- Over 100k Toyota hybrids sold new in New Zealand.
- The first was the Prius, launched in 2003.
- Toyota NZ also experimenting with more sustainable shipping.
Toyota New Zealand has hit the 100,000 mark for sales of new hybrid electric vehicles (which the company now badges as "HEV"). The milestone has come in just over two decades; the first Toyota hybrid officialy sold new in NZ was the Prius, launched in 2003. And that number doesn't include the vast quantity of used-import hybrids that have been sold here.
Today, hybrids make up 95% of Toyota’s passenger new-vehicle sales, with the RAV4 leading the charge as the country’s top-selling passenger vehicle in 2025: 5184 units sold year-to-date.
“This milestone reflects the commitment of NZ drivers to reducing emissions and the growing appeal of practical, affordable hybrid vehicles,” says Susanne Hardy, assistant vice president – marketing, sustainability and technology for Toyota NZ.
“It’s a critical step toward our goal of reducing our CO2 emissions by 46% by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 across our operations and vehicle fleet.”
Toyota has always been a fan of hybrid maths. It says the sale of 100,000 hybrid vehicles represents a saving of 120,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, the equivalent of adding 33,000 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) to NZ's fleet.
Toyota NZ says it is also investing in battery recycling, extending the lifespan of vehicles through reuse initiatives, and will continue to grow its range of BEVs.
“We’re taking a full-lifecycle approach to sustainability, from how we source and ship our vehicles, to how we power, service and eventually recycle them,” says Hardy. “It’s about catering to the diverse needs of our customers and communities while simultaneously reducing our environmental impact, now and into the future.”
Toyota NZ is also experimenting with how its vehicles are delivered. The first ever direct import of vehicles into Port Nelson was completed in June as part of a pilot programme.
Two vehicles, a RAV4 and Camry, arrived in Nelson as part of a pilot initiative to test systems and processes for direct imports into the South Island port. These vehicles were delivered to Bowater Toyota in Nelson.
Andrew Davis, chief strategic officer at Toyota NZ, says the pilot has exciting potential, and if successful could be scaled quickly: “This is about improving our customer service by driving smarter logistics and lowering our CO2 footprint. By importing vehicles directly into Nelson rather than trucking them from Lyttelton, we’re increasing our supply chain efficiency by reducing handling, saving time for delivery to customers, and cutting our carbon emissions.
"It's a small first step, but it’s part of our ongoing strategy to make our operations more sustainable” he says".
Toyota data suggests the company could potentially reduce the emissions in the South Island supply chain by 14% by directly landing pre-sold vehicles for customers of Bowater Toyota in Nelson and Blenheim Toyota in Blenheim. Toyota believes that figure could grow to up to 1000 vehicles annually via coastal shipping, rather than road freight.
Toyota NZ says it will assess the results of the pilot before considering whether to expand the programme to include more vehicles and a broader range of local destinations.