Top Selling Electric Cars in New Zealand

Electric cars and hybrids are now common sights on our roads. And, last year, the pure EV brands of BYD and Tesla were two of the nation’s top selling passenger car marques.

In 2023, BYD sold 3715 cars, securing the No.10 spot on the list of the year’s best selling car brands, and Tesla shifted 4907 Model Ys and Model 3s, placing it at No.8.

In 2022, EV and hybrid cars accounted for just over a third of all new car registrations. And last year that percentage increased to 41%. Overall, pure EV models increased from a 10% market share in 2022 to 14.5% in 2023.

However, it’s clear the end of the EV subsidies has had a big effect. While hybrid sales are gaining ground, EV numbers have plummeted. Just 5% of vehicles sold so far this year have been EVs, compared to 13% in the first 11 months of last year.

And it’s important to note that of the 31,328 hybrid cars registered in NZ this year, just 9% were plug-in hybrids, this compares to 23% across the same period in 2023. Is this a reflection of the fact that plug-ins are now subject to road user charges? Probably!

Top selling totally electric vehicle models

This year’s total EV sales are down 69% on last year’s numbers: 5504 new EVs have been registered so far this year, compared to 17,676 during the first 11 months of 2023.

However, despite many new models breaking into the top-seller list this year, Tesla remains the country’s most popular EV:

→Related article: Best Hybrid Cars in New Zealand

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Most popular electric cars in New Zealand

Tesla Model Y (from $65,900)

The Model Y comes in three versions (range/top speed/0-100km):

• Rear-wheel drive: 455km | 217km/h | 6.9s
• Long-range AWD: 533km | 217km/h | 5s
• Performance: 514km | 250km/h | 3.7s

All models come with an eight-year battery warranty, or 160,000km for the Real-Wheel Drive model and 192,000km for the AWD and Performance models, whichever comes first.

BYD Atto 3 (from $51,990)

The Atto 3 comes in three versions (range/0-100km):

• Standard: 345km | 7.3s
• Extended: 420km | 7.3s
• Tachyon: 420km | 7.3s

The Tachyon is essentially the Extended model, but with with a cosmetic makeover. Atto 3 batteries come with a warranty of 8 years / 160,000kms, whichever comes first.

MG 4 (from $42,990)

The MG 4 comes in four standard versions (range/0-100km):

• Excite 51: 350km | 7.7s
• Excite 64: 450km | 7.2s
• Essence 64: 435km | 7.2s
• Long Range 77: 530km | 6.5s

The Essence and Long Range models come with greater levels of luxury and improved safety features. Also available is the MG4 XPower performance model (from $69,990), which boasts sports styling, a range of 400km and can speed from 0-100km in 3.8s. All models come with an unlimited km, seven-year warranty.

MG ZS EV (from $40,990)

The MG ZS EV comes in three standard versions:

• Excite: 320km range
• Essence: 320km range
• Long Range: 440km range

The Essence and Long Range models come with greater levels of luxury and improved safety features. All models come with an unlimited km, seven-year warranty.

Tesla Model 3 (from $63,900)

The Model Y comes in three versions (range/0-100km):

• Rear-wheel drive: 513km | 6.1s
• Long-range AWD: 629km | 4.4s
• Performance AWD: 528km | 3.1s

The battery warranties are 8 years (160,000km) for the rear-wheel drive model and eight-years (192,000km) for the long-range Model 3.

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About the author of this page

Bruce Pitchers is the Content Manager at Canstar New Zealand. An experienced finance reporter, Bruce has three decades’ experience as a journalist and has worked for major media companies in Australia, the UK and New Zealand, including ACP, Are Media, Bauer Media Group, Fairfax, Pacific Magazines, News Corp and TVNZ.
Bruce started his career as an entertainment journalist before turning his pen to sport and fitness content, working for some of Australia’s leading sports magazines. Bruce then moved his focus to the world of finance and worked as a freelance writer and editor 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 Driven, Stuff and One Roof websites, the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast, Radio NZ, and Newstalk ZB.
Away from his desk at Canstar, Bruce spends many hours creating and editing puzzles for magazine and newspaper titles in the USA and Australasia, including Woman’s Day and New Idea. To that end, he is the co-author of the murder-mystery puzzle book 5 Minute Murder.