New Zealand May 2019: Toyota RAV4 (+25.8%), Mitsubishi Triton (+17.6%) resist in market down -13.5%

The Mitsubishi Triton is one of 5 pickups in the May Top 6.

New vehicle sales in New Zealand fall a painful -13.5% year-on-year in May to 12.259 units, leading to a year-to-date tally now down -4.9% to 61.715. In the detail, passenger cars/SUVs freefall -17.8% to 7.624 this month and -7% so far this year at 40.184 whereas commercial vehicles just edge down -5.3% in May and -0.6% to 21.431. After surging last month (+37.9%), brand leader Toyota (-26.3%) is back in hell in May but remains in the lead at 15.4% vs. 10.9% for #2 Ford (-17.4%). In fact there are no gainers in the Top 10, with Suzuki (-3.1%), Nissan (-3.5%), Mitsubishi (-4.7%) and Holden (-6.5%) holding up best but Kia (-26.4%), Volkswagen (-16.5%) and Mazda (-15.1%) struggling. Ssangyong (+79.5%), Skoda (+2.3%), Mercedes (+2.1%) and Honda (+2%) are the only Top 20 carmakers in positive.

The models podium is back to 100% pickup trucks with the Ford Ranger (-13.7%), Toyota Hilux (-5.2%) and Mitsubishi Triton (+17.6%) replicating the YTD order. The Holden Colorado (+13.7%) and Nissan Navara (-22.3%) make it 5 pickups in the Top 6. The Toyota RAV4 (+25.8%) is the best-selling non-commercial vehicle for the 2nd straight month, with SUVs obliterating the category with the Top 4 spots. Indeed the RAV4 is followed by the Hyundai Tucson (#7), Mazda CX-5 (#8) and the Mitsubishi Outlander (#10) with the Toyota Corolla (-28.5%) again locked out of the Top 10. Notice the Holden Equinox breaking into the Top 30 for the first time at #26.

Previous month: New Zealand April 2019: Toyota (+37.9%) on the mend thanks to new RAV4

One year ago: New Zealand May 2018: Ford Ranger scores 2nd ever four-digit sales figure

Full May 2019 Top 70 All-brands and Top 30 models below.