NZ Sales: Emissions rules drive up sales

JUNE new vehicle sales in New Zealand have almost doubled those of the year prior setting the record as the best-selling month on record.

A total of 23,560 units were registered for the month, 95.5 per cent more than the same time in 2022 and beating the previous record month of March 2022 by 2556 units.

According to Motor Industry Association chief executive, Aimee Wiley, the record comes as buyers rush to beat tightening emissions legislation changes that come into effect from July 1.

“What these record months have in common, is clean car policy change,” she explained.

“In March 2022, people rushed to register vehicles to avoid the introduction of Clean Car Discount fees and we can see this repeated in June 2023, to avoid increasing fees or reducing rebates from 1 July onwards.”

Of the 23,560 June registrations, passenger vehicles accounted for 17,299 and commercial vehicles 6261.

Passenger registrations of 17,299 are the highest month ever, 97.5 per cent higher than the monthly average year to date, 80.9 per cent higher than June 2022 and 45.7 per cent (5425 units) higher than the prior record month for passenger sales (September 2021 at 11,874 units).

On a year-to-date basis, passenger vehicles are up 8.3 per cent (4680 units).

A total of 6261 commercial vehicle registrations makes June the second biggest month ever for the sector, some 76.2 per cent higher than the average monthly registrations year to date (3553 average units per month) and up 151.9 per cent (3775 units) compared to June 2022.

Although a standout month for the commercial segment, June 2023 falls well short (3561 units) of the prior record month of March 2022 (9822 units).

On a total year-to-date basis, despite the June 2023 result, commercial vehicles remain down 6.5 per cent (1674 units) due the impact of the Clean Car Discount fees on light commercial vehicles.

There were 2643 BEVs, 1318 PHEVs and 4279 HEVs registered in June. Combined

these total 47.7 per cent of all passenger vehicle segment sales.

Buyers took home 2599 light passenger BEVs (up 91 per cent on average monthly YTD), 23 light commercial and 21 heavy commercial vehicle BEVs in June. The top models were the Tesla Model Y (765 units), BYD Atto 3 (440 units) followed by the MG ZS (260 units). Overall, BEVs made up 15 per cent of the light passenger segment for the month.

There were 1318 PHEVs registered for the month of June (up 148 per cent on average monthly YTD). The top models were the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross (498 units) followed by the Mitsubishi Outlander (257 units) and the Kia Niro (135 units). PHEVs made up 7.6 per cent of the light passenger segment in June.

Registrations of hybrid vehicles (HEVs) were 4279 units for June (up 111 per cent on average monthly YTD). The top models were the Toyota RAV4 (983 units), followed by the Toyota C-HR (261 units) and the Kia Niro (246 units). Hybrid vehicles made up 24.7 per cent of the light passenger segment for the month.

Passenger and SUV sales were again dominated by Toyota which retained the market lead in June with an 18.4 per cent market share (3187 units). Toyota was followed by Kia with 11.1 per cent (1927 units) and Mitsubishi with 10.9 per cent market share (1892 units).

The top selling passenger and SUV models for the month were the Toyota RAV4 (1496 units) followed by the Tesla Model Y (765 units) and the MG ZS (624 units).

For the month of June, Toyota also took the market lead with a 34.4 per cent market share (2156 units) of the light commercial vehicle space, followed by Ford with 18 per cent (1128 units) and Mitsubishi third with a 16.1 per cent market share (1011 units).

The top selling models for the month of June were the Toyota Hilux (1703 units), followed by the Mitsubishi Triton (1011 units) and Ford Ranger (975 units).

Additionally, there were 676 registrations of heavy commercial vehicles for the month of June.

The MIA says that in terms of segmentation, the top spots for June went to the SUV medium- (26 per cent), SUV compact- (23 per cent) and Pick Up/Chassis 4x4 segment (15 per cent) segments. The small to medium segments comprised 60 per cent of the overall market.

Top 10 sales by Make (June passenger, SUV and commercial):

Top 10 sales by Model (June passenger and SUV):

Top 10 sales by Model (June commercial):

Note: all figures are supplied courtesy of the Motor Industry Association of New Zealand.