Battle of the Vehicles in New Zealand: Ford Ranger versus Toyota RAV4 Dominates May Sales
The automotive industry in New Zealand has shown signs of stabilisation, according to the Motor Industry Association (MIA), as new vehicle registrations for May 2025 totaled 10,251 units. This figure represents a 65-unit increase compared to May 2024.
In the light commercial vehicle segment, registrations decreased compared to the same month last year. The Toyota Hilux was the second best-selling light commercial vehicle with 910 registrations, while the Ford Ranger topped the charts with 1051 registrations. The overall best-selling vehicle in May 2025 was the Ford Ranger, making it the most registered vehicle across all vehicle categories.
The Toyota RAV4, unveiled in 2025, was the country's best-selling passenger vehicle with 666 registrations in May. The current RAV4 model, released in 2019, remains New Zealand's number-one selling vehicle year-to-date. The Toyota Seltos is the sixth best-selling vehicle year-to-date, with 1434 registrations.
Hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) saw a growth in May 2025, with 2883 registrations, up from 2598 in April. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) also experienced an increase, with 351 sales in May, compared to 177 in April. Battery electric light passenger vehicles (BEV) had 447 registrations in May, a slight increase from April's 442.
The Ford Everest and the Suzuki Swift are the tenth and ninth best-selling vehicles year-to-date, with 863 and 914 registrations respectively. The Mitsubishi Triton is the eighth best-selling vehicle, with 1313 registrations.
While the year-on-year result for May 2025 shows encouraging signs, the overall market is yet to regain momentum, according to Aimee Wiley, MIA's chief executive. She stated that the increase in registrations in May signals "stabilisation in monthly demand." However, the industry is yet to see a significant recovery.
In contrast to light commercial vehicles, heavy commercial vehicle registrations decreased compared to May 2024, with 418 units compared to 663.
As the automotive industry continues to evolve, New Zealand is seeing a shift towards more environmentally friendly vehicles. The increase in hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery electric vehicle registrations indicates a growing interest in sustainable transport solutions.
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