New car sales climb 14.9%

There were 8,736 new passenger vehicles registered in July, which was up by 14.9 per cent from 7,605 units in the same month of last year.

Toyota’s RAV4 was the leading model last month after selling 699 units and accounting for eight per cent of the market. Its total was up by 16.7 per cent from 599 registrations in July 2025.

The Tesla Model Y and Toyota Corolla Cross were next on 403 and 302 sales, or market shares of 4.6 per cent and 3.5 per cent, respectively.

The Model Y’s total was up by 291.3 per cent from 103 units a year ago, while registrations of the Corolla Cross increased by 158.1 per cent from 117.

Kia’s Sportage, pictured, was the fourth best-seller in July with 271 units, up from 67, and the GWM Haval H6 completed the top five after its sales rose from 150 to 252. 

While July’s overall tally for new-vehicle registrations was up year-on-year, it was down 12.1 per cent from 9,940 in June this year.

There have been 60,116 sales year-to-date, which is up by 15.3 per cent from 52,130 at the same stage a year ago.

The RAV4 is the best-selling model so far in 2026 with 3,917 sales and a 6.5 per cent market share. The Model Y is second on 2,311 and 3.8 per cent.

Toyota topped the marques’ ladder in July with 1,681 registrations – up 24.5 per cent from 1,350 in the same month last year– and 19.2 per cent of the market. 

Kia was second with 707 sales and 8.1 per cent and BYD came third on 622 and 7.1 per cent. 

Toyota is the leading marque year-to-date with 10,420 registrations and a 17.3 per cent slice of the market.

Next is Kia with 5,244 registrations and 8.7 per cent, and Mitsubishi on 4,691 and 7.8 per cent.