New vehicle sales are showing gradual improvement. For the ute that has held historic leadership, easily-achieved dominance continues.

TOUGH terrain for new vehicle sales this year has been handled well by vehicles built to take the knocks.

Today’s release of registrations data for last month shows the market then is 12 percent stronger than it was in November of 2024, but as last year was a poor one, the industry remains cautious in its forecast.

Of the 13,615 new passenger and light commercials that moved through the system, the strongest sellers were the Toyota RAV4 with 1257 registrations, followed by the Ranger on 1030.

The next strongest performer was the Ford’s closest competitor in the one-tonne sector, Toyota Hilux, on 621.

In respect to year to date performances, Ranger has 8892 registrations, a dominant tally within its category. Year to date sales count of Toyota’s nuggety compact sports utility comes to 10393 units, so it is comfortably on target to be the country’s top selling passenger product. It is a fitting farewell for the RAV4 in current form, with a replacement generation landing next year.

November stands as the fifth consecutive month showing growth. The Motor Industry Association that represents many - but not all - distributors says the trajectory signals a market slowly rebuilding its footing despite persistent economic strain.

But it warns against optimism, adding this was not momentum in the classic sense but a gentle stabilisation as some demand begins to return. It’s a scenario of steady but fragile progress across the sector, MIA cheif executive Aimee Wiley says.

The association’s summary is that November “reflects a market that is slowly finding stability rather than accelerating into a new cycle.

“Financial conditions are easing and regional demand is holding firm, supporting a gradual lift in activity. For the industry, the key takeaway is that recovery is under way, but it remains vulnerable to shifts in costs, credit conditions and wider economic confidence.”

Wiley says household budgets are still under pressure and business investment is patchy, so while the new car industry is moving out of a trough, it’s not yet shifted into a sustained growth phase.

For all that one ute has a hold on NZ, passenger vehicles are still more important in respect to overall volume. Vehicles in that category accounted for 10,247 registrations.

RAV4 count last month was more than double that for the second-strongest passenger model, the elderly Mitsubishi ASX. The Everest, a Ranger-derived sports utility, was third on 527.

Most new cars sold in November and year to date are fully involved with internal combustion - so 7746 last month and 78034 to December 1.

In respect to battery-involved products, hybrid cars remain far more favourable that plug-in hybrids and full electrics. Respective monthly and year to date tallies are 4547/ 31837; 636/ 2773 and 641/ 7075.

The strongest selling electric car last month was the Tesla Model Y, with just 136 registered. BYD Sealion 6 topped the PHEV quarter, with 122 units. RAV4 was the top hybrid.