New Zealand January 2023: Toyota Hilux back to #1, Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross #3, market down -7.5%

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross ranks #3 in New Zealand in January, thanks mainly to rentals.

New Zealand new vehicle sales fall -7.5% year-on-year in January to 12,481 units. Passenger cars are up 7.3% to 2,080 registrations, SUVs gain 3.1% to 7,186 but Light Commercials sink -33.4% to 2,713 units and are solely responsible for the overall market loss. Toyota (+116.9%) compensates for a particularly drab January 2022 score and climbs to 20.3% share vs. 17.5% over the Full Year 2022. Kia (+38.5%) also surges ahead and is back up 14 spots on December to a record 2nd place with 12% share vs. 6.8% over FY2022. Mitsubishi (-53.9%) implodes on record year-ago volumes with Ford (-0.4%) and Hyundai (-16.8%) rounding out the Top 5. All remaining Top 10 brands endure double-digit falls. Newcomer BYD ranks #13 while Tesla goes from one sale in January 2022 to 191 and #15 this month.

Over in the models ranking, the Toyota Hilux (+57.8%) signs its first monthly win since last April, edging past the FY2022 leader, the Ford Ranger (-16.5%) for just four sales. The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is up 10 ranks on last month to #3, equalling its ranking record also hit last April. 41% of its sales go to rental companies this month. The Toyota RAV4 rallies back up 8 spots to #4 with the Kia Stonic (+106.7%) closing the Top 5 with 58% of its volume being rental sales. The Kia Niro shoots up to #6 (55% rentals) ahead of the Suzuki Swift (+28.3%) and MG ZS (+3%) both going against the market but dropping down the ladder compared to December. The BYD Atto 3 confirms its success at #11, while the Toyota Yaris Cross is up 7 ranks on December to #12, the Toyota Corolla Cross makes its first appearance in the New Zealand Top 20 at #15.

Previous post: New Zealand 2022: Ford Ranger scores 8th straight win, Tesla Model Y wins one month

One year ago: New Zealand January 2022: Mitsubishi best-selling brand, break all records in market dipping -3.3%

Full January 2023 Top 67 all brands and Top 25 models below.