ZB ZB
Opinion
Live now
Start time
Playing for
End time
Listen live
Listen to NAME OF STATION
Up next
Listen live on
ZB

More Kiwis taking the plunge and buying EVs as fuel prices soar

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Tue, 17 Mar 2026, 8:07am
(Photo / Getty)
(Photo / Getty)

More Kiwis taking the plunge and buying EVs as fuel prices soar

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Tue, 17 Mar 2026, 8:07am

An electric vehicle provider saw an uptake in electric and hybrid car sales over the weekend as fuel prices continue to soar. 

BYD General Manager Warren Wilmot told Mike Hosking the number of fully electric and hybrid BYD cars bought on Saturday quadrupled their usual sale. 

“We sold 80 on Saturday as opposed to the usual 20 to 25 we sell on a Saturday. 

“Our Australian friends did even better they sold 902.” 

Wilmot told Hosking a lot of people had already done their research and were sitting on the fence about whether to buy one, and that they “took the opportunity now.” 

“Higher fuel prices aren’t great for anyone; you know the cost will go up for us too for shipment and other things.”   

LISTEN ABOVE 

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you