Record February for sales

The Motor Industry Association (MIA) reports that last month’s registration figures for new vehicles were the strongest ever for a February.

Overall sales came in at 12,488 for a 9.2 per cent jump on February 2020. Year to date, the market is up by 7.6 per cent – or by 1,865 units – compared to the first two months of last year.

David Crawford, chief executive of the MIA, says: “The February market has benefitted from recent stock arrivals and a resilient local economy where New Zealanders continue to spend what might otherwise be spent on international travel on new vehicles.”

Compact SUVs came in as the top segment with a market share of 22 per cent. Medium SUVs were second with 21 per cent and the pick-up/chassis 4x4 segment accounted for 14 per cent of the market.

There were 191 pure electric vehicles, 81 plug-in EVs and 757 hybrid vehicles sold last month. 

Toyota was February’s best-selling marque with a market share of 16 per cent thanks to 2,050 sales. Next up was Mitsubishi on 13 per cent and 1,620 units. Kia and Ford shared third spot with both notching eight per cent and 1,059 sales.