Autobayng News Team
- Published On Apr 3, 2026 at 03:55 PM IST
Electric vehicle sales in New Zealand more than tripled in March according to official government figures released this week.
Sales data released by the New Zealand Transport Agency showed 3,108 electric vehicle registrations in March, up from 921 in February.
The sales were driven by increased fuel prices as a result of the war in the Middle East.
During the same period, the average petrol price had risen by more than 30 percent, and diesel prices were up 74 percent.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop said year to date registrations were “nearly 2,000 higher” than the the same time last year.
“It’s not surprising that there’s a bit of a run on electric vehicles because people are looking at the fuel price and the diesel price and thinking maybe now is the time to make a switch to a cleaner car, and I suspect that will continue,” Bishop said.
Electric vehicle sales had dropped in New Zealand after the right-wing coalition government came to power in November 2023, scrapping the “clean car subsidy”.
The abandonded policy gave people up to about NZ$7,000 (US$4,000) off an electric vehicle at purchase, while buyers of higher emitting petrol or diesel vehicles payed extra.
Bishop said New Zealand would not be returning to a similar subsidy in light of petrol concerns.
“It was a regressive wealth transfer policy,” he said.
“It is not a prudent use of taxpayer money to subsidise high income earners to buy Teslas. That is not a good use of public money.”
- Published On Apr 3, 2026 at 03:55 PM IST
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