Utes still dominate NZ sales charts, Ranger on top for June

The Ford Ranger has continued its onslaught on New Zealand’s registration data, topping the country’s June 2021 sales ahead of the Mitsubishi ASX, Toyota Hilux and Mitsubishi Triton.

A total of 912 new Rangers were registered, some 43.2 per cent more than the amount registered this month last year. The Hilux and Triton showed 632 and 569 registrations for the month, respectively.

The success of the Ranger, Hilux, and Triton underline yet another big month of recovery for the Kiwi market.

While ongoing supply issues mean the bubble is likely to burst eventually, the month’s 15,135 new-vehicle registrations nevertheless represent a healthy rebound over June 2020’s 11,514 registrations.

The aforementioned ASX was the top selling passenger car, with 740 registrations. This was followed by the Toyota RAV4 (487), Mitsubishi Outlander (408), Kia Stonic (407), and Suzuki Swift (289).

Mitsubishi’s strong figures almost saw them claim the top spot for the month. But, they were narrowly edged by Toyota; the latter’s 2,153 registrations narrowly trumping the former’s 2,119. It’s Mitsubishi’s best month of sales since 1985, and its third ‘record month’ of 2021.

“The arrival of Eclipse Cross PHEV in June coincided with the government’s Clean Car Discount, which has provided a further incentive for the increasing number of drivers for whom more sustainable transport solutions are a key consideration,” says Mitsubishi Motors’ Reece Congdon.

“At a special launch price of $49,990 (plus ORC), we always felt the new Eclipse Cross PHEV would quickly join Outlander PHEV as a highly desirable option for motorists looking to reduce their fuel bill and vehicle emissions.”

It will be curious to see whether the arrival of the Clean Car Discount shows any interesting movers or shakers in July’s sales charts. Among the most likely winners will likely be the Outlander and the Eclipse Cross, with their plug-in PHEV options.