Tritons on order ahead of feebate

Mitsubishi says 5000 Triton utes will start arriving in November to support demand. Nile Bijoux reports.

Mitsubishi New Zealand has ordered a remarkable 5000 new Triton utes for November and December, in anticipation of high demand before the Clean Car Discount scheme comes into force next year.

Although the Ford Ranger is still forging ahead in sales, Toyota is struggling with supply issues and Mitsubishi would seem to be in a strong position for the rest of the year, particularly if it can shift a significant number of the Tritons before the feebate scheme kicks in on January 1, which is something it is clearly hoping to do.

While the Ranger is sitting on 7224 sales for the year to the the end of August, the Hilux is in second place with 5883 registrations, and the Triton has racked up 3614 registrations in the same period.

Mitsubishi’s ASX sits in between the Hilux and Triton to take third place in the year-to-date sales race with 3641 registrations.

With the continuing high demand for utes being boosted by the incoming fees on high-emission vehicles, the Triton could easily surpass the ASX to become Mitsubishi’s bestseller for the year.

It could quite possibly knock the Hilux off as well, if Toyota continues to struggle with supply.

It is unlikely to catch the Ranger, however, unless Ford has an absolutely disastrous end to the year and Mitsubishi sells off all 5000 units.

‘‘We are fully committed to supporting ute customers across the country and are delighted to be in a position to meet the strong demand we have received for this vehicle with a huge delivery before the end of the year,’’ Daniel Cook, Mitsubishi NZ’s chief operating officer, said.

‘‘Over half of our Triton customers work in infrastructure, trade or agriculture, so we are extremely pleased to be able to support them so robustly in the face of ongoing global supply issues and shipping delays, as well as the price rises that will result from the Government’s feebate scheme that kicks off in January.’’

The levies on higher-emission vehicles like the Triton will add somewhere between $2500 and

$3000 to the sale price, pushing prices for the entry 2WD GLX Diesel Double Cab up from $38,990 to about $42,000 to $43,000.

The extra 5000 Tritons are all very new as well. The 2022 model picks up safety technology such as forward collision mitigation, lane departure warning, rain sensing wipers, and automatic headlights across the range.

GLX-R and VRX models benefit from additional safety features such as blind-spot warning, rear cross traffic alert and a misacceleration mitigation system. GLX-R 4WD models get the Super Select II 4WD system, alongside offroad mode and hill descent control, which puts it on par with the rangetopping VRX 4WD.

Finally, a new VRX 2WD Black Edition is available, bringing the blacked-out exterior and leather interior of the 4WD to a cheaper price point. Changes include a black grille, black bumper garnish and headlamp surround, black

18-inch alloys, black side steps, door mirrors and handles, black tailgate garnish and rear step bumper, plus Black Edition badging on each fender.