1. New Zealand passenger EV market has seen a rise in plugin vehicles, reaching about 6% penetration in the first quarter of 2024.
2. The top ten best selling battery electric vehicles in March 2024 in New Zealand include models from Tesla, MG, VW, BYD, BMW, Hyundai, and KGM.
3. Plugin hybrid electric vehicles are still selling well in New Zealand, with models from Mitsubishi, MINI, Mazda, Land Rover, and Toyota dominating the market.
The New Zealand passenger EV market has shown improvement, with nearly 10% of passenger vehicles sold in March being electric. However, when all light vehicles, including utes, are considered, the penetration rate drops to 4.7%. The top-selling electric vehicles in March included Tesla models, MG4, VW ID.4, and BMW models.
While electric vehicles are gaining popularity, plugin hybrid electric vehicles are also selling well in New Zealand. The top sellers in this category included Mitsubishi and MINI models. Toyota continues to dominate the hybrid electric vehicle market in NZ.
The future of the EV market in New Zealand is uncertain, with challenges stemming from the introduction of Road User Charges (RUCs) for electric vehicles. The impact of these charges on EV ownership remains to be seen, and predictions for the market are cautious. New battery electric cars are set to be launched in NZ, including models from Nissan, Chery, Kia, VW, and MINI, which could contribute to the growth of the market.
Overall, there is a mix of enthusiasm and uncertainty in the New Zealand EV market, with various factors influencing the trajectory of electric vehicle adoption in the country.