New Zealand May 2020

Tesla Model 3 and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV run for the leadership

New Zealand is one success story regarding the Covid pandemic, with no current active cases, and that is visible in the automotive market, with May losing only 32% YoY.

Interestingly, unlike other markets, the NZ plugin market has fared worse last month, dropping 42% YoY, with the Kiwi market registering  just 110 new PEVs in May, translated in a plugin share of just 1,3% (0,7% BEV), dragging down the yearly plugin share to 1,9% share (1,2% BEV), staying below the 2,6% share of 2019.

Why is this happening? I believe one of the reasons is the pandemic-derived supply chain disruption, because plugin inventories are in short supply, any disruption is immediately noticeable, while regular FF units have higher inventory levels, and because of this, ICE model sales aren't as easily disrupted as plugins. 

Once the supply chain is back to normal and New Zealand starts to receive new EV shiploads, expect plugins to return to the growth path. 

Looking at the models ranking, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and the Tesla Model 3 are running for #1, with only 6 units difference between both, and because the Californian supply of fresh units was interrupted this quarter, expect the Japanese SUV to continue leading until September, when a complete load of Model 3's should allow the Tesla sports sedan to jump into #1. 

Elsewhere, the Hyundai Kona EV remains comfortably in the last place in the podium, followed by the #4 Nissan Leaf, that is making a comeback in this market.

Also interesting is the Jaguar i-Pace in #7, with the #8 Porsche Cayenne PHEV just 6 units behind Jag's Sports-SUV, so this should be an entertaining race to follow.

In the Manufacturers ranking, Tesla is back on top, with 26% share, followed by Mitsubishi (23%), while Hyundai (17%) closes the podium.

Far behind the medal positions, Nissan climbed to #4, with 6% share.