Source: Aldeca Studio/Shutterstock.com
Source: Aldeca Studio/Shutterstock.com

Between 2022 and 2023, pure EV models increased their market share from 10% to 14.5%. However, it's clear the end of the EV subsidies had a big effect. While hybrid sales remained strong last year, new EV numbers plummeted. Just 7% of vehicles sold in 2025 were fully electric.

Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), which are now subject to road user charges, were also out of favour. Just 4658 PHEVs were registered in NZ last year, while non plug-in hybrid sales were strong, matching those of petrol vehicles.

However, over the first six months of 2026, EV and PHEV sales rebounded considerably. EVs comprised a record 17% of the new car market and, marking another tipping point, sales of vehicles with non plug-in hybrid engines (of which just over 1% were diesel) surpassed those of cars with traditional combustion engines:

Sales by Engine Type 2025

Sales by Engine Type 2026

40% Petrol

35% Non plug-in hybrid

40% Non plug-in hybrid

31% Petrol

8% Diesel

17% EV

7% EV

10% Plug-in hybrid

5% Plug-in hybrid

7% Diesel

Source: NZTA – 2026 sales to 30/06/26

So far this year, sales by engine type:

Non plug-in hybrids: 35% (17,382)

Top models include:

  • Toyota RAV4 (2442)
  • Toyota Corolla Cross (1494)
  • Kia Sportage (1024)

Petrol: 31% (16,081 sales)

Top models include:

  • Mitsubishi ASX (1807)
  • Mitsubishi Outlander (1273)
  • Kia Seltos (1055)

EVs: 17% (8792 sales)

Top models include:

  • Tesla Model Y (1908)
  • BYD Atto 1 (498)
  • BYD Atto 3 (490)

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle: 10% (5158 sales)

Top models include:

  • Toyota RAV4 (777)
  • GWM Haval H6 (426)
  • BYD Sealion 5 (381)

Diesel: 7% (3409 sales)

Top models include:

  • Ford Everest (1494)
  • Mitsubishi Pajero Sport (216)
  • Land Rover Defender (210)

Top selling EV models

As we mention above, so far this year EV sales have bounced back:

  • 2023: 21,032 EVs
  • 2024: 6341 EVs
  • 2025: 6871 EVs
  • 2026 (Jan-June): 8792 cars

And despite many new models hitting the market, such as the Dongfeng Box, the Tesla Model Y remains the country's most popular EV:

Rank

Top Selling EVs 2025

Top Selling EVs 2026

1

Tesla Model Y (1284)

Tesla Model Y (1908)

2

BYD Atto 3 (555)

BYD Atto 1 (498)

3

Polestar 2 (354)

BYD Atto 3 (490)

4

BYD Sealion 7 (337)

BYD Atto 2 (450)

5

Tesla Model 3 (308)

Dongfeng Box (449)

6

Kia EV5 (276)

Kia EV3 (447)

7

Kia EV3 (255)

Jaecoo J5 (351)

8

BYD Dolphin (221)

MG 4 (350)

9

Toyota BZ4X (192)

BYD Sealion 7 (256)

10

BMW i  (176)

Zeekr 7X (246)

11

Honda e:N1 (171)

Kia EV5 (244)

12

Mini Countryman (151)

MG ZS (240)

13

Omoda E5 (128)

MG S5 (224)

14

Geely EX5 | Mini Aceman (111)

Dongfeng Vigo (213)

15

Volvo EX30 (109)

Telsa Model 3 (198)

Source: NZTA – 2026 sales to 30/06/26

Bruce Pitchers is Canstar's NZ Editor. An experienced finance reporter, he has three decades’ experience as a journalist and has worked for major media companies in Australia, the UK and NZ, including ACP, Are Media, Bauer Media Group, Fairfax, Pacific Magazines, News Corp and TVNZ. As a freelancer, he has worked for The Australian Financial Review, the NZ Financial Markets Authority and major banks and investment companies on both sides of the Tasman.
In his role at Canstar, he has been a regular commentator in the NZ media, including on the DrivenStuff and One Roof websites, the NZ Herald, Radio NZ, and Newstalk ZB.
Away from Canstar, Bruce creates puzzles for magazines including Woman’s Day and New Idea. He is also the co-author of the murder-mystery puzzle book 5 Minute Murder.


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