Used imports on the up

There were 8,823 used-imported cars registered last month, which was up by 13.9 per cent compared to 7,749 in the same month of 2023. 

So far in 2023, 17,729 units have been sold. That’s a jump of 19.2 per cent compared to 14,869 in the same period of last year.

Toyota took out the top two spots in February with its Aqua on 961 units and a 10.9 per cent market share, and the Prius, pictured, with 779 and 8.8 per cent.

However, the fortunes of those two models were mixed year-on-year with sales of the Aqua sliding 19.2 per cent from 1,190 in February 2023, while the Prius was up 11.8 per cent over the same timeframe.

Mazda’s Axela came third on the models’ chart with 390 and 4.4 per cent of the market, followed by the Nissan Note on 340 units and Toyota’s Corolla on 318.

Year to date, the Aqua is out front with 1,831 registrations and 10.3 per cent of the market. The Prius is next on 1,430 and 8.1 per cent, followed by the Axela on 833 and 4.7 per cent.

Toyota topped the marques’ ladder with 3,433 units – up by 14.4 per cent from 3,002 in the same month a year ago – to claim 38.9 per cent of February’s activity. Its year-to-date total is now 6,745 units for a market share of 38 per cent.

Last month, Mazda was second with 1,223 registrations and 13.9 per cent of the market and Nissan came third on 1,219 and 13.8 per cent. Completing the top five was Honda with 723 and Subaru on 654.

The marques are in the same order for the total number of registrations so far this year with Mazda second on 2,552 units and a 14.4 per cent slice of the market, followed by Nissan with 2,493, Honda with 1,381 and Subaru on 1,307.