New Zealand April 2020: Kia and Seltos secure first ever wins in market down -90.2%

The Kia Seltos is the best-selling vehicle in New Zealand in April.

8/05 update: Now with Top 45 All-brands.

Throughout April, New Zealand was under one of the world’s strictest national COVID-19 lockdowns, with international borders closed and all car dealerships closed. As a result, there has been only 1.489 cases in the country at the time of writing (82nd globally), with less than 10 new daily cases for the past 18 consecutive days (since April 19). Accordingly the new car market is down -90.2% year-on-year in April to just 1.039 units, leading to a year-to-date tally down -31.6% to 33.827. There were only 2 rental sales in New Zealand in April (two Isuzu N-Series). SUVs drop -89.9% to 481 units and 46.3% share vs. 44.9% a year ago in April 2019, light commercials are down -92.9% to 238 and 22.9% share vs. 31.5% and passenger cars are off -88.6% to 224 and 21.6% share vs. 18.6% a year ago. Year-to-date, SUVs are down -24.3% to 16.260 and 48.1% share vs. 43.4% over the same 2019 period, light commercials are off -36.2% to 9.323 and 27.6% share vs. 29.6% and passenger cars fall -38.8% to 6.769 and 20% share vs. 22.4% in 2019.

Kia (-68.5%) is the big winner this month, scoring its first ever New Zealand pole position with an unseasonably high 16.3% share, toppling long-term leader Toyota (-92.7%) down to 12.7% of the NZ market vs. 16.1% so far in 2020. Suzuki (-77.9%) leaps up 4 spots on March to land on the third step of the podium while Hyundai (-85.2%) is up 5 to #4. Honda (-87.2%) and Holden (-87.9%) also manage to lose less ground than the market in the remainder of the Top 10 but Mitsubishi (-95.9%), Ford (-95.7%) and Mazda (-93.1%) aren’t that lucky.

Model-wise, the new Kia Seltos secures its first ever monthly win in the world with a whopping 9.1% share, distancing the Toyota Hilux (-89.1%) and Holden Colorado (-90.5%) while the Suzuki Swift lurches up 6 spots on March to #4, toppling perennial NZ leader the Ford Ranger (-96.2%) at #5. Other surprises include the Suzuki Jimny up to a best-ever #6, the Kia Rio up to #7, the Holden Commodore back inside the Top 10 for the first time since March 2018 at #8 and the Volvo FM truck at #10.

Previous month: New Zealand March 2020: Holden at highest in over 2 years in market down -37.2%

One year ago: New Zealand April 2019: Toyota (+37.9%) on the mend thanks to new RAV4

Full April 2020 Top 45 All-brands and Top 30 models below.