NZ Sales: The bounce-back continues

NEW ZEALAND new car sales have remained buoyant in October following a disastrous August – in which the market was heavily affected by level-four lockdown regulations related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic – and a record-making September. 

A total of 13,870 new vehicles were registered in New Zealand during October, an increase of 16.8 per cent (1994 units) over the same month last year, 2646 more than last month (New Zealand’s second highest on record), and 7124 units more than August. 

Year-to-date, there have been 136,886 registrations across the country, an increase of 37.8 per cent (37,536 units) compared to the first 10 months of last year.

Motor Industry Association Chief Executive David Crawford said October was a traditionally strong month for new vehicle sales in New Zealand but that sales still lagged same-month returns in each of the years from 2016 to 2019 inclusive.

Mr Crawford said new-car stock levels remained low, with shipments of new vehicles going through customs, entry compliance and straight onto customers, and that long waiting lists persisted for popular models.

The New Zealand market is still impacted by COVID-19 related shipping constraints and the ongoing global microchip shortage, he added.

For October, there were 9162 passenger vehicles and SUVs sold, plus 4708 commercial vehicles registered across the country.

Among these were 489 battery-electric vehicles, 213 plug-in hybrids and 1541 hybrids, which combined meant vehicles with some form of electrification accounted for 16 per cent of New Zealand registrations for October.

Compact SUVs also comprised 16 per cent of all new vehicles sold for the month of October, closely following the 4x4 pick-up/cab chassis segment on 17 per cent, and the medium SUV segment continuing to dominate with 22 per cent of the market.

Overall, the small and medium segments comprise 56 per cent of New Zealand’s year-to-date sales.

The Ford Ranger continues to top the New Zealand charts for October, followed closely by the Toyota RAV4 and Corolla in second and third place respectively. The Toyota HiLux dropped to fifth place.

In the light commercial segment the Ford Ranger dominates with a 34 per cent share (1610 units) ahead of the Toyota HiLux’s 12 per cent stake (585 units), and the Nissan Navara’s eight per cent slice (383 units).

Toyota remains the overall market leader in NZ, its 23 per cent share of the new-car market way ahead of second-placed Ford (15 per cent) and Mitsubishi (eight per cent) in third. 

Also retaining the market lead for passenger and SUV registrations, Toyota took a 25 per cent share (2324 units) of those segments – comprising 861 RAV4s and 742 Corollas – followed by Mitsubishi with 10 per cent (961 units) and Hyundai with seven per cent (642 units).

There were a total of 485 light and four heavy vehicle full battery electric vehicles registered in New Zealand for October, the top-selling models including the Hyundai Kona (136 units), MG ZS (97 units), and Tesla Model 3 (95 units).

Plug-in hybrids were also strong with 213 examples sold across the country, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross taking pole position with 58 sales ahead of the MG HS (54 units), and Mitsubishi Outlander (17 units).

Hybrid vehicles continued to sell well in October, with 1541 vehicles registered overall. Toyota dominated with petrol-electric versions of the RAV4 (738 units), Corolla (187 units), and Highlander/Kluger (140 units) leading the charge. 

Top 10 Brands in NZ October 2021

Source: MIA NZ

Top 10 Models in NZ October 2021

Source: MIA NZ