Despite months of lockdown in New Zealand’s biggest city and severe supply shortages nationwide, 2021 emerged as a winner for the new-vehicle industry: it was the biggest sales year on record, with 165,287 registrations.
That puts 2021 38.3 per cent up on Covid-hit 2020, although it’s better context to compare it with the previous-best year, 161,519 back in 2018.
December was also a record month, with 12,097 registrations representing an increase of 44.3 per cent over December 2020.
While electrified vehicles were the hot topic of 2021, sparked by the Government’s Clean Car Discount for plug-in cars, old favourites still topped the charts. The Ford Ranger was the top vehicle of any kind with an incredible 12,580 registrations (despite a new model due this year), followed by ute rival Toyota Hilux at 8430.