Tesla Model Y confirmed as NZ’s best-selling passenger car in March

Much anticipated preliminary new-vehicle registration data for a chaotic, fuel-price-impacted March has been released by the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi. And whilst utes occupied the top two spots, one particular electric vehicle starred. 

March saw the market record one of its strongest months in years, with 14,910 registrations recorded. This represents a 31.6% increase in registrations over February’s total. 

The Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger led the charts, with 1182 and 1036 registrations each. The Hilux likely benefited from the arrival of its new generation update, with deliveries to customers commencing in March. 

The Ranger still holds the lead in year-to-date registrations, with Ford New Zealand general manager Annaliese Atina saying that she does not expect high fuel prices to impact the nameplate’s popularity this year.

Third in the sales rankings, and first for the passenger vehicle market, was the Tesla Model Y. It’s the first time a fully electric model has topped the passenger vehicle list in New Zealand since 2023, during the era of the Clean Car Discount. 

The success of the Model Y is expected to continue into the following months, with the opening April shipment of the new extended wheelbase Model Y L already pre-sold prior to its arrival in the country.

Another pair of utes were fourth and fifth, in the form of the Mitsubishi Triton (414 registrations) and the all-new Nissan Navara (408). 

The top 10 was completed by the Hyundai Tucson (304), Toyota RAV4 (295), MG ZS (279), Toyota Corolla Cross (277), and Mitsubishi ASX (270). The RAV4’s uncharacteristically flat month comes as the brand prepares to launch its new MY2026 RAV4 in the coming weeks.

Although none of its nameplates made the combined top 10, it was a big month for BYD. Its Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute recorded a healthy 220 registrations, whilst strong sales over the rest of its line-up meant BYD was the country’s fourth most popular passenger vehicle brand for the month behind Toyota, Mitsubishi, and Kia. 

Another Chinese marque that enjoyed a strong March was the brand that brings in the country’s cheapest electric vehicle. Dongfeng recorded 260 registrations of its pure electric Box hatchback, with the model benefiting from both the country’s focus on rising fuel prices, and a discount that lowered its entry price to $26,990 plus on-road costs.