Car imports on the up

There were 5,670 used passenger vehicles imported last month, an increase of 9.1 per cent from August when 5,196 units crossed our borders.

September’s total ended a four-month run of shrinking import levels and it was also up by 12.4 per cent from 5,045 units in the same month last year.

The year-to-date total for 2025 is now 59,693. This is 14.5 per cent lower than the 69,800 achieved at the same time last year, according to figures from Customs NZ. 

Last month, 5,465 units were imported from Japan for a 96.4 per cent share of the market. Australia was next with 107 units, followed by the UK on 66, Singapore with 11 and the US on 10. 

As for used light commercials, 261 crossed the border in September to bring the year-to-date total to 1,618. 

Last month’s figure was down by 5.1 per cent from the 275 units imported in August but up 8.8 per cent from 240 in September 2024.

Bumper rise for new commercials

As for new passenger vehicles, there were 10,195 units brought into New Zealand last month. 

This was up 51.3 per cent from 6,739 units in September last year and 29.2 per cent higher than August’s tally of 7,892.

September’s total means 67,905 vehicles have come in so far in 2025, which is 3.1 per cent higher than the 65,887 units for the same period a year ago.

Japan was the main country of export with 4,731 units, followed by South Korea with 1,430, Thailand on 1,407, China with 1,383 and Belgium on 338.

For new light commercials, there were 2,416 units imported in September, which was 167.8 per cent higher than the 902 achieved a year ago.

It was also up 4.1 per cent from 2,321 units in August this year and took the year-to-date total to 19,777 units.

Overall, 18,808 vehicles, including trucks and buses, crossed our border in September. This was up from 15,925 in the previous month.