The automotive market picked up in August (after a very slow July), with over 18,000 light vehicles being registered. Continuing last month’s trend, there was a high proportion of hybrid vehicles in the mix (over 40%). Among new car registrations, the proportion that were petrol-only was the lowest ever at 32%.
August 2023 EV Market
In August 2023, 2,256 plug-in vehicles (EVs) were registered.
• This included 1,270 Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and 986 Plug-in Hybrid EVs (PHEVs).
• 23.5% of NZ new passenger cars were EVs.
• 12.5% of all light vehicles were EVs (including commercial vehicles and used imports).
Total light EVs now on the road: 85,664 (estimated).
Top 10 new battery EVs registered in August 2023
The BYD Atto 3 was the most popular, followed by the new MG 4 hatchback. Many will be dealer demo cars ahead of a larger delivery of customer cars in September.
Tesla Model 3 Refresh
A new upgraded Tesla Model 3 is now available to order (delivery 2024). The Model 3 was available from September 2019 in New Zealand and is the best-selling new battery electric vehicle.
The refreshed version has changes to the interior and exterior, and its improved aerodynamics leads to an increase in range (519 km in the standard RWD model and 629 km in the long range version).
New Models Announced
• Jeep will bring the brand’s first battery-electric vehicle to NZ in 2024. The Jeep Avenger is a compact SUV offering over 400 km of range.
• Volkswagen intends to bring GTX versions of the ID.4 and ID.5 to New Zealand next year. The GTX offers increased performance and trim level over the existing ID.4 Pro.
• BYD will no longer sell the standard range Atto 3 in NZ – the extended range outsold it by a factor of 30 to 1.
• Pricing on the Kia EV9 has been set. The EV9 is an extra-large SUV, seating up to 7 people. The EV9 Light is priced at $105,990, with the longer range higher-spec EV9 Earth at $115,990.
Who are the leading brands in New Zealand’s electric car industry?
A lot can change in a few years. With 2023 two-thirds done, the patterns are clear, with Tesla, BYD, MG, Kia, and Hyundai proving very popular in the EV space. The clean car program may have persuaded a number of brands to sell EVs here, leading to a diverse range of makes and models available in New Zealand. BMW and Ford (with the Mustang Mach-E) have also had a strong 2023.
What’s next?
With an election looming, there is uncertainty around the future of the Clean Car Discount. This uncertainty may lead to a spike in EV registrations. Those who have been considering buying an electric vehicle may decide to buy sooner rather than wait (in order to claim a rebatePolicy will strengthen charging networks and electrification of transport). There is an abundance of choice in the EV marketplace, where even entry-level cars have a range of 300-450 km. It’s a good time to go electric.
The future looks bright for electric vehicles in New Zealand. ChargeNet’s dedication to expanding our network of EV charging stations demonstrates our support for the widespread adoption of EVs in Aotearoa. Our continuous efforts to improve charging infrastructure’s accessibility and convenience pave the way for a future in which electric vehicles are the norm.
