Passenger car imports climbed by $277m to reach $717m last month, with reduced emissions vehicles accounting for more than 43 per cent.
Increased demand for electric vehicles (EVs) has helped bump up the monthly value of passenger motor car imports by millions of dollars.
The value of passenger motor car imports reached $717m in November, a climb of $277m or 63 per cent from the same month a year ago.
Stats NZ’s figures show the increase was driven by the value of EV imports increasing by $151m, or 216 per cent, over the same timeframe.
The percentage of total passenger car import value made up by battery EVs, plug-in hybrids and hybrids also reached 43.2 per cent last month, compared with 27.9 per cent in November 2021.
These numbers led to the value of imports of vehicles, parts and accessories hitting $1.1 billion in November, an increase of $374 million or 48 per cent from $775m a year earlier.
Other data from the latest overseas merchandise trade figures reveal the value of imported vehicles and parts for the year to the end of November came to $11.4b, a rise of 14.4 per cent from $10b in the previous 12-month spell.
The total value for all imports last month was $8.5b, which was up $1.8b or 26 per cent from the same month a year ago.
Petroleum and products made the biggest climb with the value of such commodities rising $557m, or 117 per cent, to $1b.
With goods exports only reaching $6.7b in November, the monthly trade balance was a deficit of $1.9b.