The rise and rise of New Zealand’s used imported car market

Media Release 10 March 2015

The rise and rise of New Zealand’s used imported car market

The used import vehicle market continues to rise, with a 15 percent increase in the sales of both passenger and commercial vehicles against the same month last year, while the whole market rose 12 percent.

For the whole market, 21,131 new and used imported vehicles (passenger and commercial) were registered in February, 12 percent more than the 18,886 vehicles sold for the first time in the same month last year.

MTA Chief Executive Warwick Quinn noted 2015 had started well for all segments.

“All sectors grew, and we’re seeing a sustained rally in used imports in particular. The early part of the year can be slightly slow, but this one has continued at the same level as last,” Quinn said.

“It’s a very promising start to the year, across the whole industry. Every sector is up on where it was last year, with especially strong growth in sales of used vehicles – both cars and commercial vehicles were up 15 percent on the same period 2014.”

The new passenger segment sold 7,057 units, up 7 percent on February 2014’s 6,572 – the best start to any new year on record. The Toyota Corolla led new car sales with 302 units, followed by the Mazda CX-5, with 210 units, and the Mazda3 with 206 units.

The used imported passenger segment sold 10,572 units in February, up 15 percent on last February’s 9,155, the best start to the year since 2006. The Suzuki Swift led with 581, with the Mazda Axela selling 474 units and the Mazda Demio with 426 units.

The new commercial sector sold 2,821 utes, vans, trucks, and buses this January, 10 percent more than the 2,567 sold in the same month 2014 – and, as with new cars, the best start to a year on record. Toyota’s Hilux regained its position as the top-selling ute, with 427 units registered, followed by the Ford Ranger with 381 units and Nissan’s Navara with 266 units.

Used imported commercial sold 681 units this February, a 15 percent increase on the 592 units sold for the same month last year, and the biggest February year-to-date figure since 2008. The Toyota Hiace led with 262 units, followed by the Nissan Caravan with 61 units and the Toyota Dyna with 31 units.

Motorcycle sector: Two-wheeled sales growth matches that of cars, utes, vans
The total for new and used imported road-registered motorcycles for February 2015 reached 990 units, up 16 percent on last February’s figure of 855. The new motorcycle segment sold 762 units, up 12 percent on last February’s figure of 679, while the used imported two-wheel segment sold 228 units, gaining 30 percent on 2014’s 176 units.

© Scoop Media