Used registrations yo-yo

The number of used-imported cars registered in New Zealand dropped by 53 per cent last month to 7,828, when compared with the 16,659 units in June 2023.

The fall is partly because of a sales surge in June last year ahead of changes to the clean car discount, which meant fewer vehicles were eligible for rebates after July 1. The feebates scheme was axed at the end of December.

Last month’s total was up by 5.8 per cent from 7,399 registrations in June 2022.

The latest figures take the year-to-date total to 52,102, which is 11.2 per cent lower than the 58,692 units at the same stage a year ago.

The Toyota Aqua, pictured, was the most popular model last month with 673 registrations – down 61.3 per cent increase from 1,740 units in June last year – and a market share of 8.6 per cent.

Toyota’s Prius was second with 584 units and 7.5 per cent of the market, and its Corolla was fourth on 269 and 3.4 per cent.

Sandwiched between those models was the Mazda Axela in third on 293 registrations and a 3.7 per cent market share, while Toyota’s C-HR was fifth with 268 units and 3.4 per cent.

The Aqua is the clear leader in the year-to-date standings on 5,196 units and a market share of 10 per cent, followed by the Prius on 4,275 and 8.2 per cent.

Completing the top five for the first half of the year are the Axela on 2,217 registrations, the Nissan Note with 1,996 and the Corolla on 1,943.

Toyota was the top marque in June with 2,806 registrations for 35.8 per cent of the market. This was down 51.9 per cent from 5,832 in the same month of 2023. 

Nissan was the second most popular marque last month with 1,115 units, a market share of 14.2 per cent, and Mazda was third on 1,043 registrations, or 13.3 per cent. 

Year to date, Toyota leads the marques’ ladder with 19,667 registrations and a 37.7 per cent market share. Mazda is next on 7,152 and Nissan third on 7,140, giving both brands a 13.7 per cent slice of trade.