The best-sellers: Our favourite vehicles in 2019

Fleet NZ Over the Years

What we buy and how many we buy has changed dramatically over the years.  We all have that one aged relative who likes to regale us with stories of how he swapped two pails of milk and a crate of stout for a brand new split windscreen Austin back in the day.  Petrol was as cheap as chips.  Chips cost not much at all and you can feed a family of 5 for less than $1.  Oh, and there were hardly any cars on the road and you could drive for miles without passing another motorist.  Now, none of that is true.  Except possibly the last bit.  The total number of new vehicles sold in NZ in 1970 (which is as far back as we can go) was just 66,688.  Which isn’t many.  We know what you’re thinking.  There were less people in NZ then.  Which is right.  There were less people.  A meagre 2.8 million to be exact.

By 1980, the growth of new car sales hadn’t really grown too much.  Up to 75,761.  During the 70’s the number had gone up and down quite a bit.  The 100k mark was almost hit in 1973 (97,346) whilst a low of 59,074 was posted in 1977.  We’re guessing the economy had an impact.  But we’re not economists and find it rather boring so haven't checked.  

As we head into the 1980’s and the age of the yuppy hits, conspicuous consumption kicks in and we all start wearing red braces and quoting lines from ‘Wall Street’.  We rush into car showrooms everywhere to spend our money on some new magical metal motors.  The 100k number is surpassed in ‘81, ‘82, ‘84 and ‘85.  It’s a strong decade for vehicle sales.  

Then it all goes a bit wrong really.  From 1989, it wasn’t until 2005 when the magic 100k barrier would be breached once more.  It happened again in 2007.  But that was it.  Until 2012 that is.  Every year since 2012 has seen new vehicle sales surpass 100k.  Every year has seen a new record set.  We have just been buying more and more new cars.  Our appetite for something shiny and that mythical ‘new car smell’ cannot be quenched.

Until 2019.  Now, it wasn’t a bad year.  It just bucked the trend and wasn’t a record year.  We still spent a lot of time in the showroom and forecourts, shelling out for some 154,763 new motors.  It’s just 2019 saw a decrease of 4.3% from the previous year.  Something to worry about?  We’re not sure.  Best to ask an economist.

It’s worth noting, that back in 1970 there was a new car purchased by every 42nd person in New Zealand.  That is, on average...if you got 42 people together then one of them would have purchased a new car.  In 2019, you’d need to assemble just 31 people and one of them would have purchased a new car.  What does this tell us?  It means there’s more new cars per head of population nowadays. 

The Rise of the EV

Electric vehicles are starting to gain a foothold.  Their growth is modest but it is there.  The infrastructure needed to support them is a sign of their growing importance, it no longer being a rarity to see an EV charging station at your local supermarket or shopping centre.  

Sales of pure electric vehicles are outnumbered by hybrid options.  Although those figures are likely affected by availability and price of Pure EV models as much as anything else.  For example, the much hyped Tesla 3 (their base model) comes in at a fairly hefty $73,900.  If you want to go for the full Tesla experience with the Tesla Model S you’ll be parting with over $120k.  It is ludicrously fast though, with 0-100kmh in 2.6 seconds!

The best selling EV is the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid.  Auckland dominates EV sales by total numbers, while Wellington and Otago are slightly ahead per head of population.  Given the Kiwi love affair with combustion engines it’s a significant change and most commentators have it pinned as a trend that will continue as more and more options are made available and the charging infrastructure necessary grows in support.

Kiwis Love a Ute

Hardly a surprise is it?  We didn’t love them quite as much though, with sales dropping from 53,557 in 2018, down to 50,482 (-5.7%).  Not a massive decline though and hardly anything to worry about when you think it wasn't until 2017 that commercial vehicles sales topped 50k and they are still above that mark.

To the power struggle everyone loves to talk about.  The Ranger vs The Hilux.  It’s like choosing between the Mutton Bird or Steak & Cheese Pie.  It’s Pepsi vs Coke.  So… drum roll please… and take a bow Ford Ranger.  You are the King of the Kiwi Utes with a whopping 19% market share (9,485 units).  The Hilux snaffled up a 14% market share (7,126 units).  The best of the rest was Mitsubishi Triton with 11% market share (5,319 units).

And the Winner is

The manufacturer's title goes to Toyota with a massive 20% market share.  That’s one in every 5 new models sold being a Toyota.  Which is really quite staggering when you think of all the different vehicles on the road, bearing emblems from a large number of manufacturers from all over the globe.  

Next in line was Ford with 10% market share.  Not a bad showing and you’d probably be quite happy if you could nab 1 of every 10 new vehicle sales in New Zealand.  

We know you’re waiting for the big one though.  It’s obviously a Toyota given their market share right?  Nope. Ford has crashed this party.  In fact, they’ve run over it and then reversed back for good measure.  It seems there’s no stopping the Ford Ranger at the moment, the numbers (9484) good enough to stomp on everything.  Let those arguments about which ute is best continue, but one side is armed with some sweet statistics…. all presented in a nice table for you to look at.  Just screenshot this bit and keep it on your phone in case an argument arises.  

It seems whilst our love of the ute remains as strong as ever, that love is reserved for Ford, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Nissan and Mazda.  The poor Isuzu is nowhere to be found.  We do think a special shout out is deserved for the Suzuki Swift though.  The little car that just keeps on selling.  They hold their price pretty well too.  

What to watch out for in 2020

The continued rise of the EV is expected.  It’s off a small base but as more and more manufacturers join the EVolution (we just made up that phrase - you can borrow it if you like) then you’ll see more and more of them on the roads.

You wouldn’t bet against the love affair with the Ute continuing to be solid.  We still have a lot of gravel roads.  We have a largely agrarian economy.  Until that changes you’re unlikely to see a Tesla 3 tear up a gravel road in the backcountry, pulling a trailer with a dog sticking his head out the window.  

That said, Tesla's Cybertruck might just change that.  Even if it does look like it was designed on an etch-a-sketch.  

Happy driving folks.