New Zealand July 2019: Toyota (+41.9%) can’t prevent third straight market fall (-3.3%)

Toyota Corolla sales surge 71.8% in New Zealand in July.

New vehicle sales in New Zealand are down for the third straight month in July at -3.3% year-on-year to 11.897 units, leading to a year-to-date tally down -5.2% to 87.510. Passenger cars are down -2.1% in July to 2.689 and 22.6% share vs. 22.3% a year ago and a harsh -15.8% YTD to 18.885 and 21.6% vs. 24.3% in 2018. SUVs edge down -1.2% to 5.201 and 43.7% share vs. 42.8% in July 2018 and down -1.6% YTD to 37.810 and 43.2% vs. 41.6% in 2018, and light commercials drop -3.7% to 3.406 and 28.6% share vs. 28.8% a year ago but hold up YTD at -1.1% to 26.775 and 30.6% of the NZ market vs. 29.3% over the same period in 2018.

Toyota (+41.9%) firmly goes against the grain with a fantastic surge, the largest in the Top 15 in fact and one of only two double-digit gains alongside Audi (+19.5%) at #15. The rest of the Top 5 is entirely in negative, with Ford (-13.5%) hit the hardest, Mazda (-5.7%) falling faster than the market but not Holden (-0.6%) and Mitsubishi (-1.8%) gaining share vs. a year ago. Only Kia (+5.4%) and Nissan (+3%) also post an uplift in the Top 10. Among smaller brands, MG (+5700%), Ssangyong (+87.7%), Great Wall (+80%), Renault (+70%), Porsche (+47.4%), Jeep (+41.5%), Jaguar (+39.5%) and Lexus (+11.9%) stand out.

Model-wise, the Ford Ranger (-2.5%) holds itself above the market drop to retail the top spot, a comfortable one percentage point of share ahead of its archenemy the Toyota Hilux (-18.8%) hit hard this month. The Toyota Corolla (+71.8%) takes advantage of the new generation and strong rental sales (47% of its July volume) to jump up 2 spots on June to #3, distancing the Mitsubishi Triton (+24.2%) and Toyota RAV4 (+31.5%) also both in great shape. The Holden Colorado (-6.9%) is down 3 spots on last month but ranks #4 YTD, ensuring the YTD Top 4 is 100% pickups. Below, the Nissan X-Trail (+50%), Mazda BT-50 (+25.3%) and Nissan Navara (+11.3%) impress.

Previous month: New Zealand June 2019: Rentals lift Toyota Prado into Top 10, market down -8%

One year ago: New Zealand July 2018: Year-to-date Top 4 now 100% pickups

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