New car sales increase, Tesla’s Model Y has comeback
The facelift Tesla Model Y had 407 registrations in June, putting it in fourth spot. Photos: Tesla NZ
The Government’s Investment Boost initiative announced as part of the 2025 Budget is believed to be a key factor behind a resurgence in new vehicle sales during June, according to the Motor Industry Association.
A total of 11,862 new vehicles were registered during the month – the second-best month of 2025 so far. The figure represents an increase of some 26 percent on the 9,406 new vehicle sales registered in June 2024 and is an encouraging increase on the 10,251 new vehicle sales registered in May.
Registration numbers for new vehicle sales are compiled each month by the Motor Industry
Association representing the country’s new vehicle manufacturers and suppliers.
Association CEO Aimee Wiley says the link between the June increase and the Investment Boost announced in May cannot be discounted as a factor in the latest figures.
The Toyota RAV4 was the top selling vehicle overall in June. Photo: Toyota NZ
“The June quarter ANZ Business Investment Survey showed central government policy as a key driver for firms planning to invest, and this likely refers to the Investment Boost announced in the May Budget,” said Wiley.
“And a MYOB survey of more than 500 small and medium-sized businesses in May put passenger vehicles including cars, vans and utes at the top of the list of new assets to purchase. Further analysis of the June numbers shows the lift has come from rental, business and private buyers alike.”
Breaking down the categories, cars and SUV’s totalled 8,245 registrations, compared with the 6,817 registered in May and a nearly 36% increase on 6,059 sales in June 2024.
Toyota’s RAV4 continued its lead in the new car market with 781 registrations, ahead of the Mitsubishi ASX with 482 sales and the Kia Seltos with 444 sales, respectively.
Tesla had a good month in June with a total of 407 sales of its possible newly launched Model Y registered to take fourth place.
Ford’s Ranger was again number one commercial vehicle.
Light commercial vehicle sales also performed strongly with 3,204 registrations, up from 2,753 sold in June 2024, and compared with 3,016 in May. The month was the best so far this year for this category, and the single best month in the last 14; since April 2024.
The Ford Ranger continued its lead in light commercials with 948 registrations, with the Toyota Hilux in second place with 853. The month saw a notable performance by the BYD Shark 6, taking third place with 413 sales.
In terms of motive power, June was an exceptional month for battery electric vehicles, notching up 1073 registrations: their best sales figures since the end of the Clean Car Discount in December 2023. Plug-in hybrids and hybrids also had a good month with 912 and 3152 registrations, respectively.
