Words: Richard Edwards
Published 14 March 2026
The fuel crisis gripping New Zealand has triggered a remarkable surge in electric vehicle inquiries, with dealerships reporting overwhelming demand that has caught the industry off guard.
Warren Willmot, General Manager of BYD New Zealand, says the Andrew Simms-operated BYD dealership in Newmarket has been swamped.
“Our Newmarket dealership is overrun with inquiry. I’ve been heading down to help sell cars, as has all of the senior management at Andrew Simms in Auckland,” Willmot says. “The fuel crisis has certainly sparked people to come on down to the showrooms and I don’t actually think we’ve ever seen anything like this. It’s pretty hectic.”
It’s not just BYD feeling the heat. Dave Boot from EV City says they had sold 12 cars by 2pm on Saturday, compared to a typical two for the whole day. Earlier in the week inquiry was up 50%, with buyers who would normally take three visits to make a decision now doing it in one.
Boot says he is also buying flat out to secure stock, reflecting a scramble playing out across the industry.
BYD New Zealand is looking to source additional inventory, including vehicles from Australia. But the Australian market is experiencing its own surge. BYD Australia recorded 480 unit sales in a single day, which Willmot describes as going “gangbusters.”
The fuel shortage appears to be pushing buyers past the usual barriers of sticker price and road user charges, with consumers making snap decisions based on fuel availability rather than following their usual purchase timelines.
“Fuel shortage has certainly sparked people to shift to EVs,” Willmot says.
