Imports of fully electric vehicles more than doubled in value during the 12 months to March 2023, StatsNZ said today.

The value of electric vehicle imports rose 127 per cent to $1.23 billion.

Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) increased 79 per cent to $1.12b, while plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) were up 123 per cent to $176 million.

The total value of passenger motor vehicles imported in the year to March was $6.8b, up 13 per cent on the previous year, and was the largest value of vehicles purchased within any 12 months to March.

The combination of all passenger internal combustion vehicles increased 1.7 per cent to $5.6b.

“While traditional internal combustion vehicles are still the most popular choice overall, we are seeing a clear shift towards electric power among New Zealanders when selecting their next passenger car,” Al Allen, international trade manager for StatsNZ, said.

EV sales in New Zealand have been surging, thanks in part to the clean car rebate, or ‘feebate’ scheme as it is also known, which takes as much as $8625 off the price of a new clean vehicle.

Transport Minister Michael Wood acknowledged this success this morning when announcing a tweaking to the Clean Car Discount scheme that was first introduced in 2021.

More than 100,000 rebates have been granted under the scheme, which has helped drive a level of EV uptake not expected until 2027, Wood said.

“The scheme is successfully exceeding industry and Government projections, with 20 per cent of all new passenger car sales being electric in 2022. A substantial increase from eight per cent in 2021,” he said.

• EVs promoted as solution to rising petrol prices
• Electric vehicle market 'slowly developing'
• $569m to get Kiwis into EVs, gas guzzlers face ban, criticism over ag 'omission'

The tweaks will include a hike to fees and a cut to rebates paid out under the scheme.

The scheme works by adding a fee onto the purchase of polluting cars to fund the purchase of “clean” cars, either low-emission conventional vehicles, hybrids, or full electric EVs.

China led electric vehicle imports to New Zealand in the 12 months to March, accounting for a 58 per cent share ($716m) of imports, StatsNZ said.

South Korea and the European Union were next highest with 16 per cent ($195m) and 13 per cent ($161m) respectively.