New sector slumps

New-car registrations came in at 4,347 during July following the government’s feebates scheme changing at the start of the month. That was down by 45.8 per cent from 8,027 in the same month of last year.

The Toyota RAV4 topped the models’ ladder with 319 units, which was down 53.6 per cent from 687 in July last year, for a market share of 7.3 per cent. 

Ford’s Everest, pictured, came second with 265, up from just 27 units a year ago, followed by the Kia Niro on 184, which climbed 102.2 per cent from 91 over the same timeframe. 

The top five was rounded off by the Mitsubishi Outlander with 176 registrations and Tesla’s Model Y on 169. 

The RAV4 is top of the year-to-date ladder and has sold 4,344 units for a 6.7 slice of the market. Suzuki’s Swift is next with 2,708 and 4.1 per cent, followed by the MG ZS on 2,334 and 3.6 per cent.

Toyota was the marque with the most registrations in July after notching 681 and 15.7 per cent of the market. However, last month’s sales were down 61.4 per cent from 1,766 a year ago.

It was followed by Kia on 501 and 11.5 per cent, and Mitsubishi on 427 and 9.8 per cent, although both the performance of those marques was also well down on July 2022.

In contrast, Ford was fourth on the ladder with its 343 registrations a climb of 115.7 per cent from 159. Hyundai completed the top five with 270 units.

Toyota still leads the way year-to-date on 10,870 units and a 16.6 per cent market share, followed by Kia on 6,935 and 10.6 per cent.

Mitsubishi with 6,078, Hyundai on 4,974 and Suzuki with 4,698 complete the top five for the first seven months of 2023.