HOT TOPIC
// Ram 1500 Express Black Edition announced, hot Rumble Bee a possibility for NZ
Ram Trucks NZ has added the Express Black Edition to its 1500 line-up from $124,990, with the model due in local showrooms from August 2026.
HOT TOPIC
// Suzuki Jimny Horizon added to local line-up
Suzuki New Zealand has unveiled the Jimny Horizon, a market-exclusive model available in three-door or five-door form with more than $4000 of accessories fitted as standard.
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STATS WEEK
// The cars Kiwis bought in July: Ranger tops the charts as Chinese brands grab a quarter of the market
The Ford Ranger was New Zealand’s top-selling new vehicle in July with 738 registrations, reclaiming the top ute spot from the Toyota Hilux and leading the overall market.
// EVs take 17.8% of the new vehicle market in July as petrol slips below one in five
Fully electric vehicles made up 17.8% of New Zealand’s new light vehicle market in July, with 1994 registrations more than tripling the number from the same month last year.
// Used imports hold their ground in July as commercial volumes surge
Used import registrations rose to 8520 units in July 2026, up 1.5% on the 8397 recorded in the same month a year earlier.
// Passenger market surges in July but commercial slump holds total flat
Total new vehicle registrations reached 11,663 units in July 2026, effectively level with the 11,667 recorded a year earlier, as a strong passenger market offset a sharp fall in commercial sales.
IN OTHER NEWS
// GWM Australia to transform former petrol station into EV-powered pop-up
GWM Australia is converting a disused Melbourne service station into a European summer-themed pop-up this weekend, showcasing the vehicle-to-load capability of its ORA 5 electric SUV.
// IEA lifts EV sales forecast as second-quarter demand rebounds
Global EV sales rebounded strongly in the second quarter of 2026, prompting the International Energy Agency to raise its 2026 EV market share forecast despite softer demand in China and the US.
// Fuel resilience project enters final stages
A major fuel infrastructure upgrade supporting more than 10% of New Zealand’s fuel supply is nearing completion, with the Seaview Energy Resilience Project, valued at over $100 million, due to finish later this year.
// Nismo goes manual
Nissan is bringing a manual-transmission Z Nismo to New Zealand for the first time, alongside a refreshed Z Coupe front end and chassis and equipment upgrades across the range.
// Why smart ownership matters more as cars age
With more than a third of New Zealand’s vehicle fleet over 14 years old, Toyota New Zealand’s Service 10+ programme offers certified dealer servicing focused on safety and reliability for older cars.
// A designer’s drive: Why Kathryn Wilson feels calm and in control in her Volvo XC90 plug-in hybrid
Shoe designer Kathryn Wilson relies on her Volvo XC90 plug-in hybrid to transport stock for her Arrowtown store and New Zealand Fashion Week, and reckons it can swallow up to seven large suitcases.
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INTERNATIONAL EV NEWS
// I Experienced The World’s First Electrostatic Speakers In A Production Car. Now I Can’t Go Back
The author describes being struck by the clarity of Range Rover’s new electrostatic speaker system after hearing it demonstrated in the SV Ultra, calling it one of the most impressive car-audio experiences he’s had.
ONE LINERS
- Mini Countryman Edition to feature a little more off-roading ability
- BMW builds 50,000th all-electric iX3 in nine months
- BYD launches kei EV in Japan
- Tesla builds 10 millionth vehicle
- New Mercedes-Benz GLA goes electric with up to 657km range
- New chapter for key model
- Bentley celebrates 80 years of Crewe production with eye-catching Continental
- 25 years of modern Mini: an icon evolved without being trapped by nostalgia