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Motor Vehicle Retailing in New Zealand Industry Data and Analysis
The Motor Vehicle Retailing industry has experienced pronounced volatility over the past five years, driven by pandemic-related demand surges followed by a sharp downturn in affordability that has only recently begun to stabilise. Revenue is forecast to decline 2.1% to $14.9 billion in 2025–26, contributing to an annualised contraction of 0.6% over the five years through 2025-26. New vehicle registrations surged through 2021-22 as border closures redirected household spending from overseas travel towards big-ticket purchases, while supply shortages artificially constrained inventory and elevated transaction prices. This temporary boom masked underlying structural weaknesses that became evident once monetary tightening took hold. By 2024, the market had contracted sharply, with total new vehicle registrations reaching their lowest annual level since 2014. However, a modest recovery pattern emerged from mid-2025, with monthly registrations posting consecutive year-on-year gains as interest rates eased and consumer confidence gradually improved from historic lows.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2016-2031. The most recent publication was released February 2026.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand operates under the ANZSIC industry code G3910NZ. The Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand includes dealers that sell new and used motor vehicles. These vehicles include passenger motor vehicles, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, RVs and trailers. Motor vehicle dealerships also offer after-sales services, including vehicle maintenance and repair. Related terms covered in the Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand include sports utility vehicle (suv), electric vehicle (ev) and fleet sales.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand include Sports utility vehicles (SUVs), Passenger motor vehicles and Utility vehicles (Utes).
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand include Colonial Motor Company and LWC.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed products and service segmentation and analysis of major markets for the for the Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand in 2026?
The market size of the Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand is $14.9bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand in 2026?
There are 2,154 businesses in the Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.2 % between 2021 and 2026.
How may import tariffs affect the Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand?
The Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand?
The Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand has been declining at a CAGR of 0.6 % between 2021 and 2026.
What is the forecast growth of the Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand?
The biggest companies operating in the Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand are Colonial Motor Company and LWC
What does the Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand include?
Sports utility vehicles (SUVs) and Passenger motor vehicles are part of the Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand?
The company holding the most market share in the Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand is Colonial Motor Company.
How competitive is the Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand.
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