‘Significant’ electrification shift in September new vehicle stats

A “significant shift toward electrification in September” is reported by the Motor Industry Association (MIA).

Top battery electric vehicle (BEV) models among the 2029 units sold are the Tesla Model  (697 units), MG 4 (250 units) followed by the BYD Atto 3 (136 units).

A spike in consumer demand resulted in the BEV segment share jumping from an average of 13.9% (since January 2022) to a staggering 24.9% in September, says MIA.

New vehicle registrations remain soft in September at 10,909 units, says MIA chief executive Aimee Wiley, adding that’s likely caused by tougher economic conditions and continued future uncertainty of the Clean Car Discount (CCD), hinging upon the upcoming election result.

Vehicles attracting rebates accelerated significantly, while demand for those attracting fees slumped, MIA explains.

NZ EV Owners Group’s social media page figures show September set the highest monthly market share for EVs in new light vehicles at 27.9% (previously 23.6% in December 2022), the highest 12-month market share for EVs in new light vehicles at 18.5% (compared with September 2021, 4.4%; September 2022, 12.0%).

“This is the main reason that meeting the first carbon budget (2022-2025) is now believed to be within reach,” it reports.

September 2023 also saw the lowest emissions of all newly imported light vehicles, 126.4 gCO2/km (compared with 177.1 in December 2021), the group adds.

“Without the Clean Car Plan, and had the 2019-2021 trend continued, we would not have reached this point until 2033. We have achieved in 20 months what would otherwise have taken 134 months.”

Meanwhile, MIA says plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) recorded 768 units registered in September 2023.

The top three PHEV models were the Mitsubishi Outlander (220 units), followed by the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross (157 units) and the Mini Countryman (69 units).

PHEVs comprised 9.4% of the light passenger segment in September, up from a prior average of 6.7%, says MIA.

Of the 2190 hybrid units registered, the top three models were the Toyota RAV4 (495 units), followed by the Toyota Corolla (269 units) and the Ford Escape (154 units).

Hybrids comprised 26.9% of the light passenger segment in September, up from a prior average of 19.3%, says MIA, noting internal combustion engine (ICE) units of 3163 comprised 38.8% of the light passenger segment in September.

Light commercial BEVs recorded 31 units registered in September and 229 units year-to-date. Heavy commercial BEVs recorded seven units registered in September and 98 units year-to-date.

MIA says the total Industry by motive power for September was 2067 BEVs, 768 PHEVs, 2190 hybrids and 5884 ICE vehicles.