New vehicle sales continue to rise but EV uptake slips

New vehicle sales are showing signs of recovery, with August registrations hitting 11,739 – the third consecutive month of growth.

The latest figures, released by the Motor Industry Association (MIA), mark a 17.5 per cent increase over the 9,986 sales recorded in August 2024, and follow improved results in both June and July.

MIA chief executive Aimee Wiley says the trend suggests the market may finally be turning a corner. “We saw a sharp increase in June – possibly off the back of the Investment Boost measure in the May Budget – and numbers have remained steady through July and August, so that is an encouraging trend,” she said.

Light passenger vehicles, including SUVs, led the charge with 8,090 registrations – up from 7,635 in July and almost 20 percent higher than August last year. The Toyota RAV4 maintained its dominance with 1,039 sales, ahead of the Ford Everest (413) and Mitsubishi ASX (397).

Light commercials held steady at 3,031, down slightly from July’s 3,532 but comparable to August 2024’s 3,225. The Ford Ranger reclaimed its crown as top seller with 978 registrations, overtaking the Toyota Hilux (745), while the Mitsubishi Triton rounded out the top three with 262.

Heavy vehicle sales also improved, reaching 618 in August compared with 504 in July, though just shy of last year’s 649.

However, electrified vehicle sales remain under pressure. Battery EV registrations slumped to 385, down from 638 in July and 564 a year earlier, while plug-in hybrids fell to 408 from 749 the previous month, though ahead of last year’s 231. Conventional hybrids held more firmly at 3,091 – up from 2,434 in August 2024.

Wiley warned the decline in EV uptake is “alarming” in light of New Zealand’s CO2 emissions reduction targets.

Top 10 total new vehicle registrations (pass and commercial) Month of August 2025

1 Toyota 2959 25%
2 Ford 1647 14%
3 Mitsubishi 1132 10%
4 Kia 886 8%
5 Mazda 513 4%
6 Hyundai 361 3%
7 Suzuki 352 3%
8 MG 329 3%
9 Nissan 299 3%
10 GWM 296 3%

Top fifteen new car/SUV models month of August 2025

1 TOYOTA RAV4 1039 13%
2 FORD EVEREST 413 5%
3 MITSUBISHI ASX 397 5%
4 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER 353 4%
5 KIA SELTOS 315 4%

Top fifteen new commercial models month of August 2025

1 FORD RANGER 978 27%
2 TOYOTA HILUX 745 20%
3 MITSUBISHI TRITON 262 7%
4 TOYOTA HIACE 189 5%
5 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 160 4%