Young Kiwis Favour Hybrid Hire Cars, as Environmental Concerns Rise

The rapidly increasing popularity of hybrid and electric cars is now evident in hire car preferences, with new research showing younger generations favour them for environmental reasons.

Growth in the sales of electric and hybrid vehicles was boosted by last year’s introduction of the Clean Car Discount scheme, which offers car owners discounts for low- or no-emission cars. Now, according to the latest EY Mobility Consumer Index, a global survey that includes New Zealand, around half of all new car buyers will look to purchase electric or hybrid cars.

The trend toward clean cars is now showing up in the hire car industry, although there is a generational split in preferences. Canstar’s latest research shows 42% of under-30s say they would seek to hire a hybrid car over a petrol car for environmental reasons. That compares to around 38% of those aged in their 30s to 60s saying the same, with most still wanting a petrol car.

Notably, preferences for public transport over car hire were more evenly spread among different generations, with less than a quarter overall saying they would use it if it was available. The reluctance to use public transport sat higher than average with under 30s, with 27% saying they’d rather hire a car.

The survey into Kiwi attitudes around car hires was done as part of Canstar’s research to find New Zealand’s favourite hire car provider, which we’re proud to reveal is GO Rentals, for the third time! GO Rentals was rated 5 stars by its users in the Key Drivers of Satisfaction categories of Customer Satisfaction and Overall Satisfaction. It also rated highly in other areas, including Value for Money, Transparency of Fees and Booking Process.

Jose George, Canstar NZ General Manager, said GO Rentals’ high rating in the Customer Service category showed how much this was valued by its users. “In this industry, the real difference in experience can often come down to customer service; how a customer is treated from the time they pick up the phone, to when they drop off the car. GO Rentals’ 5 Star rating for Customer Service is an achievement the team should be very proud of, as is their repeat win.”

James Dalglish, COO GO Rentals, said: “We are exceptionally proud to be accepting another Canstar Blue Award. This award demonstrates the commitment we have made to delivering a world-class customer experience in the rental vehicle industry, and recognises all of the hard work and dedication from our amazing team.’’

He also noted GO Rentals’ commitment to the Tiaki Promise – which prioritises caring for New Zealand (people and place) now and for future generations, and supporting sustainable tourism.

This award comes off the back of GO Rentals being the first rental car business in New Zealand to partner with CarbonClick, which offers customers the opportunity to offset their vehicle emissions. High-quality carbon offsets like those provided by CarbonClick help mitigate climate change and lower the environmental impact of fossil-fuel emissions. GO Rentals also owns a fleet of Teslas, a fully-electric vehicle option. Choosing a Tesla means a customer’s carbon emissions are 10 times lower than a standard petrol car.

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For further details please visit the Canstar NZ site.

For further information, contact: Irene Chapple, PR Manager Canstar NZ, 027 403 1533

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