Honda New Zealand has claimed a unique scalp, with Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency data showing that it has the cleanest fleet out of the country’s 18 most popular brands.
In data released to Newsroom, Honda came out on top with an average emissions rating of 132g/km across its fleet.
The win may come as a shock to some, given that Honda does not sell any fully electric vehicles or plug-in hybrids in New Zealand. Instead the Japanese carmaker’s line-up is bolstered by the recently launched Jazz hybrid, and relatively meagre emissions across models like the Civic and HR-V.
Honda pipped Hyundai’s 135g/km (with whom the story was written in partnership), with Suzuki (141g/km), MG (151g/km), and Skoda (159g/km) rounding out the top five. Behind them, Seat, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and Mitsubishi completed the top 10.
As it stands, only Honda, Hyundai, and Suzuki are the only brands in the top 18 that meet the 145g/km Clean Car Standard threshold that’s set to come into effect next year. Those unable to meet the threshold are set to pay hefty fees.
Just one manufacturer that offers a ute made it into the top 10. Toyota narrowly missed out, ending up 11th with its 185g/km average. Ford was worse off, sitting 16th out of 18 with its 228g/km average.
The blue oval beat only SsangYong and Isuzu, with 228.4g/km and 238g/km respectively.
One curious absence from the list was Tesla. If the list encompassed all brands currently on offer in New Zealand, the American manufacturer with its all-EV line-up would top the list. A lack of deliveries in 2022 is part of why the marque doesn’t feature in the top 18.
Tesla’s local deliveries are set to explode in August with the arrival of the brand’s first large shipment of new vehicles in several months. It’s likely that it will rise into the top 18 as a result.
The data shows that New Zealand’s new-vehicle fleet’s average emissions have dropped 9% since 2019, thanks to the arrival of new plug-in offerings and the refinement of more high-emission models.
