EVs double share of market

Sales of battery EVs (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) surged to one in five or 20 per cent of all new-vehicle registrations last week, according to data from the Ministry of Transport.

Demand for such models from Kiwi consumers has soared in recent weeks as fuel prices increase amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Figures from the ministry show sales of BEVs and PHEVs totalled 1,033 in the week ending March 22, which was up from 225 units in the third week of March last year.

It was also the strongest weekly sales result since the clean car discount was axed at the start of 2024.

In March last year, BEVs and PHEVs accounted for one in 10 of all new-vehicle registrations.

BYD has been the top EV brand so far this month and claims to have been selling between 50 and 100 cars daily.

Warren Willmot, BYD New Zealand country manager, says it is now “completely sold out” but has upped its production allocation and will have more cars arriving in May and June, reports the NZ Herald.

He adds wait times for New Zealand consumers wanting BYD models will be 90 days, compared with about seven before the war broke out.

Other dealers have also reported EV purchases being completed before vehicles arrive in the country and an increase in enquiry levels for low and zero-emitters.

Geary Sutjahjo, from GVI Kiwi in Auckland, told 1News the company has sent two of its buyers to Japan to try to get more BEV and PHEV models into the New Zealand market as quickly as possible.

Westpac also says EV loan applications have roughly doubled in the past two weeks.