Sales up as stock stays low

Some 16 per cent of registrations of new vehicles during October had some form of electrification in their drivetrains

Posted on 03 November, 2021

Overall sales of new vehicles of 13,870 last month were up by 16.8 per cent, or by 1,994 units, compared to October 2020.

Year to date, there have been 136,886 registrations, an increase of 37,536 units and by 37.8 per cent compared to the first 10 months of last year.

David Crawford, chief executive of the Motor Industry Association, says: “October is traditionally a strong month for new-vehicle sales in New Zealand. While sales for the month were ahead of 2020, they were well-behind October returns in each of the years from 2016 to 2019 inclusive.

“Stock levels remain low with shipments of new vehicles going through customs, entry compliance and straight onto customers. There remain long wait-lists for popular models.

“International and domestic logistic constraints due to Covid-19 and microchip shortages continue to adversely affect the sector.”

There were 489 battery electric vehicles (BEVs), 213 plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and 1,541 hybrids registered last month, which amounted to “16 per cent of the fleet with some form of electrification in their drivetrain”.

The top-selling BEVs were the Hyundai Kona, pictured, on 136 units. It was followed by the MG ZS with 97 and Tesla’s Model 3 on 95 units.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross topped the PHEV ladder with 58 registrations. Second spot was claimed by the MG HS with the Mitsubishi Outlander third on 17.

Toyota claimed all three top spots when it come to traditional hybrids with the RAV4 on 738 units, the Corolla on 197 and Highlander with 140.

Small to medium-size segments comprise 56 per cent of sales so far in 2021 with October’s top segment being medium SUVs with a 22 per cent market share. Next up were pick-up/chassis cab 4x4s on 17 per cent and compact SUVs with 16 per cent.

Toyota was the overall market leader with a market share of 23 per cent and 3,123 units. Ford was second with 15 per cent and 2,088 units, with Mitsubishi in third spot with eight per cent and 1,094 units. The top three models were the Ranger, RAV4 and Corolla.