EV and hybrid sales surge continues in New Zealand

The Motor Industry Association has released New Zealand’s new-vehicle registration data from May, with figures said to illustrate that the country’s thirst for electrified vehicles is “more than a one-month movement”. 

Overall registrations totalled 11,294 units in May — a 10.4% year-on-year lift, and a 12.6% increase on April’s registration tally. 

According to Motor Industry Association chief executive Aimee Wiley, plug-in passenger SUVs are increasingly becoming a key territory for the market. Although this couldn’t stop two predominantly diesel-powered utes from still leading the way. 

The rise in popularity of plug-in SUVs was best signalled by the Tesla Model Y, notching 415 registrations to place fourth overall for the month. 

BYD also enjoyed a big May, with 638 registrations across its line-up making it the country’s fifth most popular marque behind Toyota, Ford, Mitsubishi, and Kia. 

“The strongest movement is in the light passenger market, where more buyers are choosing battery electric and plug in hybrid vehicles,” said Wiley.

“This is now more than a one-month movement, with plug-in registrations remaining elevated across March, April and May. Elevated fuel prices and uncertainty about future fuel costs are relevant to household and business purchasing decisions, but registration data alone cannot isolate a single cause.”

Wiley notes that light commercial vehicle registrations were down year-on-year, although May did see the segment’s registration figure rise by 12.3% on April. June’s Fieldays agriculture and technology event could fuel more growth for ute registrations, too. 

A pair of predominantly diesel-powered utes (albeit with hybrids in their line-up) led the month’s overall registration numbers, with the Ford Ranger achieving 809 registrations to lead the field ahead of the Toyota Hilux’s 776 registrations. 

The Toyota RAV4 was best of the rest in third with 531 registrations, heading the aforementioned Model Y (415), Ford Everest (340), Mitsubishi Triton (322), Mitsubishi ASX (282), Kia Sportage (256), Mitsubishi Outlander (241), and Toyota Corolla Cross (211) in tenth.

The overall top 10 list includes one dedicated BEV (Model Y), three models with an available plug-in hybrid (Ranger, RAV4, Outlander), two dedicated hybrids (Sportage, Corolla Cross), one model with an available mild hybrid (Hilux), and two models that skip electrification altogether (Triton, ASX). 

A total of 1553 new EVs were registered in May, marking an almost 350% year-on-year increase for the segment. Behind the Tesla Model Y, the BYD Atto 3 and MG 4 both recorded solid months to be the second and third most popular EVs, with 142 and 141 registrations, respectively. The Atto 3 is currently on run out sale, whilst the MG 4 recently benefited from a mild update. The Kia EV3 (96) and BYD Atto 1 (86) were fourth and fifth.

The Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid meanwhile, a model that enjoyed its first full month on sale in May, has hit the ground running. It was the country's best-selling plug-in hybrid with 229 registrations, leading the BYD Sealion 8 (65), BYD Sealion 6 (50), Jaecoo J7 SHS (50), and Haval H6 PHEV (47).

The Motor Industry Association’s May press release notes that high petrol prices and wider financial uncertainty has led to a “mixed operating environment” for the motoring sector. 

“Retail activity had shown signs of improvement earlier in the year, but more recent confidence and monetary policy commentary indicate that higher fuel prices are adding pressure to household budgets and business costs,” it said.

“Current fuel supply conditions remain stable, but elevated fuel prices and uncertainty about future fuel costs are now part of the purchasing environment. 

“Against that background, stronger battery electric and plug in hybrid registrations appear consistent with buyers placing greater weight on operating costs and exposure to fuel price volatility, although registration data alone cannot identify a single cause.”