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

Ford Ranger New Zealand 2015The Ford Ranger snaps up the NZ annual pole position for the very first time.

* Now updated with the Top 445 All-models *

* See the Top 90 All-brands and Top 25 models & Top 15 rentals by clicking on the title *

* Check out over 40 years of New Zealand archived data here *

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 Corolla New Zealand 2015Toyota 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.

Toyota RAV4 New Zealand 2015. Picture courtesy u-car.com.tw 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.

Toyota Highlander NZ 2014. Picture courtesy of caradvice.com.au55% of its annual total to rental companies: the Toyota Highlander.

Sales to rental companies played a large role in tipping the New Zealand market into a new record year with deliveries up 28.5% to 17.041 units vs. 13.264 a year ago. A look a the best-selling rentals sheds light on some of the overall market evolutions for the year. The Corolla is up 12% and the runaway favourite with rental companies with 3.415 deliveries or no less than 52% of its annual national total… The Toyota RAV4 double its rental sales yoy to hit 1.665 or 47% of its national score while the Toyota Highlander is up 73% to 1.418 units, a whopping 56% of its overall market total. Rental figures show that Holden owes its #2 overall spot in the brand ranking to generous discounts to rental companies with the Captiva (#7), Barina (#8) and Trax (#13) now appearing in the Top 15.

Previous month: New Zealand November 2015: Ford Ranger #1, edges new Hilux out

Previous year: New Zealand Full Year 2014: Market up 12% to all-time record

Two years ago: New Zealand Full Year 2013: Corolla marks 6 years at #1 in strongest market since 1984

Full Year 2015 Top 90 All-brands, Top 445 models & Top 15 rentals vs. Full 2014 figures below.

Full December 2015 Top 60 All-brands and Top 30 models below.

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