New Zealand’s new car market is slowly improving. In February 2025, 9,809 new cars were registered. This is 1.5 per cent more than in February last year according to the Motor Industry Association (MIA).
SUVs and Hybrids Take Charge
MIA Chief Executive Aimee Wiley said that while sales are improving, changes in buying habits are affecting different types of vehicles.
“While total industry registrations have increased slightly, the most notable trend is the widening gap between passenger vehicle growth and commercial vehicle decline,” Wiley said.
SUVs and hybrid cars were popular in February. Hybrid models made up 33.4 per cent of new car sales. This is a little lower than the 2024 average of 35.9 per cent. Electric vehicles (EVs) are still not selling as much as expected. Only 7.0 per cent of new cars were EVs, compared to 7.3 per cent last year.
“The challenge for the industry is aligning supply with regulatory requirements and actual consumer demand, ensuring that a range of vehicles remain accessible, practical, and suited to the evolving needs of Kiwi buyers,” Wiley added.
Commercial Vehicle Sales Decline
Meanwhile, sales of light and heavy commercial vehicles dropped. Businesses are being careful with their spending, which affects fleet purchases.
“Tighter business spending and a cautious approach to capital investment translate into delayed fleet renewals and lower commercial vehicle uptake,” Wiley explained.
Toyota Still Leads the Market
Even with these changes, Toyota was still the top-selling brand, with 2,303 new cars sold (23 per cent of the market). Mitsubishi was second with 1,046 sales (11 per cent), and Ford was third with 892 sales (9 per cent).
The Toyota RAV4 was the best-selling car in February, with 719 sold. It was followed by the Mitsubishi Outlander (426 sold) and the Kia Seltos (285 sold). For commercial vehicles, the Toyota HiLux was number one with 601 sales, followed by the Ford Ranger (526 sales) and the Mitsubishi Triton (265 sales).
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