New Zealand August 2022: Sales up 116% on weak year-ago score, Tesla Model Y #5 and BYD Atto 3 up to #6

The Atto 3 propels BYD inside the NZ Top 10. Picture tarmaclife.co.nz

New vehicle sales in New Zealand rally back up 116% year-on-year to 14,690 units on a Covid-impacted year-ago volume. The year-to-date volume tilts into positive as a result at +1.4% and 107,876 sales. For August, passenger cars are up 93.9% to 2,788 units, SUVs up 157.6% to 8,147 and light commercials up 67.9% to 3,078. Year-to-date, passenger cars gain 12.3% to 19,297, SUVs edge up 2.1% to 55,851 and light commercials skid -7.9% to 27,909.

In the brands ranking, Toyota (+68.2%) is the most popular with 18.2% share vs. 17.1% so far this year, distancing Mitsubishi (+149.9%) like last month and YTD. Kia (+820.5%) is up two spots on last month to #3 while Tesla (+591.6%) reappears in the ranking directly in 4th place, equalling its highest ever position also reached in September 2021. Tesla breaks its volume and share records this month. Below, only Hyundai (+124.5%) beats the market in the remainder of the Top 10 but the big event is the thundering arrival inside the Top 10 of Chinese fare BYD for only its second month in market. It ranks #9 with 3% share.

Over in the models aisle, the Ford Ranger (+39.2%) is up three ranks on July to reclaim the pole position it held over the Full Year 2021 and scores a 6.4% share vs. 5.9% year-to-date now that the new generation has arrived in dealerships. The Toyota Hilux (+201%) is knocked down to 2nd place but remains #1 year-to-date for now, its gap with the Ranger having reduced to 226 sales. The Tesla Model 3 (+294.2%) scores its best ranking since September 2021 (#2) ahead of the Mitsubishi Outlander (+339.6%). Below we have two new entrants: the Tesla Model Y lands at #5 and the BYD Atto 3 at #6. These are phenomenal starts for the two nameplates in New Zealand.

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

One year ago: New Zealand August 2021: Tesla Model 3, MG ZS and Haval H6 shine in market sinking -35.6%

Full August 2022 Top 65 all brands and Top 20 models below.