“Rising fuel prices have clearly become a much more prominent part of the conversation,” Simpson said. On the Lexus side of the yard, Simpson said it had been the “strongest month yet” for the brand’s plug-in hybrid models. Now, Enticott said customers could be forced to wait two to three months to receive their vehicles. Bayswater Hastings Hyundai, Isuzu and MG branch manager Paul Kerr said EV and hybrid sales had “absolutely” increased since fuel prices soared. But he too was steadily running out of cars despite having a good range of EVs and hybrids available.

Source: New Zealand Herald March 23, 2026 11:20 UTC