New Zealand Car Yards Empty As Electric Vehicle Sales Surge
Why it matters: BYD expects 900 EVs to arrive in New Zealand in April and May, all of which are already pre-sold.
- New Zealand car yards are largely empty of electric vehicles, with second-hand and demo EVs being rapidly purchased, according to CleanTechnica's report and Steven Greenwood's observations.
- Warren Willmot, General Manager for BYD in NZ, confirmed the surge, noting that BYD was the #4 selling brand last month and could have sold 2,000 more cars if available.
- BYD is prioritizing the New Zealand market, with Mr. Liu, BYD’s General Manager for Asia and Pacific, promising to divert cars from other countries like Thailand and Singapore if needed.
- Resale value of a used Atto 3 has increased by NZ$3,000–5,000 in just three weeks, indicating intense market pressure.
- The surge in EV sales is attributed not just to the cost of petrol (which is NZ$3.50 in Auckland and rose 25% last month), but also to public concern about petrol availability and potential government regulations, according to Warren Willmot.
New Zealand's electric vehicle market is experiencing an unprecedented surge in demand, mirroring trends in Australia, leading to empty car yards and a significant increase in the resale value of used EVs. Dealerships like BYD are struggling to meet demand, with one general manager reporting sales of 200-300 vehicles nationally in a weekend, compared to 300 a month previously, and a single salesman selling 87 EVs last month.
