dramatic turnaround in just a six-year period, and one few would have been forecasting, at least not to that extent”. One of the obvious reasons was the dramatic rise in fuel prices during that period, from NZ$1.15 (US$0.76) a liter in April 2004 to NZ$1.77 (US$) a liter in April 2010. (May 31, 2010)