Motor Industry Association of New Zealand (MIA) chief executive David Crawford says that August’s healthy new-car registration figures, while refreshing news for the industry, were more indicative of shipping timing than a changes in the market.
Crawford describes it as the “strongest month of August on record”, adding that the surge in figures was “largely due to shipments arriving allowing back orders to be filled”.
“The month tally bucks a recent softening market trend bought on by rising costs of living, high fuel prices, continued vehicle supply constraints and a weakening New Zealand economy,” he adds.
According to the MIA, 14,690 new vehicles were registered in August; 10,940 passenger cars and 3750 commercials. Passenger sales were up 138.6% on the same month last year and commercial sales 73.5%; last August having been heavily impacted by COVID-19 alert level 4.
As previously reported, the Ford Ranger (934 registrations) led the month, heading the Toyota Hilux (897) and Tesla Model 3 (745).
Although utes held the two top spots in the market, Crawford says August showed a “continuing subdued market for light commercial vehicle”.
The top 10 was rounded out by the Mitsubishi Outlander (677), Tesla Model Y (581), BYD Atto 3 (448), Toyota RAV4 (437), Kia Sportage (374), Kia EV6 (354), and the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross (342).
The models Crawford refers to with shipments arriving include the recently updated Ranger and the new-to-market Model Y and Atto 3.
The latter pairing contributed significantly to what was a strong month for pure EVs. A total of 2530 were registered, not including 27 BEV light commercials and 3 BEV heavy vehicles.
In addition 627 plug-in hybrids were registered (Eclipse Cross leading the Outlander and MG HS), and 1626 hybrids were registered (RAV4 leading Kia Niro, and Toyota Highlander).
Elsewhere, the Mitsubishi Triton narrowly missed out on its first top 10 berth since March, with 298 registrations, while the Suzuki Swift also missed out with its 280 registrations.
Year-to-date the Hilux still leads the Ranger, 6634 to 6408. Mitsubishi’s strong year is underlined by three of their models, the Outlander, Triton, and Eclipse Cross, occupying third, fourth, and sixth.
