Used imports continue climb

There were 7,739 used passenger vehicles imported last month, an increase of 14.7 cent from February when 6,745 units crossed our borders.

March’s figure was the third rise in a row for the figures but it was still down by 25.2 per cent from 10,353 units in the same month a year ago.

The year-to-date total for 2025 is now 21,163 – down 18.4 per cent compared with 25,927 at the same time last year, according to the latest figures from Customs NZ. 

Last month, 7,593 units were imported from Japan for a 98.1 per cent share of the market. Australia was next with 100 units, followed by the UK on 23 and the US with 13. 

As for used light commercials, 157 crossed the border in March to bring the year-to-date total to 514. That total is down by 51.5 per cent from 1,059 at the same time last year.

Last month’s figure alone was 16.9 per cent lower than the 189 units imported in February this year and a fall of 60.1 per cent from 393 in March 2024.

New-vehicle market

As for new passenger vehicles, there were 6,962 units brought into New Zealand last month. 

March’s tally means 18,761 vehicles have come in so far in 2025, which is down 9.1 per cent from the 20,644 units for the same period a year ago.

Last month’s figure was up by 17.3 per cent from February this year when the monthly total was 5,937 new cars. 

However, it was 21.6 per cent lower than the 8,882 units imported in March 2024.

Japan was the main country of export with 3,229 units followed by South Korea with 1,111. Next up was China on 807, Germany with 539, and Belgium and Thailand were tied on 291.

For new light commercials, there were 1,496 units imported in March, down 29.1 per cent from 2,111 in February this year.

The latest monthly total was also down by 16.1 per cent from 1,784 in March 2024.

It took the year-to-date figure to 5,824 units, which is 11.2 per cent more than the 5,238 recorded over the same period a year ago.

Overall, 16,656 vehicles, including trucks and buses, crossed our border in March. This was up from 15,394 in the previous month.