Used market continues rise

The number of used-imported cars registered in New Zealand totalled 8,156 last month, an increase of 9.3 per cent from 7,465 units in August 2025.

The latest tally means the sector’s sales have increased for four months in a row, with August’s result up one per cent from 8,079 units in July.

It is also the second-best month for the sector of the past two years, with only the 8,224 units registered in March eclipsing last month’s total.

Year-to-date, there have been 60,507 registrations, which is 5.4 per cent higher than 57,407 units at the same stage a year ago.

Toyota’s Aqua was the best-selling model in August with 877 registrations – up by 7.3 per cent from 817 units in the same month last year – and a market share of 10.8 per cent.

The Toyota Prius was next on 494 units and 6.1 per cent of the market, Nissan’s Note placed third with 410 and five per cent, and Toyota’s Corolla came fourth with 361 and 4.4 per cent.

Subaru’s Impreza completed the top five, which was unchanged from July, after completing 255 registrations for a 3.1 per cent share of the August market.

Further down the ladder, the Nissan Leaf, pictured, and Toyota Yaris were some of the biggest climbers. The Leaf sold 212 units for a 76.7 per cent jump from 120 a year ago, while Yaris registrations rose 118.8 per cent from 85 to 186.

The Aqua leads the year-to-date standings on 5,740 units and a market share of 9.5 per cent, followed by the Prius with 3,692 and 6.1 per cent.

Toyota was the leading marque in August with 3,127 registrations for 38.3 per cent of the market. Its monthly total was up by 10.6 per cent from 2,827 in the same month of 2025. 

Nissan was the second most popular brand last month with 1,248 units for a market share of 15.3 per cent, and Mazda was third on 998 and 12.2 per cent. 

Year to date, Toyota leads the way with 21,584 registrations and a 35.7 per cent market share. 

Nissan is next on 9,576 and 15.8 per cent, and Mazda has 7,594 and 12.6 per cent.