Hybrid and EV imports hit $2.9b in year to June

New Zealand’s shift towards lower-emission vehicles continued to gather pace over the past year, with the value of reduced-emission passenger vehicle imports climbing 33% to $2.9 billion in the 12 months to June 2026.

Figures released by Stats NZ show reduced-emission vehicles – including battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) – accounted for 48% of the total value of passenger vehicle imports over the year.

The total value of passenger vehicle imports reached $6.1b for the year, up 23% ($1.1b) compared with the previous 12 months.

While imports of petrol and diesel-powered vehicles remained higher in value at $3.1b, the gap between internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and reduced-emission models has narrowed significantly.

In the year to June 2026, ICE vehicle imports exceeded reduced-emission vehicle imports by just $202 million, compared with a difference of $4.5b in the year to June 2019.

“Reduced-emission motor vehicles accounted for 48% of the total value of all passenger vehicles imported in the year ended June 2026,” Stats NZ international accounts spokesperson Shanna Dilworth said.

Hybrid vehicles remained the largest segment of reduced-emission imports, with import values increasing 7.9% over the year to $1.7b. Hybrids represented 58% of all reduced-emission vehicle imports by value.

Battery-electric vehicle imports more than doubled, rising 105% to $810m, while plug-in hybrid imports increased 76% to $413m.

“Nearly one in three passenger vehicle imports were hybrid electric vehicles in the year ended June 2026,” Dilworth said.

Japan remained New Zealand’s largest source of reduced-emission vehicles, accounting for 44% of imports by value, or $1.3b. China followed with a 30% share worth $877m, while South Korea supplied 8.6% of imports, valued at $251m.

China continued to dominate the battery-electric vehicle market, supplying 73% of New Zealand’s EV imports by value. Japan remained the primary source of hybrid vehicles, providing 63% of all hybrid imports.