HOT TOPIC
// Nissan New Zealand sends X-Trail to Rock Creek, offers e-Power FWD option
Nissan New Zealand has introduced a rugged Rock Creek trim for the X-Trail, replacing the outgoing N-Trek, alongside the brand’s first front-wheel-drive e-Power variant, which offers better fuel economy than the all-wheel-drive version.
HOT TOPIC
// Chinese brands drive July passenger vehicle growth
Chinese marques including BYD, GWM, MG, Chery and Zeekr helped drive a 14.8% year-on-year rise in new passenger vehicle registrations in July, with MTA chief Lee Marshall saying the market will contain fewer legacy brands and more Chinese and electrified vehicles going forward.
- Autofile says Chinese brands lead charge
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STATS WEEK
// Triton defies market trend
New commercial vehicle registrations fell 27.2% year-on-year in July, though the Mitsubishi Triton bucked the trend with a 21.4% sales increase — the only top-10 commercial model to grow year-on-year.
// New car sales climb 14.9%
New passenger vehicle registrations rose 14.9% year-on-year to 8,736 units in July, with the Toyota RAV4 topping the model charts and Toyota also leading the marque rankings ahead of Kia and BYD.
// Used-vehicle market flat
Used-imported car registrations in New Zealand totalled 8,085 units in July, edging up just 0.3% year-on-year but marking the second-best monthly tally of 2026 and a third straight month of growth.
IN OTHER NEWS
// NZTA ramps up preparations for driver licensing overhaul
New Zealand Transport Agency is stepping up work on major reforms to the country’s driver licensing system, including new learner requirements, a revised restricted licence test, and updated pathways to a full licence ahead of a January 2027 rollout.
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INTERNATIONAL EV NEWS
// Top Selling Electric Vehicles in the World — June 2026
Global plugin vehicle sales rose 8% year-on-year in June to around 2 million units, with the Tesla Model Y posting its best month ever and BEVs continuing to outpace PHEVs, as Tesla, BYD and Geely again led the global rankings.
ONE LINERS
- Nick Mason’s McLaren F1 GTR tipped to fetch US$35 million
- Mahindra marks production milestone with flagship EV
- BMW recalls cars over fire risk, asks owners to park cars outside
- Mazda CEO says electric MX-5 is being prepared
- New Mercedes-Benz GLA goes electric with 657km range
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