Used-car imports tumble

The number of used-imported cars registered in New Zealand dropped by 34 per cent last month to 7,417, when compared with the 11,243 units in June 2021.

The Toyota Aqua, pictured, was the most popular model last month with 1,213 registrations – a 59.2 per cent increase from 762 units in June of last year – and a market share of 16.4 per cent.

Toyota’s Prius was second with 559 units and 7.5 per cent of the market, and its Corolla was fifth on 292 and 3.9 per cent.

Sandwiched in between those models was the Mazda Axela in third on 399 registrations and a 5.4 per cent market share and Nissan’s Leaf with 350 and 4.7 per cent.

The Axela was the only model in the top five to suffer a year-on-year drop in registrations, falling 25.7 per cent from June 2021. In contrast, demand for the Leaf has shot up and its registrations last month were 430.3 per cent higher than the 66 recorded a year ago.

The Aqua remains the leading model year-to-date standings on 6,230 units and a market share of 9.4 per cent, followed by the Prius on 2,676 and 4.1 per cent.

Completing the top five for the first half of the year is the Axela on 2,494 registrations, the Leaf with 2,108 and Nissan’s X-Trail on 1,946.

Toyota was the top marque in June with 2,854 registrations for 38.5 per cent of the market. This was down 10.6 per cent from 3,191 in the same month of 2021. 

Mazda was the second most popular marque last month with 1,051 units, a market share of 14.2 per cent, and Nissan was third on 1,008 registrations or 13.6 per cent. 

Year to date, Toyota leads the marques’ ladder with 19,486 registrations and a 29.5 per cent market share. Nissan is next on 9,683 and 14.7 per cent, with Mazda third on 8,023 and 12.2 per cent.