NZ Sales: June gets Investment Boost bonus

NEW ZEALAND’S Motor Industry Association (MIA) says 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.

A total of 11,862 new vehicles were registered during the month – the second-best month of 2025 to date – the figure representing an increase of 26 per cent of the 9406 new vehicles registered in the same month last year.

Building on the 10,251 new vehicles registered in May, the MIA’s chief executive officer 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 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,” she said.

“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.”

Kiwi buyers purchased a total of 8245 new cars and SUVs in June, with the Toyota RAV4 continuing its domination of the New Zealand new vehicle market with 781 registrations. The RAV4 outpaced the Mitsubishi ASX with 482 unit sales, and the Kia Seltos with 444 unit sales.

The Tesla Model Y placed fourth with 407 unit sales, the highest rank of any electric vehicle sold in the country for the month of June.

In the light commercial stakes, we find sales of 3204 for June 2025, up from 2753 units the year prior. The MIA says the result is the best for the segment since April 2024.

As across the ditch, the Ford Ranger continued its lead of the light commercial vehicle market with 948 registrations recorded. The Toyota HiLux placed second with 853 unit sales ahead of what the MIA says is “notable performance” by the BYD Shark 6, placing third with 413 unit sales.

Not so positive in June is the sale of heavy commercial vehicles, just 413 units recorded for the month, down 181 units on the same month last year.

Across motive power types, the MIA says June was “an exceptional month for battery electric vehicles”, BEVs notching up 1073 registrations – the best result since the end of the Clean Car Discount in December 2023.

Plug-in hybrid and hybrid vehicles also had a good month with 912 and 3152 registrations respectively.

Top 10 sales by Make (June passenger, SUV and light commercial)*:

Top 10 sales by Model (June passenger and SUV)*:

Top 10 sales by Model (June light commercial)*:

*All figures are supplied courtesy of the Motor Industry Association of New Zealand.