Subaru of New Zealand starts 2016 on an absolute high after achieving an all-time record 2015 sales year, where many of its models were recognised in industry awards.
Once the final Subaru was sold last year, the ledgers were bulging, as the 2267 sales meant that Subaru of New Zealand’s dealer team was 25% ahead year on year, which is an all-time record for the 25 years the company has been the distributor of Subaru vehicles in New Zealand.
Subaru of New Zealand’s previous best year was 10 years ago, in 2005, when the company sold 2237 vehicles.
The Subaru Outback was the absolute star of the show last year, smashing its previous sales figures out of the park, almost doubling the previous record in 2006 (591 sales) by achieving a phenomenal 1175 sales.
Subaru Outback’s success has not gone unnoticed, with the New Zealand automotive industry acknowledging the spacious, handsome wagon as an outstanding SUV for Kiwis.
Subaru Outback was named the $45-$60k category winner in the AMI Insurance NZ Autocar Car of the Year 2015 award. The magazine’s editor Kyle Cassidy summarised by crediting the Subaru Outback for doing many things well as a wagon and much more as a crossover.
Fairfax Media also thought the Subaru Outback was pretty special, with its award-winning motoring editorial team of David Linklater and Rob Maetzig selecting it as the Top Crossover.
Subaru Outback didn’t just get noticed in print circles - it was selected as the Radio Live Cars of the Year – 2015, Best Medium SUV. Radio Live motoring journalist and awards judge Dave Moore says “Like a stick of Blackpool rock, the Outback, since its inception in the mid-90s, has always had 'New Zealand' written all the way through it. Dynamically and practically, it is the least compromised car in one of the market's most crowded segments and with three engine choices and several layers of specification the Subaru reaches places other cars simply don't.”
To cap off its stunning 2015, Subaru Outback accepted a website bouquet, as it was named the 2015 Car of the Year by Automotive News editor Alastair Sloane. Mr Sloane has been a newspaper journalist for the past 44 years, which encompassed 16 years as feature writer at the NZ Herald, including the role of motoring editor from 1996-2012. He published the NZ Herald’s monthly motoring magazine for 14 years before starting up his Automotive News website.
Subaru Outback’s accolades coincided with the Subaru Legacy’s, when both models were listed among the top ten finalists in the 2015 New Zealand Car of the Year awards.
Subaru Legacy also got a nod at the Fairfax Media awards, where it was named the Top Medium Car.
NZ Company Vehicle magazine sung Legacy’s praises as well, awarding it the Large Business Car of the Year trophy last month.
New Zealand Herald motoring publication and website, Driven, named Legacy as their Medium/Large Car of the Year. Motoring journalist and judge Colin Smith praised Legacy’s capability. “It’s in the extremes of Kiwi driving conditions where Subaru all-wheel-drive grip and confidence shine,” he says.
Despite the ever-popular Legacy Wagon being discontinued, the all-new 2015 Legacy sedan went from strength to strength last year. Sales more than tripled for the sedan body style versus 2014, with 121 vehicles sold last year, and final numbers would have been even more impressive if supply from the factory had been available.
Subaru of New Zealand Managing Director Wallis Dumper says he expects that 2016 will continue to be a big year for the Legacy.
“We believe that the Subaru Legacy is destined to become our highest-selling sedan. The large Aussie cars that have dominated this segment for a long time are soon destined to exit the market, so we can see there are a lot of companies and drivers in New Zealand who will be considering Subaru Legacy as a stylish, sporty but still prestige replacement option for their Commodore or Falcon,” Mr Dumper says.
The Subaru WRX didn’t miss out on accolades either, as its Boxer FA20 2.0-litre 4-cylinder Horizontally-Opposed direct injection turbo DIT engine was a winner of the automotive industry trade journal’s 2016 Ward’s 10 Best Engines award for the second consecutive year.
Mr Dumper commended the dealer network for helping to achieve such a record-breaking sales year for Subaru of New Zealand.
“The Subaru brand couldn’t have achieved such success without the Subaru dealer team offering excellent service to their customers, which no doubt helped Subaru sales forge well ahead of the industry growth,” he says.
Chief Executive Officer of the Motor Industry Association David Crawford confirmed that final registration data for 2015 is in. “It confirms a strong finish to the end of a record year for new vehicle sales with 134,041 registrations during the year, an increase of 6,862 vehicles (5.4%) over 2014. It is the highest ever level of new vehicle registrations in New Zealand’s history and the first time new registrations have broken through the 130,000 barrier”, Mr Crawford says.
Mr Dumper says it was humbling to finish 2015 with Subaru sales growth being significantly higher than the industry growth. “At the beginning of the year our ambition was to increase sales year on year but to finish up 25% ahead was case of our stars aligning thanks to a passionate dealer team, legendary All Wheel Drive product and competitive pricing providing great value.”
Looking forward into this year, Subaru of New Zealand is super excited about its launch of the Subaru Levorg. This stunning performance wagon, uses the same award-winning Boxer engine as the WRX and is ideal for Kiwis who need space for their family adventures but want to head away on them in a true driver’s car.
“Despite the global trend towards SUV ownership, which Subaru of New Zealand not only helped establish, but continues to follow with its predominant SUV sales, as seen by the success of Outback, we recognise that not everyone wants one. Passionate drivers enjoy the handling of a performance vehicle. Sales of the new generation Subaru Legacy sedan and the ongoing success of the WRX prove that there is still a strong market for driver’s cars,” Mr Dumper says.
He adds that building on such a stellar 2015, this year looks set to feature further growth for Subaru of New Zealand.
“Subaru customers will be pleased to know that we have secured additional supply from our manufacturing company Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI), in Japan, to fulfil the increased demand. We would like to thank all our loyal Subaru supporters for their patience and also reassure them that they don’t have to wait as long for their next new Subaru,” Mr Dumper says.
For further information, please contact Subaru of New Zealand Public Relations - Catherine Pattison (027) 4455 389 or email catherine.pattison@subaru.co.nz