Wednesday, 09 September 2015 11:52

Kiwis love SUVs

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Volvo SUV. Volvo SUV.

Acronyms Abound: it’s no surprise that sales of SUV’s have risen PDQ in NZ.

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.

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