New Zealand Full Year 2015: First #1 title for Ford Ranger, record market

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The New Zealand new car market is up 5% year-on-year in 2015 to post a second consecutive all-time record year at 134.041 registrations, the first time in history the market eclipses the 130.000 annual sales mark. Passenger cars are up 5% to 94.694 deliveries while commercials gain 7% to an all-time record 39.077 units. The used import trade also lodges an outstanding year with a total of 152.480 used vehicles arriving in the country, the best since 166.466 were sold in 2005. SUVs continue to be the dominant segment in the New Zealand market with an imposing 34% market share at 45.376 registrations this year.

Toyota is #1 in New Zealand for the 28th straight year, but the Corolla isn’t anymore.

Toyota signs a 28th consecutive year as the most popular manufacturer in New Zealand, even improving its market share to 19.6% thanks to sales up 7% to 26.330. Holden (+4%) overtakes Ford (-2%) to take second place overall with 14.001 units vs. 13.808 while Mazda surges 25% to 10.078 deliveries and 7.5% share. Notice also Nissan up 10% to #7, Kia up 16% to #11, Isuzu up 38% to #12, Mercedes up 15% to #13, Subaru up 24% to #14, Fiat up 41% and Ssangyong, Land Rover and Skoda all up 18%. Mercedes snaps the title of top luxury car brand for the first time, also selling over 2.000 units for the first time at 2.095 vs. 1.952 for BMW and 1.765 for Audi.

 The Toyota RAV4 is up 37% to 5th overall mainly thanks to rentals.

We witness a very momentous event in the models ranking: for the first time ever, a commercial vehicle takes the overall lead as the Ford Ranger gains 8% to reach 6.818 sales and 5.1% share, outselling the Toyota Corolla – market leader for the past seven years in a row – up just 1% to 6.514. The Ranger now represents a whopping 49% of overall Ford sales in New Zealand vs. 45% a year ago. The Toyota Hilux (-3%) rounds up the podium, followed by the Holden Colorado (+22%), Toyota RAV4 (+37%) and Nissan Navara (+25%) all lodging spectacular gains and overtaking the Holden Commodore (-10%). The Mazda CX-5 breaks into the NZ annual Top 10 for the first time at #8, the Toyota Highlander also at #9 (+27%) and the Mitsubishi Triton surges 52% to #14.