The Dongfeng Box has a great start in New Zealand.

New light vehicle sales in New Zealand soar 25.1% year-on-year in March to 14,910 units, leading to a Q1 volume up 12.5% to 36,910. In the detail, passenger cars gain 19.4% to 10,063 sales while light commercials shoot up 38.9% to 4,847. Toyota (+8.6%) can’t match the flying market and holds 18.7% share vs. 18% so far this year. Ford (+31.3%) manages an excellent score at #2 unlike Mitsubishi (-14.1%) at #3. BYD (+221.9%) is up 3-fold year-on-year to #4 and 5.8% share, that’s a new ranking record eclipsing its previous best of #5 reached in December 2023 and June 2025. Tesla is up 271% to #8 and Dongfeng ranks #14 with 2.3% share.

Over in the models charts, the Toyota Hilux (+76.7%) gets a big new generation boost and claims the top spot for the first time since last July. The Ford Ranger (+46.1%) is relegated to 2nd place but holds onto the #1 ranking YTD. The Tesla Model Y surges to third place with 3.2% share, its best ranking since topping the charts outright in September 2023. The Mitsubishi Triton (-15.2%) and Nissan Navara (+6.5%) ensure there are four pickup trucks inside the March Top 5. The Toyota Hiace (+115.3%), Hyundai Tucson (#7), Toyota Corolla Cross (+65.9%) and MG ZS (+50.8%) also shine below. Finally the Dongfeng Box makes a splash at #12 and 1.7% for its first full month of sales.

Previous month: New Zealand February 2026: Hyundai Tucson and Nissan Navara impress

One year ago: New Zealand March 2025: Ford Ranger claws back on top, BYD Shark 6 at #13

Full March 2026 Top 25 brands and Top 25 models below.

New Zealand March 2026 – brands:

PosBrandMar-26%/25Feb2026%/25PosFY251Toyota2,79218.7%+ 8.6%16,66018.0%– 9.1%112Ford 1,4519.7%+ 31.3%23,95410.7%+ 31.2%223Mitsubishi1,1257.5%– 14.1%33,3349.0%+ 1.8%334BYD8665.8%+ 221.9%81,7014.6%+ 85.3%6105Kia7194.8%– 15.5%42,4526.6%+ 2.9%446Nissan6974.7%+ 3.7%51,8204.9%+ 21.9%577MG5383.6%+ 33.2%71,3913.8%+ 20.5%798Tesla5383.6%+ 271.0%n/an/an/an/an/a189Suzuki5053.4%+ 24.1%101,1903.2%– 10.0%9510Hyundai4823.2%+ 57.0%61,2963.5%+ 65.9%8811GWM4212.8%+ 43.2%121,0822.9%+ 20.0%111112Mazda4202.8%– 2.8%91,1743.2%+ 7.8%10613Honda4112.8%– 25.9%119232.5%– 22.2%121214Dongfeng3362.3%newn/an/an/anewn/a5615Chery2611.8%new136681.8%new132316Isuzu1941.3%+ 34.7%155271.4%+ 7.6%151617BMW1811.2%– 13.4%184981.3%– 6.9%181718Land Rover1801.2%+ 50.0%2400.0%– 100.0%n/a2219Jaecoo1781.2%+ 165.7%n/a00.0%– 100.0%n/a2420Lexus1751.2%+ 10.1%194261.2%+ 5.2%201921Mercedes1741.2%+ 1.8%165041.4%– 8.9%171522Subaru1681.1%– 20.0%145181.4%– 14.2%161423Volkswagen1521.0%– 21.2%174941.3%– 24.3%191324LDV1471.0%+ 32.4%n/a2650.7%– 9.9%n/a2025Audi1340.9%+ 1.5%233260.9%+ 17.7%n/a21

New Zealand March 2026 – models:

PosModelMar-26%/25Feb2026%/25PosFY251Toyota Hilux1,1827.9%+ 76.7%61,6964.6%– 10.0%232Ford Ranger 1,0366.9%+ 46.1%12,4856.7%+ 39.1%123Tesla Model Y4803.2%n/an/an/an/an/an/a224Mitsubishi Triton4142.8%– 15.2%99072.5%– 9.8%675Nissan Navara4082.7%+ 6.5%31,2243.3%+ 70.9%496Toyota Hiace3382.3%+ 115.3%88532.3%+ 102.6%8107Hyundai Tucson3042.0%n/a28772.4%n/a7158Toyota RAV42952.0%– 58.2%41,3053.5%– 46.6%319MG ZS2791.9%+ 50.8%107272.0%+ 33.6%121210Toyota Corolla Cross2771.9%+ 65.9%137622.1%+ 76.4%112011Mitsubishi ASX2701.8%– 25.8%51,0702.9%+ 14.7%5412Dongfeng Box2601.7%newn/an/an/an/an/a –13Nissan X-Trail2541.7%+ 86.8%16n/an/an/an/a2314Mitsubishi Outlander2511.7%– 28.7%128192.2%– 17.5%9515Kia Sportage2491.7%n/a145651.5%n/a142116GWM Haval H62321.6%+ 82.7%205581.5%+ 54.6%151717BYD Shark 62201.5%+ 30.2%264031.1%– 25.2%n/a1418Ford Everest1951.3%+ 18.2%77662.1%+ 55.1%10619Kia Seltos1871.3%– 36.6%116621.8%– 29.6%13820Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross1681.1%n/a244171.1%n/a20n/a21Toyota Corolla1591.1%– 27.4%n/an/an/an/an/a1322Suzuki Swift1561.0%– 17.0%174791.3%– 22.0%181623Suzuki Fronx1441.0%newn/an/an/anewn/an/a24Jaecoo J71431.0%newn/an/an/anewn/an/a25Toyota Yaris Cross1400.9%n/a185561.5%n/a161126Mazda CX-51350.9%– 23.3%234161.1%– 3.5%2119

Source: MIA