NZ sales: Rebound in May

NEW Zealand’s Motor Industry Association (MIA) chief executive David Crawford says that 13,337 new-vehicle registrations across May were a positive sign in the current climate of production constraints, weakening market conditions and geopolitical factors.

Passenger vehicles registrations across New Zealand tallied 10,575 for the month of May, up 5.6 per cent (or 563 units) on the same month last year, and were the strongest for the month of May on record.

However, new commercial vehicle sales continue to slow in the wake of New Zealand’s clean car taxes, just 2,762 units sold across May, down 39.2 per cent (or 1,788 units) on the same month last year.

Heavy vehicle sales remain sold with 588 units sold for the month.

Overall, registrations of new vehicles were down 8.4 per cent (or 1,215 units) on May 2021, though Mr Crawford says that in year-to-date terms, the market is up slightly at 0.7 per cent (or 491 units) compared with the first five months of 2021.

He added that higher interest rates and increased living costs, along with rising fuel prices are expected to progressively soften as the year progresses.

Toyota retained top spot in the New Zealand market across May with HiLux utility models especially popular (942 units), narrowly outgunning the Toyota RAV4 (923 units). Mitsubishi placed third in May, the Outlander selling a total of 824 units.

The trend sees Toyota retain its position as overall market leader with a 23 per cent market share (3,074 units) in May, followed by Mitsubishi with a 14 per cent share (1,848 units) and Kia in third spot with a 13 per cent stake (1,713 units).

Year-to-date figures vary slightly, however, with Mitsubishi (17%) ahead of Toyota (15%) and Ford (9%).

Interestingly, Toyota retained the market lead for passenger and SUV registrations in May with an 18 per cent share (1,911 units), followed by Kia (16% and 1,713 units) and Mitsubishi also with a 16 per cent market share (and 1,685 unit sales).

The top-selling passenger and SUV models for the month of May were the Toyota RAV4 (923 units), Mitsubishi Outlander (824 units) and Kia Stonic (564 units).

Toyota also dominated the commercial vehicle sector with an impressive 42 per cent market share (1,163 units) ahead of Ford (15% and 418 units) and Mitsubishi in third place with a six per cent share (163 units).

The Toyota HiLux took top spot for the month of May as the best-selling commercial vehicle (34% and 942 units), followed by the Ford Ranger (14% and 388 units) and Toyota HiAce (7% and 203 units).

Year-to-date market share across the commercial vehicle sector sees the Ford Ranger (20% and 4,670 units) leading the Mitsubishi Triton (19% and 4,362 units) and Toyota HiLux (17% and 4,015 units).

The MIA says weakened utility sales since the introduction of the Clean Car Discount on April 1 have seen small and medium passenger segments overtake commercial model sales. In May, Medium SUVs accounted for 25 per cent of all vehicles sold, tying with Compact SUVs (also 25%). The next most popular segment was the Pick Up/Cab Chassis 4x4 segment is a nine per cent market share.

New energy vehicles continue to prove popular in New Zealand in May with 1,663 petrol-electric hybrid, 762 plug-in hybrid and 629 battery electric models sold.

Top-selling hybrid models include the Toyota RAV4 (428 units), Toyota Corolla (217 units) and Honda Jazz (192 units). Popular PHEV variants include the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross (306 units), Mitsubishi Outlander (207 units) and MG HS (69 units), while best-selling BEV variants include the Hyundai Ioniq 5 (102 units), Kia EV6 (80 units) and Polestar 2 (77 units).

Top 10 sales by make (May 2022):

Top 10 passenger sales by model (May 2022):

Top 10 commercial sales by model (May 2022):