New-car sales plunge 22.5%

New-car registrations in New Zealand came in at 80,849 in 2020, down 22.5 per cent on the previous year’s figures.

The number of sales was 23,421 units fewer than the 104,270 passenger vehicles sold in 2019 as the Covid-19 pandemic had a major impact on activity at showrooms.

Toyota’s RAV4, pictured, was the top-selling car of 2020 with 5,350 units sold for a market share of 6.6 per cent.

It was followed by the Kia Sportage on 2,916 units and 3.6 per cent. The Toyota Corolla, Mazda CX-5 and Suzuki Swift all took a 3.2 per cent chunk of the annual market with sales of 2,570, 2,569 and 2,566 respectively.

Toyota also took out the title as top marque for the year with 12,795 sales and a 15.8 slice of the market.

Next up was Kia with 7,985 units and 9.9 per cent, Mitsubishi on 6,479 and eight per cent, Mazda with 6,289 and 7.8 per cent, and Suzuki with 5,935 and 7.3 per cent.

December statistics

There were 5,572 passenger vehicles sold last month – a decrease of 31.7 per cent and 2,587 units compared to 2019’s volumes.

Toyota topped the ladder with a 17.9 per cent market share thanks to 996 units. It was followed by Mitsubishi on 12.5 per cent and 694 sales, and Mazda with 11.1 per cent and 616 units. 

The RAV4 headed the new-car charts on 387 units. Next up was the Mitsubishi ASX on 327 and the Mazda CX-5 on 326.

Total registrations of all new vehicles in New Zealand during December came in at 8,383 for a drop of 24.9 per cent, or by 2,777 units, compared to the same month of 2019.