Dealer numbers end slump

The number of dealers in New Zealand increased by eight last month and stood at 2,860 at the end of July, according to figures from the Motor Vehicle Traders Register (MVTR).
It breaks a run of four months of consecutive falls for the register but it is still the second-lowest monthly total this year.
July’s figure was also down by 20 from the 2,880 dealers on the register at the end of the same month in 2023.
Since reaching a peak of 3,536 in November 2017, the number of dealers has largely been in decline.
The MVTR holds essential information about registered traders and their businesses. It is operated by Occupational Regulation, which is part of the market integrity branch of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.