New Zealand February 2020: Toyota (+17%), Kia (+29.5%) ignore market down -2.8%

Toyota RAV4 sales are up 7-fold year-on-year in New Zealand.

New vehicle sales in New Zealand drop another -2.8% year-on-year in February to 11.348 units, leading to a year-to-date tally down -4.2% to 24.502. Passenger cars fall -11.1% to 2.214, light commercials sink -12.5% to 3.150 but SUVs blissfully ignore the negative context and surge 11.6% to 5.658 sales and 49.9% share vs. 43.3% a year ago in February 2019. Year-to-date, passenger cars dive -24.6% to 4.782, light commercials are at -5.9% to 6.624 and SUVs soar 9.7% to 12.175 and 49.7% share vs. 43.4% in 2019.

Toyota (+17%) spectacularly goes against the grain, reaching 16.7% share and distancing Ford (-1%), Mitsubishi (+5%) and Mazda (-16.8%). Kia (+29.5%) is down two spots on its record podium finish last month but once again manages the largest gain in the Top 15. Hyundai (+1%) is the only remaining Top 10 brand in positive just as Holden (-46%), Honda (-18.9%) and Suzuki (-15.4%) all struggle. Further down, Peugeot (+59.7%), Jeep (+52.7%), Mini (+51.2%), Renault (+42.5%), Skoda (+30.6%), Audi (+18.3%) and Ssangyong (+14.3%) stand out.

Model-wise, the Ford Ranger (+4.1%) significantly widens the gap with its archenemy the Toyota Hilux (-15.5%) compared to a year ago and comfortably remains on top. The Toyota RAV4 (+586.9%) posts a surreal year-on-year surge linked with the launch of the new generation of the model and remains by far the best-selling non commercial vehicle, let alone SUV. Mitsubishi manages to place 3 nameplates in the Top 6 – which is potentially a NZ record: the Triton (-32.3%), Outlander (+32.8%) and ASX (+54.8%) which also tops the rental charts. The Kia Seltos is down 3 spots on its record 4th place in January to a still very impressive 7th position nationally. The Toyota Hiace (+80.6%), Nissan Qashqai (+56.4%), VW Amarok and Tiguan (+21.4%) also shine.

Previous month: New Zealand January 2020: Toyota RAV4 (+137.1%), Kia Seltos (#4) stun in market down -6%

One year ago: New Zealand February 2019: Mitsubishi, Honda prop market up 1.5%, 5 pickups in Top 5

Full February 2020 Top 70 All-brands, Top 30 models and Top 15 rental models below.