NZ Sales: Positive numbers in August

NEW ZEALAND has seen an uptick in new vehicle registrations in August of 2.1 per cent (or 202 units) on the same month last year, attributed to a surge in rental sales volume – up 71.2 per cent (or 612 units) compared with August 2023.

The New Zealand Motor Industry Association (MIA) says August sales to rental companies represent the highest rental volumes sold so far this year, driving total sales for the month to 9990 units.

However, on a year-to-date basis, 2024 registrations are down 18.7 per cent (or 18,846 units) compared with the same period in 2023.

Light passenger vehicle (car and SUV) registrations in August totalled 6765 units, a decrease of 3.0 per cent compared with the same time last year, and a fall of 38.2 per cent on August of 2022.

Year-to-date, sales are down 26.4 per cent compared with 2023 (19,094 units) and 29.3 per cent lower than in 2022 (22,085 units).

The MIA says business sales represent a 40.1 per cent share of all new light passenger vehicle sales in August, with private buyers taking a 39.5 per cent slice of the action and rental fleets the remaining 17.9 per cent.

The top three best-selling passenger models in August were the Toyota RAV4 (541 units and 8.0 market share points), Kia Seltos (308 units and a 4.6 per cent share), and the Mitsubishi ASX (286 units and 4.2 per cent).

Across the segments, New Zealand buyers showed a preference for compact SUV models (2300 units or 34.0 market share points), medium SUV models (2121 units or 31.4 per cent), and large SUV models (775 units or 11.5 per cent).

Average monthly light commercial vehicle registrations remain stable at 2967 units (YTD), marginally above the 2959 units recorded in August 2023. Year-to-date registrations are up 0.3 per cent (63 units) than the same period in 2023.

For August 2024, a total of 2576 light commercial vehicles were registered, up 23.7 per cent (or 493 units) on the same time last year, but down 526 units on the year prior.

Buyer preference saw the Ford Ranger top the sales charts with 826 units sold (a 32.1 per cent market share) ahead of the Toyota HiLux (687 units or 26.7 market share points) and Mitsubishi Triton (279 units and 10.8 per cent).

As is the case in Australia, four-wheel drive cab-chassis and pick-up models lead the sales pack with a total of 1763 units sold in August (68.4 per cent share) ahead of two-wheel drive cab-chassis and pick-up models (500 units or 19.4 market share points), and light commercial vans (264 units or 10.2 per cent).

Business buyers formed the majority of those purchasing light commercial vehicles in New Zealand across August, buying 1950 units (a 75.5 per cent share). Private buyers purchased 418 units (16.2 per cent) and rental fleet buyers 208 units (8.1 per cent).

Heavy commercial vehicle registrations continue to grow slightly, reaching an average of 644 units (YTD), up from 629 average monthly units in 2023 and 565 units (YTD) in 2022.

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

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

Top 10 sales by Model (August commercial):

*All figures are supplied courtesy of the Motor Industry Association of New Zealand.