New-vehicle market expands
The Motor Industry Association (MIA) says private and business consumers are showing increased interest in lower-emissions vehicles after the new-vehicle market recorded growth across all major segments last month.
Some 14,908 new vehicles were registered in March, up 25.2 per cent compared with the same month last year when the total was 11,904.
The MIA notes light commercial vehicles contributed strongly to the overall rise, alongside continued solid performance in the passenger and heavy commercial segments.
However, it adds the March result reflects broad-based expansion rather than movement in a single segment.
Year-to-date registrations totalled 36,857 units, up 13.3 per cent on the same period in 2025, which indicates sustained underlying demand across the market through the first quarter.
Aimee Wiley, chief executive, says last month’s numbers reflect a shift in buyer behaviour among private and business customers, with the pace of change outpacing supply conditions.
“Demand for electric vehicles has increased rapidly, as rising fuel costs are influencing purchasing decisions across the market,” she explains.
“New Zealand is a long lead-time market, and supply pipelines were set against more subdued demand, so available stock has been drawn down quickly.”
Wiley, pictured, observes that the current market performance is occurring against a backdrop of uneven economic conditions, with recent data indicating limited momentum in the recovery and continued softness in household spending and private investment.
At the same time, fuel price increases linked to ongoing geopolitical disruption are contributing to rising cost pressures across households and businesses.
“These conditions are reinforcing a more cautious operating environment, while supply chains and freight systems continue to function, although at higher cost and with emerging pressure points,” she says.
Motive power trends
MIA’s figures show battery EVs increased their share of registrations in March compared with the same month last year, representing a significant and rapid shift in the overall fleet mix, with demand levels materially above recent norms.
The 2,422 BEV sales last month accounted for 16.2 per cent of the new-vehicle market, up from 638 units and 5.4 per cent in March 2025.
Traditional hybrids and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) continue to maintain a steady presence across the market and accounted for 9.7 per cent and 26.3 per cent of registrations respectively last month.
Internal combustion vehicles had the largest share of registrations, at 47.8 per cent, although that has moderated relative to prior periods and was down from 62.1 per cent a year ago.
