August Vehicle Sales Strong, Chinese Brands Continue Surge

MTA Sector Manager – Dealers and Specialist Services Larry Fallowfield said the numbers come on the back of a strong July for vehicle sales.

“Chinese vehicles continue to capture the hearts and wallets of a lot of Kiwis,” Mr Fallowfield says.

“A real talking point last month was the strong interest in Chinese vehicles and the August data shows that was no one-off.”

Full details of the month’s sales and how they compare to previous months can be found on MTA’s open-access website, vstat: vstat.mta.co.nz.

Total light vehicle registrations reaching 20,252 units, up 7.6% on the same month last year.

The passenger vehicle sector, increased 13.0% to 9,137 units, while new light vehicle registrations rose 5.5% to 11,716 units. Used imports also remained strong, climbing 10.5% to 8,536 units.

BYD, Chery, Jaecoo and GWM recorded significant gains during August, helping Chinese brands increase their share of new vehicle registrations to 18.7%.

“That’s an almost threefold increase since 2024,” Mr Fallowfield says.

Toyota retained its position as New Zealand's leading vehicle brand, supported by strong performances from the RAV4, Corolla Cross, Hilux and Prado. Mitsubishi and Kia also recorded solid gains, reflecting continued demand for SUVs and crossover vehicles. The Toyota Hilux with 890 registrations was the country's top-selling commercial vehicle despite overall light commercial registrations declining 14.4%.

The shift towards lower-emission vehicles also continued, with hybrids remaining the dominant fuel type across private, fleet, rental and government buyers. Company buyers accounted for the largest share of vehicle purchases, representing 43% of registrations.

Key August highlights

• Total light vehicle market: 20,252 units (+7.6%)
• New light vehicle registrations: 11,716 units (+5.5%)
• Passenger vehicle registrations: 9,137 units (+13.0%)
• Used import registrations: 8,536 units (+10.5%)
• Toyota remained the leading brand, while Hilux was the top commercial vehicle
• Chinese brands increased their market share to 18.7%
• Hybrids remained the most popular fuel type across all buyer segments.

Market outlook

MTA says: “August's results highlight a market increasingly shaped by SUV demand, hybrid technology and growing competition from Chinese manufacturers. While Japanese brands continue to dominate overall market share, emerging brands are gaining momentum and contributing to a more diverse and competitive automotive landscape.”

MTA’s vstat presents vehicle registration data as easy-to-use dashboards and charts. It provides monthly and historical insights across new vehicles, used imports, motorcycles and heavy vehicles, allowing users to analyse market trends by make, model, fuel type, buyer type and vehicle category for a comprehensive view of the automotive market.