SUVs win a record share of the new car market in December

SUVs now dominate the new car market even as car sales volumes fall. But hybrid sales manage to grow sharply despite the overall market pressures, powering NEVs to a 13% market share in 2020

19th Jan 21, 11:22am by David Chaston

We have previously looked at the sharp decline in 2020 car sales and now want to delve into the dominant segment of our new car sales - those for SUVs.

The share SUVs won rose in this declining new car market and is now up to 77%, a record high. 'Standard' sedans are no longer very standard, more the outlier these days, the specialist niche.

SUVs are the presumptive standard, and actually have been since early 2016. Since 2017 they have never had less than 50% market share, even in a 'bad' month.

But the SUV segment is changing too.

It is shrinking. It is so dominant it can no longer avoid the overall market direction.

And the share that the smaller versions of the class is winning is rising.

The large and luxury versions have seen their share decline from 2018 from a 28.8% share to just a 20.2% share in 2020. That is a decline of -40% or -7658 vehicles in the two years from 2018 to 2020.

The compact and medium versions have seen their sales dip just -3% or -1355 in the same period, now garnering a 61.1% share in 2020.

For 2021 however we will be watching an additional aspect - now many are NEVs ("new energy vehicles") which covers electric-petrol hybrids, all-electrics, and the coming hydrogen-powered alternatives that have yet to reach New Zealand.

In 2020, across all classes of new passenger cars, only 10,939 NEVs sold in the year for a 13.5% share. That included 8664 hybrids, 1519 pure electrics, and 756 PHEVs (plug-in hybrids). In 2019 there were a total of 8658 NEVs sold, or an 8.3% share. Interestingly both pure electrics (-338) and PHEVs (-170) both sold less in 2020 than 2019. Only the non-plug-in hybrids made volume gains in 2020, rising from 5875 to 8664 or almost a +50% rise.

It is uncertain when hydrogen fuel cell cars will be released here. The next big innovation will be wireless charging for EVs which is likely to come soon.

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9 Comments

by GV 27 | 19th Jan 21, 11:32am 1611009143

"The next big innovation" for EVs is dedicated EV platforms - currently cars like the E-Golf and Kona are built on platforms optimised for internal combustion engines. More mass-market EVs this year will be built on roller skate, EV-specific platforms with the batteries in the chassis as opposed to wedged under the seats, with updated inverters and cooling which will enable better designs. On top of that, battery chemistries with BMS systems that can manage heat and faster charging times without damaging battery life will mean fast-charging times can be reduced dramatically. There'll also be improved AC charging for most models, so home-charging on garage wallboxes will be faster too. This is not a vague "some time in the next two years" thing - it's going to happen this year.

by Rex Pat | 19th Jan 21, 2:42pm 1611020537

The inclusion of non plug-in hybrids skews the picture here. Surely they are really a more efficient ICE rather than new energy? On the question for pure EV numbers it could be the Telsa model 3 impact where there were lots of deliveries when the model became available in 2019. There were 653 delivered in the months from August 2019 to December 2019, many of which were ordered years before. 2020 saw 511 delivered with 150 alone in September/October when a large number of non ordered vehicles arrived. With Covid etc I wonder if supply is half the issue.

by Larry76 | 19th Jan 21, 3:30pm 1611023444

Yes, Tesla generally deliver to RHD markets in quarterly batches based on shipping schedules. New factories in Berlin and Shanghai may change this arrangement in 2021/22.

I wouldn’t expect to see much in the passenger vehicle hydrogen space any time soon. It’s better suited to heavy vehicle transport and is even more expensive than battery EVs, plus the fuel cells only last 5 years. Hyundai conveniently leave that part out of their goldfish ad on TV!

by Rex Pat | 19th Jan 21, 3:45pm 1611024324

I’ve bought a Model 3. My fuel is mostly from a 3 pin plug. As long as RUC is delayed I’m a happy camper. I don’t need another option like Hydrogen. What I have works.

by kiwichas | 20th Jan 21, 12:53pm 1611100393

What real-world range do you get out of the Tesla? I've read varying reports.

by Larry76 | 20th Jan 21, 7:08pm 1611122920

I also drive a Model 3. There are three variants - Short Range+, Long Range & Performance. Range is about 380km; 550km and 500km respectively. I get 320-350km out of my SR+ fairly reliably. A lot depends on how you drive and where you drive.

by Rex Pat | 20th Jan 21, 8:53pm 1611129238

SR+ leaving Auckland with 98% SOC arrived in Taupo with 16% SOC, so 82% of charge took me 274km. 100% would be 334km on open road driving. I’d get a lot more in urban driving. However as you no doubt know, when you are away from home you tend to charge to 80% or 90% so the real world range is less. That said, I have no range anxiety. I expect to do 24,000 km this year.

by PocketAces | 19th Jan 21, 5:49pm 1611031788

People buy SUVs so they can see past the other SUVs that pull up to the right of them at a roundabout or intersection and never, ever bother to stay a bit back so the sedan beside them can get a clear view, even when they can see over the top of the sedan when making a right turn from an intersection. SUV drivers tend imho to be oblivious or cavalier about other drivers on the road.

by Foxglove. | 20th Jan 21, 7:39pm 1611124798

If you had lived through the Canterbury EQs, in the part of town I experienced, then you would understand why a SUV V6 was an essential.