Mercedes-Benz Vans Global Deliveries : 2025-2026 (Q1-Q3)

Mercedes-Benz Vans is a very important part of the company. It's unusual for a premium marque to also have a commercial vehicle (CV) wing, but it works.

Vans were up 6% in Q3, but -0.5% for nine months of the year. It's down 27% campared to twelve months of 2025. Still, that's a positive Q3 result.

Data & photos source: Mercedes-Benz (Sprinter & Vito).

Models: Commercial vans were up 3.4% but passenger car vans down 19.5%. The Sprinter CV is the only van variant that is up.

Europe (including Germany) has 71% of total sales and is up 4%. North America is also up (+7.1% YTD). Asia has fallen quite dramatically, especially China. Are they leaving the Chinese market? Apparently not at this stage. 

Electric van deliveries came to 25,800 up 28%. This is an area M-B is and will prioritise. 

Data & photos source: Mercedes-Benz (Sprinter & Vito).

Mercedes-Benz Cars Global Deliveries : 2025-2026 (Q1-Q3)

After a 9% fall in 2025, 2026 is currently down 7%. Not unexpected as it seems to be the norm for the industry, even at the premium end. China is the main reason as the market contracts, especially for foreign brands. 

Data & photo source: Mercedes-Benz.

Mercedes-Benz divides its sales into three categories: Core, Entry and Top End, all of which lost ground.

Regions: Traditionally strong regions of Europe and North America are doing well. The fly in the ointment is Asia. China is still an important market, but is less so with each passing year. The Rest was also down (10%) but accounts for just 5% of global deliveries.

Electric: Counting full electric and hybrid cars, 270,700 deliveries were made up to the end of Q3. EVs are up 40% and PHEVs (hybrids) are down 34%. Combined, that's a 2.3% fall in volume. I'm surprised with PHEV deliveries dropping so much. They are now well below EVs.

EVs now make up 13% of total passenger car sales, up from 9%. Hybrids are down to 8%. 

Toyota Brand Sales : 2024-26 (Q1-Q3)

The Toyota brand delivers nearly ten million vehicles a year. That's a staggering amount. Toyota's reputation for reliability is the main reason. 

Deliveries were down 2% in 2024 but up 4% in 2025. So far in 2026, the nine month comparision is down 3%. The regional chart below will clarify. 

With the pressure from China having an impact in many countries, how much that is affecting Toyota is hard to quantify. It seems less than some other brands. 

Data source: Toyota Group.
Photos: Toyota NZ.

Regions: This includes Lexus, Daihatsu and Hino (Jan-Mar). Hino is now part of a merger with Fuso, Toyota holding a 25% share of that. 

Here we see some interesting insights emerging. Toyota has suffered in China, like everyone else. Deliveries are -19% to just over 1,056,000. That took Asia down to -9.3%. The turmoil in the Middle East is also a problem, with deliveries there off 27.2%. Oceania is down 12.7%, supply issues my be a factor there. 

Africa is going well (+8.6%), as is the home market (+5.5%). Europe and North America are stable. So all up, a good result. 

Lexus Sales : 2024-26 (Q1-Q3)

Lexus is well respected premium brand, especially in North America. Sales tick along without setting the world on fire but makes steady progress. 

In 2024, deliveries were up 3% and 2025 followed that up with a 4% uptick. Would the momentum continue into 2025? It's a third down with Q4 to go and while Q4 is usually the best quarter of the year, it's seems unlikely 2025 will be matched. Year on year, Lexus is down 9%. 

The reduction is due to several smaller issues revolving around, supply issues, production and discontinuations. All up, a good result for 2026. 

Data source: Toyota Group. 
Photo source: Lexus NZ (LX & LBX).

Regions: North America has 49% of global sales. Asia (without Japan) accounts for 24%. Japan is just over 10%, so Asia is slightly better than a third of all deliveries. 

I presume the Middle East's poor performance has something to do with the conflict there. Latin America and Africa are not strong for Lexus but improving. 

Nissan Global Deliveries/Production : 2024-26 (Q1-Q3)

Deliveries: They were -1% in 2024, -4% in 2005 and up to Q3 2026 -9%. This looks like the third year of decrease. As Nissan is in a period of readjustment, nothing surprising about that. 

China is still an important market for Nissan but with deliveries down 32% YTD, not as important as it was. The large US and Mexico markets are holding up well.

Production: They have been -9% in 2024, -6% in 2025 and -12% up to Q3 2026. Deliveries are consistently higher than production because Renault and Mitsubishi produce some of their vehicles.

Data & Photo source: Nissan (Leaf, Juke EV & Qashqai).

Regional Production: The 2026 figure is just for nine months, the other two twelve. The U.S. and Japan are the largest producers for Nissan. Mexico has dropped to 20% of the total and China 15%. The U.K. is up to 10%. 77% of the total manufacturing is outside of Japan. 

Regional Sales: The 2026 figure is just for nine months, the other two twelve. Sales are down 9% with 86% outside of Japan. North America accounted for 45% of the total deliveries. China is down to 14% and while Europe is up to 11%, the latter surely has potential for improvement. Sales are good considering the slump in China. 

Subaru Sales : 2024-26 (Q1-Q3)

Subaru manages to sell close to a million cars per year. It was selling in excess of seven digit numbers up until 2019, but hasn't got back to that since. 

2026 is down 4% up to Q3 YOY. That's not a bad result, considering the slow start to the year. Down 17%, it has rebounded in the next two quarters. Maintain that a positive territory beckons. 

A factor in Subaru's favour is that it is a brand selling most of its vehicles in two markets largely protected from the export blitz from China. Nearly 71% of total sales are in the USA and almost 12% in Japan, two markets unaffected by that.

Data source: Subaru.
Photo source: Subaru NZ
(Outback & Uncharted models).

Mazda Global Deliveries : 2025-26 (Q1-Q3)

Deliveries were down 10% for the first quarter, the fourth consecutive quarter of decrease. However, Q2 & Q3 were each up 1%, bringing the YTD figure back to -3%. With the proliferation of Chinese brands aggressively seeking customers, it's hardly surprising. 

The positive is that 2026 is gaining momentum. September deliveries were up 11%, for example. On that basis, 2026 should yield an increase. 

As for regions, all bar Europe were down. China is now barely of any relevance, such has been the decline there. With 'Others' making up a third of the volume, adding some more regional breakdowns would be helpful. 

Data & photo source: Mazda.

Suzuki Sales : 2024-26 (Q1-Q3)

Most legacy brands are finding life difficult as hordes of Chinese brands join the fray. Is Suzuki coping well or feeling the pinch like so many others? 

Sales are up 9% to Q3 of the year to 2.73 million units. In 2021, they were up 13% / 2020 +7% / 2023 +4% / 2024 +6% / 2025 +1%. The +9% figure for 2026 is a surprisingly positive upturn after a few years of declining increases. 

The secret is having two large markets that are thus far unaffected by a Chinese influx. They are India, which accounts for 59% of total sales, and Japan, 20%. 

That's nearly 4 out of 5 sales in two countries. Is that a good thing or a risky position ot be in?

One could reason that such a reliance on just two markets could leave Suzuki exposed, but if so, then it won't be happening soon. The Indian car buyer strongly supports Suzuki and in Japan, the unique Kei car segment is unlikely to be seriously challenged and where Suzuki sells most of its cars. 

That said, BYD and Chery are introducing EV Kei cars to Japan but unless the EV take up increases greatly, it will have little impact. Currently, EV Kei cars make up just over 1% of total sales but with obvious growth potential. 

Data & photo source: Suzuki. (Fronx & Ignis).

NZ Lower Volume Brands (Mainstream - China) : 2026 (Jan-Sep)

With so many brands from China, some will succeed but is there room for all of them? If legacy brands leave, then maybe. 

Dongfeng arrived during 2025 and is rapidly increasing its sales. This is BAIC's first year and already well established. 

Omoda came to these shores in 2024 and has slipped back in 2026. GWM's Ora started well, slumped and is now resurrecting itself with the 05 SUV.  

GAC's Aion brand is new in 2026 as is Forthing. LDV started selling passenger cars in 2026, but light commercials have always been its main thrust. 

Data source: NZTA. Photos: Donfeng (Box) & BAIC (X55).

NZ Semi-Premium China Brands : 2026 (Jan-Sep)

Here are the model sales for some of the smaller Chinese brands in NZ. They will have dealers in major centres but national coverage isn't there. They aspire to be above the mainstream brands. That is why MG's IM is here as it is a notch up on its parent brand. 

All these brands are new or nearly new to NZ. Arfox has been just a few months. So early days but pushing on from here will be their expectation. And there are more to come. 

Data source: NZTA. Photos: GWM Tank (300) & Geely (Starray).

NZ Volume Brands (Mainstream - China) : 2026 (Jan-Sep)

The brands here are basically theaffordable end of the market. They offer plenty of bang for your buck. Most are new to NZ but not all.

LDV arrived in 2016 but has mainly been selling in the LCV market, so hasn't done much with passenger cars. Haval was here from 2017. Jaecoo have been just under three years, Chery in its second coming two.

At the price point they operate at, they must want to be doing better than this and they will surely achieve that. 

Data source: NZTA. Photos: Cherry (Tiggo 4) & MG (ZS).

Volvo Model Deliveries: 2025-26 (Q1-Q3)

With the USA and China falling away, to restrict the drop to 10% isn't a bad result. The XC60 has been the best selling model of the range going back to 2014 but is down 26% and that reign may be coming to an end. 

The EX60 has been delayed and when finally delivered, they will be included in XC60 sales. That may give the model enough impetus to retain top spot. Maybe a few sales already have been included. AI says 5,000 have been made but maybe they are all are in transit. AI has limitations and it was fudging on this enquiry.  

Volvo has announced it will cut 2,500 jobs or 6% of its workforce after a Q3 group operating loss of US$564 million. It's about a third lower (US$373 million) when excluding joint ventures and one time items. The job losses expects to be completed by mid 2027. 

Data source: Volvo. Photos: EX30 & EX60 (where are you?).

Volvo / Polestar Deliveries : 2025-26 (Q1-Q3)

Volvo had a disappointing 2025 after several years of solid increases. In trying times, 2026 is down 9%, -11%  Q3. With a quarter to go, deliveries are -34% below the total for 2025. 

Most models are feeling the pinch with new models not sufficiently large in volume to make up the shortfall. A model to sit above the EX40 is coming in 2027.

Data source: Volvo (ES90) & Polestar (2).

The Rest (most of the world) is about the same as 2025. The pain is coming from the Americas (-12%) and China (-31%). Those latter two are hruting the company.

I'd love to know the logic behind reducing the breakdown of regional deliveries to just two regions and everything else lumped into a nebulous 'Rest' category. Over 60% of the total is therefore unspecified. Duh!

As for Polestar, after a poor 2024, 2025 was up 34%. Now in 2026, up to Q1, it is at break even point with last year (up 1%).  More detail isn't available from Polestar. 

The current model range of the Polestar 2 (saloon car), Polestar 3 (SUV), and Polestar 4 (SUV coupe). The Polestar 5 GT is the latest offering. 

2026 should have an increase in deliveries. Much needed as 60,000 units is too low to be a viable brand at its price point.