New Zealand April 2023: Toyota (+29.7%), Ford (+220.4%) strong in weak market (+4.5%)

The Ford Ranger remains the best-selling model in New Zealand.

The New Zealand new vehicle market edges up 4.5% year-on-year in April to 10,177 sales. However given April 2022 was down -25.6% on the year prior we are still far off April 2021 volumes (13,118). The year-to-date tally is now down -15.2% to 48,135. Passenger Cars implode -48.2% to 1,488, SUVs edge down -1.3% to 5,561 and LCVs soar 258.4% to 2,620 as April 2022 sales were penalised by a new pollution tax. Year-to-date, Passenger Cars are down -22.7% to 7,516, SUVs gain 0.8% to 26,621 and LCVs drop -36.5% to 11,577.

Toyota (+29.7%) races ahead to remains the most popular carmaker in the country with 22.2% share. It distances Ford (+220.4%) rallying back up year-on-year on drab April 2022 volumes. Mitsubishi (-42.4%) hurts at #3 but is up three spots on March whereas Kia (+52.2%) impresses. Only Nissan (+11.6%) beats the market in the remainder of the Top 10, with Mazda (-53.8%), Suzuki (-34%) and Hyundai (-22.3%) hit hard. MG (-1.2%) and Volkswagen (-5.5%) do better but remain in negative. Just outside the Top 10, Haval (+1727.3%) and Tesla (+19600%) roar up.

The Ford Ranger (+223.7%) is once again the top-selling vehicle in New Zealand with a strong 9.1% share vs. 8.1% so far this year. The Toyota Hilux (+534%) follows ahead of the Toyota RAV4 (-24.7%). The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross (-39.9%) is up nine ranks on last month to #4 but sinks year-on-year. As does the Suzuki Swift (-32.2%) rounding out the Top 5. The Mitsubishi Triton (+2460%) and Toyota Hiace (+431.4%) expand on tiny year-ago volumes. The MG ZS (+12.7%) reclaims the Chinese lead at #7 above the BYD Atto 3 at #9.

Previous month: New Zealand March 2023: Suzuki, Kia, Hyundai defy market off -24%

One year ago: New Zealand April 2022: Market dives -25.6% due to LCV crunch, Mitsubishi Outlander best-seller

Full April 2023 Top 67 All brands and Top 25 models below.