New Zealand October 2017: Rentals boost Toyota up 36% to 28.7% share

The Toyota Highlander is up 126% year-on-year in New Zealand in October. 

* See the Top 65 All-brands and Top 30 models by clicking on the title *

Nothing can stop the New Zealand market this year: sales are up another 5.6% year-on-year in October to 15.550 units, the highest ever score for the month and only the 2nd time monthly sales cross the 15.000 mark after last June (15.985). Passenger cars are up 3% to 11.114 while commercials are up 12.8% to 4.416. Year-to-date, the Kiwi market is up a splendid 9.8% to 133.766 with passenger cars up 6.3% to 90.060 and commercials up a staggering 17.9% to 43.706. Motor Industry Association chief executive David Crawford says the results point to a record-breaking year for the industry: “The 2017 new vehicle market is expected to easily break through the 150,000 new vehicles mark for the first time.”

Toyota remains the runaway leader with a particularly impressive score this month: up 36% to a mammoth 28.7% market share, or almost three times the next best-seller, to be compared with 19.5% year-to-date. Ford (-6%) and Holden (-28%) struggle on the podium while Mazda edges up 3% in 4th place. Below, Mitsubishi (+27%) and Hyundai (+46%) impress, the latter snapping the 6th rank YTD off Nissan, down 22% this month. In the Top 10, Kia (+28%) and Suzuki (+34%) also post spectacular gains while beyond, Subaru (+46%), Fiat (+37%) and LDV (+42%) are among the best performers.

As is always the case in New Zealand ahead of the summer season, rental sales heavily influence the models ranking. The Toyota Corolla thus holds onto the pole position with sales up 46% to 11.4% share with no less than 90% of its October volume going to rental companies. The Ford Ranger (+11%) is back above the Toyota Hilux (+49%) and remains comfortably in the lead year-to-date at 5.9% share vs. 5.3% for the Hilux and 4.4% for the Corolla. The Toyota RAV4 is up 62% to #4 (63% rentals) while the Kia Sportage is up 29% to #5 (28% rentals). Notice also the Toyota Highlander up 126% to #6 (78% rentals), the Mitsubishi Triton up 66% to #7, the Mitsubishi ASX up to #8, the Mazda3 up 20% to #10, the Hyundai Tucson up 40% to #16 and the Ford Focus up to #18.

Previous month: New Zealand September 2017: Rentals push Corolla to #1

One year ago: New Zealand October 2016: Rentals lead to all-time record month

Full October 2017 Top 65 All-brands and Top 30 models below.