New Zealand January 2022: Mitsubishi best-selling brand, breaks all records in market dipping -3.3%

The Mitsubishi Outlander is the best-selling vehicle in New Zealand in January.

New vehicle sales in New Zealand edge down -3.3% year-on-year in January to 13,514 units. Mitsubishi (+96%) shows explosive growth to snap the brands pole position for the first time, breaking records for volume (2,814) and share (20.8%) and apparently not affected at all by stock issues linked with the microchip shortage. Ford (-12.3%) steps up to 2nd place overall despite losing more ground than the market, thanks to a devastating month by Toyota (-50.8%) losing more than half its January 2021 volume to fall to just 8.6% share vs. 17.7% over the Full Year 2021. Kia (-19.7%) rallies back up six spots on December to return to the 4th place it held over the FY2021, despite falling hard. Hyundai (+13.7%) and Nissan (+8.7%) follow with solid lifts, with MG (+83.7%) posting the largest gain in the Top 10 and Honda (+37.6%) also in outstanding shape. Below, notice other Chinese carmakers Haval (+130.1%) and LDV (+72.2%) continuing to step up, while Cupra (+825%), Mini (+62.5%) and Ram (+46.2%) also impress.

Model-wise, Mitsubishi justifies its domination in the brands ranking by scoring a 1-2: the Outlander (+205.4%) is the best-selling vehicle in the country outright followed by the Triton (+170%). Note 11% of Outlanders went to rental companies and 8% of Tritons. The Ford Ranger (+0.5%) is the best of the rest at 7.1% share vs. 7.6% over the Full Year 2021, it distances the Toyota Hilux (-32.4%) and Nissan Navara (+36.7%). The Hyundai Kona (+106.8%) shoots up six spots over December to #6 overall with the MG ZS also up six ranks to a record 7th place. Further down, notice the Honda Jazz at #12, the Suzuki Jimny at #17, the Haval H6 at #20 and the Haval Jolion at #21.

Previous post: New Zealand Full Year 2021: Mitsubishi (+95.3%) places Outlander at #3, Ford Ranger leads for 7th year in record market

One year ago: New Zealand January 2021: Mitsubishi, Kia help drive positive market (+6.4%)

Full January 2022 Top 70 All-brands and Top 20 models below.