State of the Nation
Our State of the Nation report is Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading snapshot of the country’s electric mobility transition – tracking the progress, challenges, and opportunities shaping transport electrification across New Zealand.
Bringing together market data, policy insights, infrastructure trends, and industry analysis, the report helps businesses, fleet operators, government, councils, media, and the wider energy sector understand where New Zealand is now and where it needs to go next.
As global electrification accelerates, State of the Nation provides a credible, practical lens on how New Zealand can strengthen energy resilience, reduce transport emissions, and unlock the wider economic opportunities of electrification.
2026 State of the Nation report
From momentum to mainstream
The world is accelerating towards electric transport – and New Zealand now faces a defining choice: lead the transition, catch up, or risk falling behind.
Since the first State of the Nation report in 2023, global EV adoption has surged, charging infrastructure has expanded, and electrification has evolved far beyond passenger cars. At the same time, changing domestic policy settings and fuel price pressures have created a more complex environment for households, businesses, and fleets.
The 2026 report explores where New Zealand stands today across transport electrification, charging infrastructure, energy resilience, freight, fleets, and emerging technologies – and what’s needed to unlock long-term progress.
Inside the 2026 report
- KEY HIGHIGHTS
- One in four new cars sold globally in 2025 was electric - confirming the global transition is accelerating rapidly
- New Zealand is at a crossroads: consumer demand exists, but inconsistent policy settings are slowing momentum
- The removal of the Clean Car Discount and introduction of EV road user charges contributed to a 74% collapse in new EV sales in 2024
- Fuel prices above $3.40 per litre triggered a 285% surge in BEV registrations in March 2026, highlighting how quickly New Zealanders shift when the economics stack up
- New Zealand imports 100% of its transport fuels, while its electricity system is already more than 80% renewable, creating a major opportunity for energy resilience and locally powered transport
- Charging infrastructure is now the critical enabler, spanning public fast charging, depot charging, smart charging, and vehicle-to-grid technology
- Electrification is no longer limited to passenger cars - it now spans freight, buses, marine, aviation, micromobility, batteries, and smart energy systems.
2023 State of the Nation report - E-Mobility in New Zealand
This inaugural State of the Nation report established a national benchmark for understanding electric mobility in Aotearoa New Zealand. Released in 2023, the report explores the rapid growth of EV uptake, charging infrastructure, renewable energy, heavy transport electrification, marine and aviation innovation, and the role electrification can play in improving energy independence and reducing emissions.
The report highlights the significant progress New Zealand had made at the time, while reinforcing the scale of the transition still ahead.