Slight rise is sales encourages MIA
/Business and private buyer interest kept market alive in February and most went for ICE choices.
Read MoreBusiness and private buyer interest kept market alive in February and most went for ICE choices.
Read MoreDistributor organisation sees some improvement over 2024, but nothing to crow about.
Read MoreNew vehicle sales are showing gradual improvement. For the ute that has held historic leadership, easily-achieved dominance continues.
Read MoreSlight growth in car and light commercial registrations last month is cause for mild optimism.
Read MoreSome key sector performances still desultory, Motor Industry Association notes.
Read MoreNew vehicle sales last month were still trending as they did through most of 2024. What to do?
Read MoreThough last month showed a slight lift, 2024 is looking set to be a black year for new car sales - with the electric sector looking especially tough.
Read MoreNew passenger vehicle uptake lifted slightly in August, but the market is still sluggish.
Read MoreLast month the worst this year for registrations counts.
Read MoreThe organisation speaking for new vehicle distributors says it’s hard to say if a big upsurge in battery car buying will keep on in 2024.
Read MoreEmissions charges haven’t kept the Ford traydeck from holding its traditional dominance.
Read MoreFord’s ute lost its usual market leadership last month, though it still dominated the one-tonne sector.
Read More
TOYOTA’S RAV4 cleaned out the opposition in new passenger vehicle sales during August, selling at more than double the rate of anything else.
And the Ford Ranger ute almost achieved the same in the commercial market, taking a massive 27 per cent market share.
But overall, new vehicle registrations in August were once again adversely affected by the Covid-19 restrictions, especially the alert level 3 in Auckland, reports the Motor Industry Association.
August registrations came in at 15.8 percent below August last year, with 10,610 new vehicles registered, which was down 1997 units on the same month in 2019.
“Year to date the market is down 23.6 percent in a year that remains heavily affected by the Covid-19 pandemic,” said MIA chief executive David Crawford.
The shining lights among the depressed level of sales were the Ranger and RAV4.
Ranger achieved 964 registrations, way ahead of the Toyota Hilux whose 524 registrations were no doubt affected by the fact the current model was in runout prior to launch of a new model this month.
The massive success of Ranger allowed Ford to retain the market lead in the commercial sector with a 30 per cent share, followed by Toyota on 19 per cent and Mitsubishi on 11 per cent.
The RAV4, with its hybrid models at the forefront, achieved 638 registrations to dominate the passenger and SUV segment – in second place was the Kia Sportage with 313 sales, followed by its smaller brother the Seltos with 243 registrations.
No surprises then that Toyota was market leader for passenger and SUV registrations with a 19 per cent share, followed by Kia on 10 per cent and Suzuki on 8 per cent.
Overall the top segments for August were once again dominated by SUVs. Top spot went to medium SUVs with a 22 per cent share, followed by 4x4 utes with 18 per cent, and then compact SUVs also with 18 per cent.
Top 15 most popular vehicles in August
Ford Ranger 964 sales
Toyota RAV4 638
Toyota Hilux 524
Mitsubishi Triton 376
Kia Sportage 313
Kia Seltos 243
Suzuki Swift 220
Toyota C-HR 200
Mazda BT-50 199
Mazda CX-5 197
Toyota Corolla 194
Holden Colorado 193
Hyundai Tucson 188
Toyota Yaris 183
Mitsubishi Outlander 159
MotoringNZ reviews new cars and keeps readers up-to-date with the latest developments on the auto industry. All the major brands are represented. The site is owned and edited by New Zealand motoring journalist Richard Bosselman.
BMW’s performance division has given its all in celebration of a certain race track’s 100th. You can, too.
The electric arm of big player BAIC is ‘vixen’ to be noticed by kicking in with its smallest export offer that adds tech edge to a price-competitive zone.
Beijing Automotive’s first models hit high-potential market segments and prove sensible pricing can still buy a sensational specification.
A big mid-life facelift for the carryover wagon and a new body styling choice lift this type to highly recommended status.
There’s no disputing the closeness to a certain other, but that doesn’t necessarily detract.
The outcry out for a sportier version of Toyota’s top seller has been answered - and it’s a red-blood with a Green theme.
When its heart seems little different to that in nan’s shopping basket how much soul remains?
How well does Japan’s small car specialist fare when its first electric faces up to a similar concept from China?
The first electric car to achieve the Czech make’s vaunted performance badge is certainly hot - but will the price cool desire?
Munich’s first all-electric compact executive model will next year bow out to the ‘Neue Klasse’ i3. The final edition of the i4 is set to leave with head held high.
Electrics come in all styles and sizes these day, but nothing else from this age shakes its booty quite like this one.