X marks the spot
While many car manufacturers set out to cater for all sectors of the market, it’s fair to say that Subaru has “stuck to its knitting”.
SUV sales growth has averaged 27% per annum for five years, and industry pundits predict they will account for half of all passenger vehicles by 2018.
Current 2015 figures are just on 47%; in 2104 sales of SUV’s hit 37,000 (total of 53,000 passenger vehicles).
Steve Kenchington, general manager of Volvo noted “in 2014 industry sales for passenger vehicles were up 9% to 90,152, but SUV’s showed a gain closer to 30%”. Their popularity rose with improved fuel efficiency, better safety features and their panoramic driving position.
“Ten years ago only a handful of such vehicles were available in NZ, but… now we see over 60 different small, medium and large choices available.” Volvo NZ has seen sales rise at least 130% per annum.
