The emergence from recession has indicators in many areas of the economy and an upsurge in new car sales recorded during the Fieldays at Mystery Creek shows that the agricultural sector is playing a leading part.

Last month the new car market continued to improve with sales up an impressive 25 percent over May and a full 34 percent compared to June last year. For the year to date, overall new car sales are 17 percent ahead compared to the same time in 2009.

“We had expected the improvements that we’ve seen in the early part of the year to be maintained, but the surge in sales in June has probably surprised most people,” said Motor Trade Association marketing manager, Ian Stronach.

“In recent years June has regularly provided good sales results, particularly in the commercial sector, and this year is no exception. Fieldays inevitably provides a boost for sales, more so nowadays, with many distributors starting their promotional programmes early, and extending coverage to a wide range of vehicles. While it has a farm orientation, the stimulus it provides obviously affects all sectors of the market.”

June’s new car sales of 5,786 units were the best monthly figures recorded so far in 2010 and in fact are the highest for 21 months.

Toyota dominated the new car market with sales of 1,337 units for a commanding 23.1 percent share. Hyundai performed strongly on the back of several recent new model releases securing second spot with sales of 579 units and a 10 percent share. Following in third spot was Holden with sales of 542 units and a 9.3 percent share, then Ford with sales of 537 units and 9.2 percent share with Mazda rounding out the top five with sales of 383 units and a 6.6 percent share of the market.

Toyota remains the clear new car market leader for the year to date ahead of Holden and Ford.

Not surprisingly, Toyota models featured strongly in terms of individual model sales. Traditional leading performers Suzuki Swift and Holden Commodore filled the remaining top spots.

The buoyant market was also evident in used import sales of 7,402 which were almost identical to those recorded in May, but importantly were 37 percent ahead compared to the same time in 2009. The year to date sales are a healthy 41 percent ahead compared to the same time in 2009.

Spurred on by all the promotional activity surrounding Fieldays, there was a noticeable jump in sales of commercial vehicles. Sales of 2,218 units were 22 percent ahead of those recorded in June 2009 and 23 percent ahead of those recorded in May 2010, making it the busiest month for sales in two years.

Hilux lead the light commercial market with 539 units followed by Ford Ranger (250), Toyota Hiace (195), Nissan Navara (184) and Holden Colorado rounding out the top five with (175).

For the motorcycle market news was not so good however. Sales of 390 units were down 17 percent compared to June 2009 and for the year to date, down by nearly 23 percent compared to the same time in 2009.

Suzuki moved back to its traditional position of market leadership (66 units) ahead of Triumph (42), Yamaha (39), Harley Davidson (31) and Honda (30).