New Zealand June 2022: Mitsubishi Outlander now #1 YTD in market freefalling -20.2%

The Mitsubishi Outlander is now the #1 vehicle in New Zealand year-to-date.

The New Zealand new vehicle market is down a harsh -20.2% year-on-year in June to just 12,049 sales, meaning the First Half tally dips into negative at -2.9% to 82,141. For once Passenger Cars do better than the market at -15.8% to 2,083 with SUVs off -3.9% to 7,471. Light Commercials including pickup trucks are the reason why the market is down so much with a -55.5% year-on-year freefall to 1,893 units continuing to suffer from a large pre-registered volume last March to avoid new pollution penalties starting in April. Year-to-date, Passenger Cars are up 8.1% to 14,431, SUVs are down -5.1% to 41,789 and Light Commercials are off -6.5% to 22,378.

In the brands ranking, Toyota (+2.6%) braves the negative market to hold onto the top spot with 18.3% share vs. 15.7% so far this year. Mitsubishi (-5.5%) is #2 for the month but retains the YTD lead with 16.8% of the market. Kia (+38.2%) and Hyundai (+20.4%) both post market-defying double-digit gains to land at #3 and #4 respectively and Suzuki (-12.9%) rounds out the Top 5. Ford (-61.4%) is in big trouble and stays at #6 vs. #3 over H1. Repeating at a record #7, MG (+68.4%) scores the largest year-on-year gain in the Top 10 (and Top 35!). All other Top 10 carmakers fall by the double-digits, with Volkswagen (-53%) and Mazda (-52.4%) the hardest hit.

Over in the models aisle, the Mitsubishi Outlander (+121.3%) is back in the top spot, a ranking it now also holds year-to-date whereas it was #4 last month. The Toyota Hilux (+22%) is down one spot on May to #2 but continues to take advantage of the generation changeover for the Ford Ranger (-75.3%) down to an unusual #12 for the month. The Kia Sportage (+214.8%) is up 3-fold year-on-year and six ranks on May to #3 thanks to the new generation. The Mitsubishi ASX (-41.2%) and Toyota RAV4 (-27.7%) both skid down to round out the Top 5. The Hyundai Kona (+33.9%), Toyota Corolla (+19.7%) and Suzuki Swift (+13.5%) shine in the remainder of the Top 10 while the Kia Sorento lodges its first ever Top 10 finish in New Zealand at #9.

Previous month: New Zealand May 2022: Kia, MG stand out in market off -8.1%

One year ago: New Zealand June 2021: Mitsubishi teases Toyota for #1 brand in market up 31.6%

Full June 2022 Top 60 All-brands and Top 20 models below.