New vehicle sales ‘softer’

The recent slump in the new vehicle market continued last month with its 9,238 registrations representing a drop of 9.23 per cent from 10,177 in April 2023, according to new figures from the Motor Industry Association (MIA).

The April tally was also 5.1 per cent lower than the 9,734 units sold in the same month of 2022.

Mark Stockdale, pictured, principal technical adviser, says: “New motor vehicle sales declined further in April, but in line with the usual trend of a softer month for what is the start of the financial year for many.”

On a year-to-date basis, the MIA reports total registrations this year are 10.4 per cent and 5,030 units lower than at the same stage of 2023. They are also 23.9 per cent and 13,552 units below 2022’s figure for the same period, and down 27.4 per cent and 11,846 units from 2021.

As for motive power in April, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) claimed a three per market share with 276 registrations.

Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) notched up two per cent with 183 units, 2,380 hybrids were sold for 25.8 per cent, and 6,399 vehicles with internal combustion engines secured 69.3 per cent of the market.

April’s top five BEVs were the Tesla Model Y on 48 units, its Model 3 with 19 sales, the BYD Seal with 16, and Volkswagen’s ID.4 and Volvo’s EX30 both on 15.

The top five PHEVs were Mitsubishi’s Outlander on 38 units, its Eclipse Cross with 17, the Volkswagen Touareg and Mini Countryman with 11 each, and the Lexus NZ on 10.

As for mild hybrids in April, the top sellers were all Toyotas – the RAV4 with 1,012 units, Yaris Cross on 152, Corolla Cross on 126, Yaris with 107 and Corolla on 105.

Last month’s top three segments were medium SUVs on 26.5 per cent, pick up/chassis cab with 22.6 per cent, and compact SUVs clocking 19.6 per cent.