Used imports soar 73.4%

There were 8,517 used passenger vehicles imported last month, a jump of 73.4 per cent from April when 4,912 units crossed our borders.

May’s total was also up by 40.3 per cent from 6,070 units in the same month a year ago.

The year-to-date total for 2025 is now 34,437 – 20.9 per cent less than the 43,548 achieved at the same time last year, according to figures from Customs NZ. 

Last month, 8,330 units were imported from Japan for a 97.8 per cent share of the market. Australia was next with 152 units, followed by the US on 14 and Singapore with 11. 

As for used light commercials, 204 crossed the border in May to bring the year-to-date total to 793. That total is down by 54.6 per cent from 1,747 at the same time last year.

Last month’s figure – the highest of the year – was up by 142.9 per cent from the 84 units imported in April and a fall of 9.3 per cent from 225 in May 2024.

New cars from Japan tumble

As for new passenger vehicles, there were 5,760 units brought into New Zealand last month. 

May’s tally means 30,529 vehicles have come in so far in 2025, which is down 11.8 per cent from the 34,624 units for the same period a year ago.

Last month’s figure was down by 9.6 per cent from April this year when the monthly total was 6,369 new cars. 

It was also 26.1 per cent lower than the 7,800 units imported in May 2024.

Japan was the main country of export with 1,514 units, although that number represented a drop of 51.9 per cent from 3,150 in April.

The next biggest sources of new cars in May was China with 961, South Korea on 960, Thailand with 799 and Australia on 570.

For new light commercials, there were 1,199 units imported in May. This was down 67.3 per cent from 3,665 in April this year, and the lowest monthly tally so far in 2025.

The May total was also 35.6 per cent below the 1,862 units in the same month last year.

It took the year-to-date figure to 10,432 units, which is 14.8 per cent more than the 9,085 recorded over the same period a year ago.

Overall, 16,021 vehicles, including trucks and buses, crossed our border in May. This was up from 15,440 in the previous month.