New Zealand Full Year 2023: Ford Ranger and Toyota RAV4 on top, MG and BYD up

The MG 4 was #1 overall in December.

Discover 50 years of New Zealand Historical Info here.

The New Zealand new vehicle market skids -9.6% year-on-year in 2023 to 149,005 units. This year, sales have been disrupted by Clean Car policy changes with customers rushing to register vehicles to avoid new fees in June. The months following all the way to the end of the year were depleted. Sales of SUVs drop -3.9% to 84,224 and 56.5% share vs. 53.2% a year ago, light commercials sink -25.4% to 30,529 and 20.5% share vs. 24.8% in 2022 and passenger cars fall -7.8% to 26,097 and 17.5% share vs. 17.2%. Sales to rental companies lift 15.5% to 19,205 and 12.9% share vs. 10.1% last year.

Market leaders Toyota (+12.5%) and Ford (+15.8%) defy the negative market and improve their share from 17.5% to 21.7% and 8.5% to 10.9% respectively. In contrast Mitsubishi (-44.7%) freefalls from 14.5% of the 2022 volume down to just 8.9% share this year. Kia (-10%) and Hyundai (-7.5%) roughly evolve like the market, with the latter up one spot to #5, overtaking Suzuki (-18.3%). The Chinese continue to widen their footprint, with MG (+19%) up two ranks to #7 and 4.2% share and peaking at #3 and 8.2% share in December, and BYD (+121.1%) up seven spots to #12 and 2.5% share but up to #5 and 6.7% share in December. Volkswagen (+1.7%), BMW (+6.3%) and Lexus (+28.2%) also impress with positive results. 

In the models charts, the Ford Ranger (-14.4%) secures a 9th consecutive annual win but falls faster than the market to 6.6% share vs. 7% last year. Rental sales account for 10% of its volume. The Toyota RAV4 (+49.4%) benefits fully from supply improvements and gains three spots to #2. 32% of RAV4 registered in 2023 went to rental car companies. It knocks down the Toyota Hilux (-17.7%) and Mitsubishi Outlander (-55.4%) to #3 and #4 respectively. The Tesla Model Y (-6.9%) is up one rank to #6, as are the Suzuki Swift (-0.3%) and Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross (-0.5%). The BYD Atto 3 makes its entrance in the Top 20 directly at #8 for its first full year of sales. It ranked #4 in December. The MG ZS (-7.5%) and Mitsubishi Triton (-49.4%) round out the Top 10. Notice also the MG 4 landing at #20 but #1 overall in December.

We also have a Top 15 rental models available, showing the Toyota RAV4 (+114.2%) in the lead above the Ford Ranger and Mitsubishi Outlander (-59%). The Toyota Yaris Cross (+47.1%) ranks #4, with the Hyundai i30 at #8 and the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross (+48%) at #9.

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

Two years ago: New Zealand 2021: Mitsubishi (+95.3%) places Outlander at #3, Ranger leads for 7th year in record market

Full December 2023 Top 55 All brands and Top 20 models below.

Full Year 2023 Top 85 All brands, Top 25 models and Top 15 rentals vs. Full Year 2022 data below.