Used imports ahead of last year

There were 5,762 used passenger vehicles imported last month, an increase of 6.3 per cent from 5,422 units a year ago.

However, the latest tally was down by 21.7 per cent from September this year when 7,357 units crossed our borders, according to figures from Customs NZ. 

The year-to-date total for 2026 is now 76,481 – a rise of 17.7 per cent from 64,982 at the same time last year.

Some 5,544 units were imported from Japan in October for a 96.2 per cent share of the market. Australia was next with 138 units, followed by the UK on 26 and Singapore with 25.

As for used light commercials, 251 crossed the border last month. This was down 22.8 per cent from 325 units in the same month last year and a 31 per cent dip when compared with September’s total of 364.

The year-to-date total for this sector now stands at 2,947 units, which is 31.6 per cent higher than the 2,187 recorded a year ago.

Japan main source

As for new passenger vehicles, some 10,083 units were brought into New Zealand last month. 

This was up 35.7 per cent from 7,430 units in September and a 7.8 per cent increase from 9,351 in October last year.

Last month’s result means 84,291 vehicles have crossed the border so far in 2026, which is up 9.9 per cent from 76,703 units for the same period a year ago.

Japan was the main country of export with 5,142 units, followed by South Korea with 1,501, China on 1,426, Thailand with 595 and Germany on 285.

For new light commercials, 3,208 units were imported in October, a 33.5 per cent jump from 2,403 in the same month of 2025. 

The latest figure was also up by 93.5 per cent when compared with the 1,658 units in September.

The year-to-date total is now 23,538,169, which is down 4.3 per cent from 24,602 in the corresponding period last year.

Overall, 19,487 vehicles, including trucks and buses, entered the country in October. This was up from 16,875 in the previous month.