Mitsubishi Motors NZ records 30 year high for sales

Sales of the new Eclipse Cross, released late 2020, even stronger than anticipated. Photos: Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand has bounced back stronger than ever from the industry-wide slowdown caused by last year’s Covid-19 disruption. 

Since November, sales have hit record highs, reaching a 30-year peak of 1436 units in January. That number includes 1002 passenger vehicles, with the remainder consisting of Triton ute and Express van sales. 

The end of year surge put MMNZ in third place for the 2020 calendar year, with a 9.0% market share – this result in the context of a 22.8% downturn in sales across New Zealand’s car and LCV  market.  

MMNZ’s record-breaking start to 2021 sees the brand sitting in second position on the ladder with a predicted market share of 10.6%. 

Reece Congdon, MMNZ Head of  Marketing and Corporate Affairs, said that “2020 was a challenging year for most vehicle brands”.

The Mitsubishi Triton was the brand’s biggest seller at 3694 units in 2020.

“The great news is that, for the most part, New Zealand as a  whole has been able to quickly get back on track, while we as a company was well-positioned to deliver on the subsequent surge in consumer confidence,” he said.

“The fact that we were able to outperform the market in 2020, and start this year so strongly, is testament to the strength and value of our range, and the exceptionally high standards across our dealer network.  

“With an always fresh mix of vehicles in step with changing Kiwi lifestyles, we have consolidated on our market position and will continue to work hard to improve on that. We expect this trend to  continue for us over the coming months, with the all-new Eclipse Cross and Outlander run-out  already starting to exceed our expectations.” 

Despite import issues constraining Triton sales, MMNZ finished the 2020 calendar year in third place for ute registrations, with Triton remaining the brand’s biggest seller at 3694 units. ASX and Outlander also performed strongly at 2477 and 1998 units respectively, while the new Eclipse Cross quickly gained traction, contributing to 706 sales for the model across the year.