New passenger car sales climb

There were 6,815 new passenger vehicles registered in May, which was up by 7.3 per cent from 6,350 units in the same month of last year.

Toyota’s RAV4 extended its stay at the top of the model chart last month after selling 666 units and clinching 9.8 per cent of the market. However, its sales total was down 12.5 per cent from 761 registrations in April 2024.

Next on the ladder was Mitsubishi’s ASX with 457 registrations and a 6.7 per cent market share, and the Ford Everest, pictured, on 277 and 4.1 per cent. Those models recorded year-on-year sales increases of 40.2 and 79.9 per cent respectively.

Kia’s Seltos retained fourth place with 274 sales and a four per cent share of the market. The Mitsubishi Outlander completed the top five on 167 and 2.5 per cent.

Other notable climbers last month included the GWM Haval H6, which was ninth overall after sales rose 66.7 per cent from 84 to 140, and the Toyota Landcruiser Prado, which was 13th after a 109.1 per cent jump from 55 units to 115. 

In year-to-date terms, there have been 36,359 sales so far in 2025, which is down by nine per cent from 39,947 at the same stage a year ago.

The RAV4 is the leading model year-to-date after selling 3,805 units for a 10.5 per cent market share.

The ASX is second with 1,717 units, followed by the Seltos on 1,434, the Outlander with 1,1413 and the Suzuki Swift on 914.

Toyota led the marques’ ladder in May with 1,313 registrations – down 5.1 per cent from 1,383 in the same month a year ago – and 19.3 per cent of the market. 

Mitsubishi was second with 749 sales and 11 per cent and Kia came third on 612 and nine per cent. Ford and MG were next on the ladder with 393 and 341 units respectively.

Toyota is the leading marque year-to-date with 7,557 units and a 20.8 per cent slice of the market.

Next is Mitsubishi with 3,708 registrations and 10.2 per cent, and Kia on 3,542 and 9.7 per cent.