Feebates impact market

The Motor Industry Association (MIA) reports new-vehicle registrations held steady in May, increasing by 0.1 per cent and 17 units on the same month of last year when the total was lower than usual due to the rollout of the clean car discount (CCD).

The total for last month was 13,354. Registrations of 9,566 passenger vehicles and SUVs were down by 9.5 per cent and 1,009 units during May 2022.

However, those of commercial vehicles totalled 3,788 – up by 37.1 per cent and 1,026 units versus the same month of last year. 

Aimee Wiley, chief executive of the MIA, says commercials surged last month and that result will likely be repeated in June on the back of further increases to CCD fees from July 1.  

On a year-to-date basis, commercials remain down 23.5 per cent and by 5,449 units due to the impact of CCD charges on light commercial vehicles.

Wiley, pictured, adds the trend to smaller vehicles continues with 59 per cent of vehicles registered during May being medium or smaller.

There were 1,171 light passenger battery electric vehicles (BEVs), and 46 light commercial and heavy commercial BEVs registered in May.  The top models were the BYD Atto 3 with 223 units, the MG ZS with 204 and Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 on 120.

There were 727 plug-in hybrids registered. Mitsubishi’s Eclipse Cross and Outlander were first and second with 285 and 180 units respectively, with Ford’s Escape third on 61.

Registrations of hybrids came in at 2,534 units for May. The top models were the Toyota RAV4 with 698, Honda’s Jazz on 178 and Hyundai’s Tucson with 175.

Toyota retained the overall market lead for the month of May with 21 per cent market share and 2,765 units. It was followed by Mitsubishi with 11 per cent and 1,459, and Ford with 10 per cent and 1,392.

As for market segments, medium-sized SUVs claimed a market share of 24 per cent in May. Next up were compact SUVs with 20 per cent and the pick-up / chassis 4x4 segment on 16 per cent.