Half a million Kiwis want to ditch car ownership for subscriptions

A new study commissioned by rental car company Avis New Zealand suggests that over half a million Kiwis are ready to step away from car ownership and towards subscriptions instead.

It was found that two in three (69 per cent) New Zealanders expect their priorities to change in the next five years, with around 626,000 of them indicating that they intend to move to a car subscription model.

Splitting it between the sexes, men are more likely to change the way they use their cars over the next five years as it was found they have a “stronger interest” in subscription culture.

In terms of generations, millennials were the most likely to use a car subscription, with 31 per cent saying it gives them the freedom to use a car whenever it suits them without the costs and liabilities associated with ownership.

Bryn McGoldrick, General Manager of Avis New Zealand says that car subscription models are gaining popularity overseas with vehicle subscription programmes expected to account for nearly 15 per cent of all new vehicle sales in 2025.

“Our research shows Kiwis are increasingly looking to have access to a car rather than having to own one,” says McGoldrick.

“They’re [car subscriptions] also a great ‘toe in the water’ for electric vehicles, allowing people to test for longer before they buy or long-term subscribe to EV.”

Findings from the research also show that three in five Kiwis say they would prefer to rent an EV before they buy one.

One in five New Zealanders expect to downsize to more economical vehicles in the next five years, while nearly 100,000 Kiwis don’t think they’ll be using a car at all, putting in a good case for car subscriptions.