Fuel crisis sends buyers wild for EVs

New Zealand’s fuel shortage has triggered a buying frenzy at electric vehicle dealerships, with some recording daily sales figures that would normally take weeks to achieve as petrol anxiety drives rapid consumer adoption.

Warren Willmot, General Manager of BYD New Zealand, says the Andrew Simms-operated BYD dealership in Newmarket is struggling to cope with overwhelming customer demand.

“Our Newmarket dealership is overrun with inquiry that I am having to head down to help people help sell cars, as is all of the senior management at Andrew Simms in Auckland,” Willmot says.

“The fuel crisis has certainly sparked people to come on down to the showrooms and I don’t actually think we’ve ever seen anything like this. It’s pretty hectic.”

The surge is not limited to BYD dealerships. Dave Boot from EV City says by 2pm on Saturday they had sold 12 cars, compared to a normal two for the entire day. Boot noted that earlier in the week inquiry was up 50%, with buyers who usually took three visits to make a purchasing decision now doing it in one.

At the same time he is buying flat out to secure stock, Boot says, reflecting the industry-wide scramble to meet sudden demand.

The demand surge has created immediate stock challenges across the sector. BYD New Zealand is looking to secure additional inventory, including sourcing vehicles from Australia to meet local orders.

However, the Australian market is experiencing its own record-breaking demand. BYD Australia recorded 480 unit sales in a single day, which Willmot describes as going “gangbusters.”

The fuel shortage appears to be a primary catalyst driving consumers toward EVs, with the shift seeming to push buyers past existing barriers of cost perception and road user charges (RUC). The accelerated buying patterns suggest consumers are making immediate decisions based on fuel availability concerns rather than following traditional purchase timelines.

“Fuel shortage has certainly sparked people to shift to EVs,” Willmot says.