New Zealand’s new passenger car market posted a sharp rise in July, with 8,736 registrations recorded, up 14.8% on the same month last year, an increase of 1,124 units. The brand recorded 1,681 passenger car registrations, more than double the volume of second-placed Kia. Used Import Age Adds PressureOne structural factor compounding the new car market’s dynamics is the rising age of used vehicle imports. The average second-hand passenger vehicle imported into New Zealand is now around 10 years old, up from 9.3 years over the past five years. Used dealers are sourcing older stock to maintain competitive price points, which may be nudging some budget-conscious buyers toward new Chinese models instead.