September a record-breaking month for NZ electric vehicle sales

As reported earlier this week, September was a record-breaking month for new vehicle registrations; the Motor Industry Association (MIA) noting that it was New Zealand’s second best month for sales in the time the group has been keeping records.

Now, it’s been confirmed that it was also a record month for electric vehicles, too. According to the Ministry of Transport, 2,282 new and used electric vehicles were registered in September; the most ever registered in a month. 

New Zealand’s total electric vehicle fleet count eclipsed 30,000 last month. Now, it sits at 32,780. That’s a significant 44.8 per cent increase in the space of just 12 months, relative to September 2020’s count of 22,635 vehicles.

September’s result was heavily weighted by the success of the Tesla Model 3. With 1066 new models registered, it was the country’s second most popular vehicle for the month, beaten only by the Ford Ranger. 

All up, 2,045 out of the 2,282 EVs registered in September were new vehicles, with the remaining 230 being used vehicles. 

The news caps off a big week for electrified vehicles locally. 

Earlier this week Ford New Zealand confirmed it would be bringing in seven new electrified models by 2024 and subsequently culling pure internal combustion engines from almost all of its SUV and passenger car range. 

And, earlier today, the government confirmed the make-up of its new-look Low Emission Transport Fund scheme, announcing that it plans to ramp up the fund’s kitty to $25million by 2023-’24.