Motor Vehicle Retailing in New Zealand - Market Research Report (2014-2029)
Melbourne, Australia
Last Updated: August 2024
ANZSIC G3910NZRevenue
$16.5bn
Past 5-Year Growth
Profit
$X.Xbn
Employees
14,741
Businesses
2,205
Wages
$XXX.Xm
Motor Vehicle Retailing in New Zealand industry analysis
The Motor Vehicle Retailing industry has endured turbulent trading conditions over the past few years. Motor vehicle retailers enjoyed boosted sales as overseas production recovered from the pandemic, clearing the backlog of orders. However, global car production costs have expanded due to heightened raw material costs, resulting in elevated car prices. Motor vehicle dealers have been able to pass on these increased costs to consumers because demand for motor vehicles remains robust. In 2024, inflationary pressures and rising interest rates weakened consumer sentiment, reducing sales from household consumers – which are projected to rebound slightly in 2025. Still, sales from commercial clients have supported this industry’s revenue thanks to a rebound in tourism increasing the need for cars. Overall, revenue is estimated to have improved by a projected 3.1% to $16.5 billion through March 2025. This includes an anticipated recovery of 2.3% in 2024-25.
Trends and Insights
- Electric and hybrid car sales are declining. Consumers and electric car dealers benefited the Clean Car Programme in the current period, which was ended by New Zealand’s incoming government at the end of 2023.
- Sales from business and government customers have grown slightly in recent years. Recovering tourism has pushed up sales from commercial clients, like travel agencies.
- Auckland dominates New Zealand’s vehicle market activity. The country’s largest city is home to the most people and a major port, which draw motor vehicle dealers to the area.
- The vehicle retail market is highly fragmented. A lack of geographic scope and an abundance of small motor vehicle dealers have fed into this trend.
Industry Overview
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 3.1 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $16.5bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
Electric car sales boomed in the current period
- Growing public concerns about carbon emissions have been driving a shift towards environmentally friendly cars in the past few years, including electric vehicles and hybrids.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Economic recovery is poised to boost motor vehicle sales
- Business confidence is projected to climb continuously over the coming years as the economic recovery continues to balance the effects of the pandemic, lifting sales from business clients.
Biggest companies in the Motor Vehicle Retailing in New Zealand
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue ($m)
2025 |
|---|---|---|
Colonial Motor Company | 912.7 | |
LWC Limited | 502.5 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 2 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Sports utility vehicles (SUVs), Passenger motor vehicles and Utility vehicles (Utes). Sports utility vehicles (SUVs) is the largest segment of the Motor Vehicle Retailing in New Zealand.
Trends and Insights
Sports utility vehicles are leading to increased sales
- Sports utility vehicles (SUVs) are two- or four-door vehicles with an elevated ride height and a wagon-style body.
- More insights available in the full report
Widen you competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- Passenger Car Rental and Hiring in New Zealand
Complementors
- Motor Vehicle Parts Retailing in New Zealand
International industries
- Global Car & Automobile Sales
- New Car Dealers in the US
- Used Car Dealers in the US
- Online Car Dealers in the US
- Truck Dealers in the US
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
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 provide after-sales services, such as vehicle maintenance and repair.
What's included in this industry?
Sports utility vehicles (SUVs)Passenger motor vehiclesUtility vehicles (Utes)Commercial vehiclesMotorcycles and other vehiclesCompanies
Colonial Motor CompanyLWC LimitedPurchase this report to view all 2 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
SPORTS UTILITY VEHICLE (SUV)ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV)Industry Code
ANZSIC 3911 - Motor Vehicle Retailing in New Zealand
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Electric and hybrid car sales are declining. Consumers and electric car dealers benefited the Clean Car Programme in the current period, which was ended by New Zealand’s inco...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Sales from business and government customers have grown slightly in recent years. Recovering tourism has pushed up sales from commercial clients, like travel agencies.
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2024
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2024
- Major market segmentation in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
Auckland dominates New Zealand’s vehicle market activity. The country’s largest city is home to the most people and a major port, which draw motor vehicle dealers to the area...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
The vehicle retail market is highly fragmented. A lack of geographic scope and an abundance of small motor vehicle dealers have fed into this trend.
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
No motor vehicle retailers hold significant market share dominance in this industry. Colonial Motor Company (CMC), a major company in this industry, has a market share of jus...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
- Overview of Colonial Motor Company's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of LWC Limited's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Colonial Motor Company, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for LWC Limited, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Vehicle prices have become a major factor in overall industry revenue growth. Escalating prices per vehicle and easing supply shortages have allowed industry revenue to pick ...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Purchase expenses remained high despite the easing of global supply chain conditions. Increased production and input costs drive up wholesale motor vehicle prices, impacting ...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
- Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Average Wage (2014-2029)
- Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
- Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2014-2029)
- IVA (2014-2029)
- Establishments (2014-2029)
- Enterprises (2014-2029)
- Employment (2014-2029)
- Exports (2014-2029)
- Imports (2014-2029)
- Wages (2014-2029)
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in New Zealand include:
- Statistics New Zealand
- New Zealand Company Register
- Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand in 2024?
The market size of the Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand is $16.5bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Motor Vehicle Retailing in New Zealand industry in 2024?
There are 2,205 businesses in the Motor Vehicle Retailing industry in New Zealand, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.0 % between 2019 and 2024.
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 growing at a CAGR of 3.1 % between 2019 and 2024.
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 market in New Zealand?
The biggest companies operating in the Motor Vehicle Retailing market in New Zealand are Colonial Motor Company and LWC Limited
What does the Motor Vehicle Retailing in New Zealand include?
Sports utility vehicles (SUVs) and Passenger motor vehicles are part of the Motor Vehicle Retailing industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Motor Vehicle Retailing in New Zealand?
The company holding the most market share 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.
