New Zealand November 2019: Kia Seltos storms into world-best #5, lifts Kia to first Top 5 finish in history

The Kia Seltos lands with a bang in New Zealand.

New vehicle sales in New Zealand skid down -3.4% year-on-year in November to 13.850 units, with passenger cars bearing the brunt of the fall at -15.1% to 3.036 and 21.9% share vs. 24.9% a year ago, light commercials also hit hard at -11.5% to 26.5% share vs. 28.9% just as SUVs blissfuly ignore the market drop and gain 10.6% to reach 6.564 sales and a mammoth 47.4% share vs. 41.4% in November 2018. Year-to-date, the NZ market is now down  -4.7% to 143.353 units, with passenger cars down -11.8% to 33.102, light commercials down -4.2% to 41.235 and SUVs down just -0.2% to 62.493.

Toyota (+0.4%) easily keep control of the brands ranking but sees its share return to earth at 22.5% after a surreal 28.3% last month. Ford (-5.4%), Mitsubishi (-6.5%) and Holden (-25.6%) stay put below, replicating the YTD order just as Kia (+49.3%) breaks into the New Zealand Top 5 for the first time in history at #5, securing the largest gain in the Top 15. Only Suzuki (+5.3%) and Nissan (+2.6%) also progress in the remainder of the Top 10, with Hyundai (-21.2%) and Honda (-7%) hit hard. Further down, BMW (+47.5%) shines at #15 and MG steps up 3 spots on October to a record #16, hitting 1% market share for the first time since the brand is Chinese-owned. Tesla (+286.7%), Ssangyong (+162.2%), Great Wall (+66.7%), Haval (+60%), Mini (+54.1%), Peugeot (+27.9%), Lexus (+16.9%) and Jaguar (+13.3%) stand out further down.

Over in the models ranking, the Ford Ranger (-8.8%) reclaims the top spot it holds year-to-date but is under threat by the Toyota RAV4 (+72.1%) remaining at a sumptuous #2 thanks to the new generation. Leader last month thanks to rentals, the Toyota Corolla (-11%) drops to #3 which is also its YTD ranking, distancing a Toyota Hilux (-12.6%) in difficulty. The big surprise of the month in New Zealand is the blockbuster arrival of the Kia Seltos directly in 5th place with just under 3% share. We already witnessed the Seltos’s success in South Korea, India and Australia, New Zealand is the latest market to fall into its spell as it already ranks #2 SUV in the country for its first full month of sales.

The Nissan Qashqai (+60.5%), Mitsubishi Outlander (+52.8%), Hyundai Tucson (+22.6%), Mazda BT-50 (+17.9%) and CX-5 (+10.4%), Suzuki Vitara (#18), Toyota Prado (#19) and Holden Trax (#23) also impress in a month when 13 of the Top 15 non-commercial vehicles are SUVs. We now offer a monthly Top 15 rental sales models for New Zealand. It shows the RAV4 in the lead ahead of the Corolla, Ford Ranger and Nissan Qashqai, with the Suzuki Vitara (#7), Hyundai Elantra (#8) and Holden Acadia (#10) also strong and the MG 3 making its very first appearance at #13.

Previous month: New Zealand October 2019: Rentals lift Toyota to 28.3% share

One year ago: New Zealand November 2018: Ranger and Hilux back in charge, Hyundai (+36%) shines in market down -1.6%

Full November 2019 Top XX All-brands, Top 30 models and Top 15 rental sales below.