If there's one thing no one can argue about, it's that Kiwis have a long-standing love affair with SUVs. It might be due
to our rural roots, the practical nature of these sports utility vehicles, or the fact that they make us feel safe on
the road. Whatever the reason, there's no doubt that our collective love of SUVs is bound to be one that will not be
extinguished anytime soon.
It's no secret that the last couple of years has posed a particular challenge in the automobile industry. An
unprecedented global pandemic brought supply chains to a grinding halt, with effects that continue to ripple through the
industry to this day. To further muddy the waters, there has been a myriad of changes in New Zealand that have affected
our car-buying habits.
New Zealanders have had the rug pulled out from under them in trying to figure out what their next vehicle to buy should
be!The Clean Car Discount
One of the first major changes was a government initiative to push the adoption of low emission and electric vehicles.
Known as the Clean Car Standard, the main drive behind the initiative was to help New Zealand lower its carbon footprint
and strive toward our country's 2050 emission targets. Part of this plan was the Clean Car Discount Scheme. Starting on
1 July 2021, the Clean Car Discount incentivised Kiwis to buy low emission and electric vehicles by offering a cash
incentive for vehicles with new NZ registrations. This applied to both new and used imports as long as it was a new NZ
registration. With over $8000 (incl. GST) available as a rebate for a new zero-emission vehicle, and a tiered system of
payouts to include both lower emission and used imports, the incentive has been highly effective in getting people to
reconsider their buying decisions.Emission Taxes
Juxtaposed against the Clean Car Discount is an additional tax being applied on vehicles that exceed certain C02
thresholds. This tax is generally being applied to larger SUVs and 4WDs that have been traditionally very popular in New
Zealand. The effect of this tax is to raise the overall cost of these types of vehicles, which in turn will lead to a
reduction in their popularity.The Current Landscape For Vehicle Sales in New Zealand
The final blow to sales in the automotive industry has been the current economic climate, with the cost of living
increasing as well as fuel prices reaching an all-time high earlier this year. Between this, the Clean Car Standard and
the new emission penalties, vehicle sales have taken a major hit across the board. In July, the Motor Industry
Association (MIA) reported that new passenger car and SUV registrations were down a whopping 19.4% in comparison to the
previous year - and it gets even worse when looking at commercial vehicles, with new registrations being down an
eye-watering 39.8%.
Due to all these pressures mounting on the automotive industry, registrations were down 26.3% for the year.Mitsubishi Outlander Leading the Charge into a Brighter Future for Sales
It isn't all doom and gloom as we are starting to see a major market correction in the industry with positive
projections for the future. As we see the market begin to recover from the pandemic supply chain issues, the Mitsubishi
Outlander has had an incredible year in making its presence known across the extremely competitive mid size SUV market.
Compact SUVs make up a significant chunk of our market, making up 21% of sales for July 2022. Given the saturated nature
of this segment, the Mitsubishi Outlander figures have stood out from the crowd, reaffirming New Zealander's love for
this iconic SUV. The Outlander saw an incredible 125.4% increase in sales, gaining a significant 5% market share this
YTD. With 6,508 units sold, the Outlander has positioned itself as the second top-selling SUV in the past year and has
been standing on the top three podia every single month.
Given the challenging market conditions, Mitsubishi deserves the tip of our hat for navigating such unprecedented times.Why Do New Zealanders Love the Mitsubishi Outlander?
Mitsubishi has a long history of listening to market conditions and adapting to them well ahead of time. Every iteration
of the Outlander has not only learnt from the shortcomings of the previous model but has done a great job at predicting
future market conditions. This approach to future-proofing all models of the Outlander has served the brand well, and
the Next Gen Mitsubishi Outlander is no exception.
Firstly, Mitsubishi was ready for the Clean Car Discount. While there was no way of knowing that such a scheme would
exist, what should be noted is with a worldwide conversation happening about carbon emissions, there was bound to be
legislation introduced. Mitsubishi has been at the forefront of EV and PHEV technology since its inception, and the
release of the Next Generation Mitsubishi PHEV is evidence of that. It has been a statement from the company that they
take their electric vehicle technology very seriously, and New Zealanders are listening. The Next Gen Outlander PHEV sits perfectly in line with the PHEV requirements for the Clean Car Discount, from price through to emissions, while
outperforming most of its competitors in its class with its larger batter,y 800km+ of combined range and 87km EV range.
The already competitive pricing of the Outlander combined with the Clean Car Discount has made Mitsubishi's flagship
PHEV hard to ignore for almost any SUV lover - even for those dipping their toes into PHEV technology for the first
time.
The Mitsubishi Outlander is also a perfect complement to the kiwi lifestyle. As our country still blurs the line between
natural paradise and metropolitan hotspot, finding a vehicle that can adapt to a range of environments is ideal. A
vehicle that can act as a daily runner, getting the whole whanau where ever they need to go with its 7 seats or heading
out on an adventure with the boat in tow over unsealed roads to our local coastline, the Mitsubishi Outlander has you
covered - and it has done this without triggering the new emissions tax. Performance and comfort all in one package at
an incredibly competitive price point.Simon Lucas Mitsubishi are Auckland's Outlander Experts
As the 2nd top-selling SUV in New Zealand, the team at Simon Lucas Mitsubishi have become experts on all things
Outlander. With a wide range of models in stock and access to the entire Outlander range, they can find the perfect
match for your needs. Find out why, no matter what the market conditions are, New Zealanders love the Mitsubishi
Outlander. Head to their website www.simonlucas.co.nz today to book a test drive and find out why Outlander continues to break new ground in New Zealand's medium-sized SUV
market.