More plug-ins coming

The New Zealand market will see at least 44 new plug-in models hit the roads between now and the end of 2020.

Motor Industry Association chief executive David Crawford released the data today following a survey of members – virtually all the new vehicle distributors in the country.

“The good news is between now and the end of 2020 we expect to see the introduction of at least 44 new EV and PHEV models into the New Zealand market,” Crawford daus

‘Of the total number of planned new plug-in vehicle models between now and the end of 2020 one third are EVs and two thirds PHEVs,” Crawford explains. “In each of the years from now to 2020, there will be around 7-10 new models a year introduced into the market. This is a reasonably strong growth rate.”

The association grouped the results to avoid commercial sensitivities between members.

“While the number of new models to be introduced is looking promising, the rate of sales of these models is difficult to predict,” Crawford says. “All models carry a price premium over standard vehicles and will continue to do so for some time.

“However, with announcement on the 5th of May by the Minister of Transport, Hon Simon Bridges, on a package of incentives to increase the uptake of low emission vehicles the MIA believes there is growing interest by businesses and consumers in purchasing low emission vehicles such as EV’s and PHEV’s.”