New Zealand EV Market Surges in September 2023

With elections imminent and a right-leaning coalition anticipated to win, New Zealand new automobile consumers are about to lose large bonus/malus advantages from buying an electrical automobile. Therefore, September’s a shopping for spree! The NZ market is experiencing a politically-driven pull, with electrical automobiles taking 34% of the auto market in September. That’s up a whopping 10% over final month. (Roughly 8,000 vehicles are offered per thirty days in New Zealand.)

After the election is over and the mud settles, it’s anticipated that gross sales will stabilize. There might even be a lower. Time will inform. Within the meantime, let’s benefit from the success. New Zealand now has nearly 90,000 plug-in automobiles on the highway.

Full particulars from EVDB:

The highest ten promoting BEVs in New Zealand in August 2023 had been:

1. Tesla Mannequin Y (697)
2. MG4 (250)
3. BYD Atto 3 (136)
4. BYD Dolphin (107)
5. MG ZS EV (85)
6. Kia Niro (70)
7. Tesla Mannequin 3 (63)
8. Hyundai Kona (50)
9. Ford Mustang Mach-E (48)
10. Kia EV6 (45)

Taking supply of an MG4 as New Zealand EV market surges. Picture courtesy of John Baldwin.

We must also add 450 used Nissan LEAFs imported from Japan.

Modifications within the chart which can be of be aware from August’s high ten: The Tesla Mannequin Y has gone from third to first; the MG4 has greater than doubled its numbers; BYD’s Atto 3, Kia’s Niro, and MG’s ZS EV stay steady.

Volkswagen delivered 14 models of the ID.4 and 13 of the ID.5. The Kia EV6 has elevated in supply quantity. Although Tesla managed to double the variety of Mannequin 3 automobiles delivered to 63 models, I anticipate the refreshed Mannequin 3 to do higher within the fourth quarter, relying on pricing and politics.

The Cupra Born, with 21 vehicles delivered, additionally deserves a particular point out.

Cupra Born promoting properly in NZ. Picture courtesy of Majella Waterworth.

Primarily based on these figures, the highest motor teams for EV gross sales had been Tesla at 760, SAIC (MG) at 335, and BYD at 243.

The MG4 is the lowest-priced pure electrical automobile on sale in New Zealand. The BYD Seal has launched in New Zealand and deliveries are eagerly anticipated.

The Dolphin made a giant splash in its first month — touchdown within the high 5 on entry. The Nice Wall ORA appears to be making a sluggish begin, with 7 vehicles delivered in August and solely 10 in September. As soon as this retro funky sedan is out there in higher numbers, I anticipate that the Dolphin, the ORA, and the MG4 will create their very own area of interest on NZ roads and on the very best vendor chart.

BYD Dolphin makes greatest vendor listing in first month. Picture courtesy of Majella Waterworth.

The Mannequin Y was essentially the most registered new automobile in NZ in September, narrowly beating the Toyota RAV4 (683), with the Ford Ranger in third (605). 5 hundred and forty Toyota Hilux vans had been registered to take fourth place general, adopted by the Toyota Yaris Cross (316), Mitsubishi ASX (286), Mitsubishi Outlander (268), MG4 (250), and Mitsubishi Triton (198). What NZ (like Australia) urgently wants is sweet electrical utes.

“Because it stands, there’s however one electrical ute on sale in New Zealand, the LDV eT60. It’s an excellent begin but it surely’s removed from excellent, going with out all-wheel drive and making do with a variety of 325km … earlier than you load the tray up. What I think about most would-be consumers are ready for is the doorway of the likes of Ford, Toyota, Mitsubishi. These large gamers within the ute recreation. However the place are they?” Definitely not on the ships but.

LDV electrical ute. Picture courtesy of Paul Schofield.

Ford has the F-150 lightning and Mitsubishi is speaking a few PHEV model of the Triton however: “… Reece Congdon, head of promoting and company affairs for Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand, beforehand instructed Stuff that ‘… Whereas we’re working intently with our colleagues in Japan on electrifying our vary, I can say with full certainty {that a} PHEV Triton won’t be out there in 2023.’”

Maybe the Chinese language will beat the Japanese and People to the punch? BYD is speaking a few PHEV ute for the antipodes, whereas Nice Wall and Geely are additionally engaged on electrified utes. Maybe 2024 would be the 12 months of the electrical ute, as 2023 has been the 12 months of the inexpensive EV hatch?

So far as hybrids with a plug, the highest three best-selling plugin hybrid electrical automobiles in New Zealand in August had been:

1. Mitsubishi Outlander (220)
2. Mitsubishi Cross (157)
3. Mini Countryman (69)

These had been adopted in small numbers by a smattering of manufacturers: BMW, MG, Land Rover, Jeep, Volvo, and others.

As a comparability, the highest 5 HEVs had been: Toyota 1366 (primarily RAV4s and Corollas), Ford 233 (primarily the Escape), Honda 152 (manly the Jazz), Hyundai 98 (primarily the Tucson), and Lexus 80 (primarily the UX 250H).

The highest 5 petrol vehicles manufacturers had been: Toyota (425); Mitsubishi (423); Suzuki (360); Mazda (153); MG (111). Is it Japan (HEV) vs China (BEV)?

What of the longer term?

Regardless of Toyota’s place as chief laggard within the rEVolution, it’s having some affordable gross sales of its absolutely electrical (made in China) BZ4x. The mannequin is predicted to launch in NZ (and Australia) subsequent 12 months and ought to be a gross sales success because of Toyota’s status for reliability and worth for cash. The bZ4X is comparable in dimension to the Toyota RAV4 and will likely be out there as front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. What concerning the bizarre title? (Appears like a nickname for one in all Elon’s youngsters.) bZ is brief for Past Zero. Toyota is intimating that the corporate won’t solely obtain web zero, however will go “past zero.” The 4 is a dimension indicator just like the RAV4.

As goes Toyota, so goes the remainder of the Japanese auto trade. I hope that New Zealand can anticipate many extra electrical fashions from the likes of Mitsubishi, Suzuki, and Mazda. Quickly to come back to market is the Subaru Solterra (additionally made in China on the identical platform because the bZ4X), the BMW iX1 xDrive20 medium SUV, and the Nissan Ariya. Seven Ariyas had been registered in September, most probably for use as supplier demonstrators.

With a comparatively inexperienced electrical energy grid powered primarily by hydro, quickly growing petrol costs (presently set at $NZ 2.77 per L, which is roughly NZ$12.50 per gallon), and an increasing electrical automobile vary and provide (presently over 100 fashions to selected from), selecting an electrical automobile is smart with or with out authorities subsidies in New Zealand.