New Zealand August 2019: Toyota (+3.2%), Holden (+3.6%) step up in market down for 4th month in a row (-4.4%)

The Toyota RAV4 (+172.1%) posts its 2nd NZ podium finish this year.

The New Zealand new light vehicle market endures a fourth consecutive year-on-year decline in August at -4.4% to 12.607 units, leading to a year-to-date tally down -5.1% to 100.090. Passenger cars, down -14.2% to 2.796, and Light Commercials, down -7.9% to 3.527, are responsible for this month’s decline just as SUVs continues to gallop ahead at +6.3% to 5.679. Year-to-date however, all segments are down: passenger cars at -15.6% to 21.686, LCVs at -2% to 30.295 and SUVs at -0.7% to 43.478.

Brand-wise, Toyota (+3.2%) continues to go against the grain, reaching 18.8% share for the month which is well above its 17.1% YTD level. Ford (-24.1%) is in great difficulty, hit with the steepest drop in the Top 18, but holds onto the #2 spot ahead of Mitsubishi (-4%) while Holden (+3.6%) encouragingly posts its first year-on-year gain since October 2018. Nissan (+9.6%) and Hyundai (+3%) stand out in the remainder of the Top 10, whereas Mazda (-14.4%), Suzuki (-12.9%), Volkswagen (-9.2%) and Kia (-9.1%) all painfully fall much faster than the market. Further down, notice MG (+5000%), Ram (+633.3%), Mahindra (+325%), Tesla (+313.3%), Renault (+59.4%), Haval (+36.5%), BMW (+33.6%) and Audi (+24.8%) all signing fantastic gains.

In the models ranking, the Ford Ranger (-6.6%) is being caught up by the Toyota Hilux (-0.4%) but remains in the lead for the 8th consecutive month. The Toyota RAV4 (+172.1%) surfs on the success of the new generation to lodge its 2nd podium finish this year after last April at #3 above the Toyota Corolla (-35%) and Mitsubishi Triton. The Nissan Qashqai (+46.2%) is up 8 spots on July to #8, the Hyundai Kona (+98.1%) also up 8 to #14 and the Toyota Camry (#18), Yaris (#21), Holden Trax (#25), Suzuki Vitara (#27) and Holden Equinox (#28) step up. Note 77% of Mercedes Sprinter August sales are rentals, 68% of Camry, 53% of Yaris, 51% of Trax, 38% of Corolla, 33% of Qashqai and X-Trail, 28% of Kona and 27% of RAV4.

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

One year ago: New Zealand August 2018: 5 pickups in Top 7 in record market up 1.2%

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