Clean Car Discount affects sales of utes

AUCKLAND: A month after the Clean Car Discount fees came into force, research into April car sales has found a ute has not made New Zealand’s top three monthly registrations for the first time in more than a decade.

Overall, registrations of 9756 new vehicles were down 25.7% compared with April last year. Statistics from Motor Industry Association also found that, year to date, the market is up 3.4%.

Due to the large number of hybrid vehicles that are now eligible for discounts, 8536 passenger cars and SUVs were sold — the secondstrongest month of sales on record.

However, there were just 1220 registrations of new commercial vehicles, down 72%.

For the first time in more than a decade, a ute was not listed in the top three monthly registrations, but Motor Industry Association chief executive David Crawford said he did not expect this to become the norm.

‘‘It is anticipated sales of utes will gradually recover as the year progresses.’’

The Clean Car Discount, or ‘‘feebate’’ scheme, charges fees on imported cars of up to $5175, money which is then used to subsidise discounts of up to $8625 for people buying EVs, hybrids and other lowpolluting cars.

Mr Crawford said, as expected, it was the weakest month of April sales since 2015.

Last month, 572 pure electric vehicles, 1113 plugin hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and 2145 hybrid vehicles were sold. —