Used import sales surging to all-time high

Imported cars, new and used sit on the wharf at the Ports of Auckland. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Sales of used import vehicles are up 25 percent this July, compared to the same month last year - a staggering increase, as the overseas-registered market continues to build to levels last seen in the early years of the 2000s.

MTA Chief Executive Rob MacGregor says the surge in the market for passenger cars has been consistently building this year - with 12,052 used imports coming off the ships and onto the market last month alone.

"This July saw the most used imports since March 2006, with a 12 percent jump on the month before. The market is still 2,825 units off setting a new overall record - in March 2004, when the Japanese Used Import market was at its peak, the sector sold 14,877 units. However, that we are this close is unexpected - there will be a lot of busy dealerships across New Zealand," MacGregor says.

The leading used import cars were all smaller, compact cars - the Nissan Tiida (692 units), the Suzuki Swift (642 units) and the Mazda Axela (548 units).

Ford's Ranger displaces Toyota Hilux as top-selling commercial of the month

In the new market, Ford's Ranger displaced the Toyota Hilux as the country's top-selling light commercial vehicle in July - marking a strong start by Ford to the 14/15 financial year.

Rob MacGregor, MTA Chief Executive

Ranger led the sector (537 units), followed by Hilux (411 units) and Nissan's Navara (332 units). However, year to date to July, the Hilux retains a narrow lead, with 3,327 units against Ranger's 3,302 units.

Overall, the buoyant new commercial market sold 3,242 units in July - up 23 percent on last July's 2,632.

The new car market also had a strong month, with 7,071 units sold; up 4.9 percent on the same month last year. The leading models were the Toyota Corolla (428 units), Holden's Commodore (304 units) and Honda's Jazz (302 units).