New Zealand July 2022: Toyota up 18.8%, Hilux breaks share record in market imploding -26.1%

The Toyota Hilux holds 8.6% of the New Zealand market in July.

It’s another freefall for the New Zealand new vehicle market with sales off -26.1% year-on-year in July to just 11,101 vs. 15,015 a year ago. Year-to-date volumes are now down -6.4% over the same period in 2021 at 93,213 units. Passenger cars drop -13% for the month to 2,086 units but are up 4.9% year-to-date to 16,514. SUVs sink -20.9% to 5,948 in July and -7.4% YTD to 47,718. Interestingly, Passenger cars up and SUVs down goes against the worldwide trend. Meanwhile Light Commercials continue to implode at -45.8% for the month to 2,466 and are now down -12.8% YTD to 24,838.

In the brands ranking, Toyota (+18.8%) catches up on lost sales to display a tremendous year-on-year gain and reach 26% share. This way, it reclaims the year-to-date top spot with 17% of the market. Mitsubishi (-28.1%) falls even faster than the market to 12.7% share, less than half that of Toyota. It drops to #2 YTD with 16.3% share. Ford (-54.6%) is in a dismal position but yet gains 3 spots month-on-month to regain the third spot it also holds YTD. Suzuki (-9%) advances one spot on June to #4 while Kia (+0.1%) is down two to #5 despite showing stable year-on-year sales. MG (-8.4%) also resists at #8 but it’s Peugeot (+113%) that lodges the largest year-on-year gain in the Top 10, up 7 spots on last month to 1.9% share vs. 1.1% so far this year (#20).

Model-wise, the Toyota Hilux soars 18.3% year-on-year to reach 8.6% share, a new record for the nameplate. The Hilux snaps the #1 spot YTD in the process. The Toyota RAV4 (+24.8%) is also in excellent shape and gains three spots on June to reach #2. #1 in June, the Mitsubishi Outlander (+87.7%) drops to #3 but manages the largest year-on-year gain in the Top 10. The Ford Ranger (-59.1%) continues to be handicapped by its generation changeover but rallies back up 8 ranks on last month to #4. The Toyota Highlander (+37.9%) shines and is up 6 spots on June to #5. The Kia Sportage (+17.9%) and Toyota Corolla (+7.9%) are also up in the remainder of the Top 10. The Hyundai Ioniq (#13), MG HS (#16) and Toyota Yaris (#18) point their bonnet inside the Top 20.

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

One year ago: New Zealand July 2021: Ford Ranger hits record share, MG ZS breaks into Top 10, sales up 22.9%

Full July 2022 Top 70 all brands and Top 20 models below.