Import numbers weaken

There were 5,196 used passenger vehicles imported last month, a fall of 23.7 per cent from July when 6,813 units crossed our borders.

August’s total meant import numbers fell for the fourth consecutive month and it was also down by 15.6 per cent from 6,156 units in the same month last year.

The year-to-date total for 2025 is now 54,124. This is 16.4 per cent lower than the 64,755 achieved at the same time last year, according to figures from Customs NZ. 

Last month, 5,000 units were imported from Japan for a 96.2 per cent share of the market. Australia was next with 145 units, followed by the US on 19 and the UK with 16. 

As for used light commercials, 275 crossed the border in August to bring the year-to-date total to 1,635. 

Last month’s figure – the third highest of the year – was down by 4.2 per cent from the 287 units imported in July and a rise of 5.8 per cent from 260 in August 2024.

Annual gain for new cars

As for new passenger vehicles, there were 7,892 units brought into New Zealand last month. 

August’s tally means 57,710 vehicles have come in so far in 2025, which is 2.4 per cent lower than the 59,148 units for the same period a year ago.

Last month’s figure was down by 27.7 per cent from July, when the total was 10,909 new cars, but up 9.6 per cent from 7,204 in August 2024.

Japan was the main country of export with 3,723 units, followed by South Korea with 1,093, Thailand on 1,045, China with 878 and Belgium on 290.

For new light commercials, there were 2,321 units imported in August. This was down 6.5 per cent from 2,482 in July this year.

However, the August total was a 35.4 per cent increase from 1,714 units in the same month last year and took the year-to-date figure to 18,138 units.

Overall, 15,925 vehicles, including trucks and buses, crossed our border in August. This was down from 20,825 in the previous month.