New Zealand August 2019

"3...2...1...It has landed! The Tesla Model 3 has landed!"

New Zealand is the hottest plugin market in the Southern Hemisphere and it is about to get even hotter, now that the Tesla Model 3 has landed, and the Tesla sedan has immediately become the new Best Seller in August, overcoming the once allmighty Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (57 vs 53 units).

Last month, 273 new PEVs (a record 3,2% PEV share) were sold in New Zealand, pulling the year result to a record 2,3% share, a significant improvement over the 1.4% of 2018 and giving hope for year end result close to 3%.

But the good news do not end there, as BEVs frankly outpaced PHEVs (188 units, +158% vs 85 units, +35%), so the BEV tide is also rising in this market.

Looking at the models ranking, the top two best sellers remained ahead of the pack, with the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV opening up a little more its advantage over the runner-up Hyundai Kona EV. 

But the real news show up on the second half of the table, with the Tesla Model 3 jumping to #7, tied with another newcomer, the Jaguar i-Pace.

Speaking of new nameplates, the Audi e-Tron joined the Top 10, thanks to 30 deliveries, adding up to the 28 of July, allowing it to reach #10.

The Nissan Leaf re-entered the Kiwi market, with the Japanese hatchback registering 39 units in its first month on the market.

In the Manufacturers ranking, Hyundai is leading the way, with 28% share, while the seven times Best Selling Manufacturer Mitsubishi is in Second Place (21%), with Tesla (10%) in Third.