Out now: NZ edition of Ipsos Mobility Monitor Report
New Zealand / Aotearoa, 31 March 2026 - Ipsos, one of the world and New Zealand’s leading market research companies announces a new 31-country study which looks at attitudes to the future of mobility, road safety and public transport. Key findings of the Ipsos Mobility Report include:
New Zealanders have high reliance on car usage relative to other countries: New Zealand has the highest use of cars as a main transport mode at 66% compared to 39% average across the 31-countries included in the survey. The United States sits just below New Zealand at 64%. Half (51%) of New Zealanders believe that living without their car is impossible, compared to 43% in the 31-country average.
Interest in EVs is higher in NZ than perceived adoption: 46% of New Zealanders say driving an electric vehicle appeals to them, which sits on the 31-country average of 47%. However, at 45% New Zealanders are less likely to believe many people will have electric cars by 2030 than average (53%).
Self-driving cars lack perceptions of safety in NZ: While over a third (36%) of the 31-country global average would feel safe in a self-driving car, only 24% of New Zealanders say they would feel safe. Over half (54%) say they would not feel safe (compared to 36% 31-country average).
The majority support road safety laws: Despite concern for road safety amongst New Zealanders being lower than the global average (49% concerned cf. 55% 31-country average), the majority would support stricter traffic laws to support road safety (62% New Zealand cf. 66% 31-country average).
Carin Hercock, Country Manager, Ipsos New Zealand, said: “New Zealanders love to drive and top the 30 countries surveyed when it comes to car usage. We are much more likely as a society to say it would be ‘impossible to do without our car’ than citizens in nearly every other country surveyed. This may explain the early queues at fuel pumps as petrol prices climb, so it will be interesting to see how New Zealanders react if the fuel crisis means they can’t use their car whenever they want to.”
Amanda Dudding, Executive Director Public Affairs, Ipsos New Zealand, added: “New Zealanders have got less concerns with the safety of their local roads than many other countries, but they are still in support of measures to improve safety. The majority of Kiwis support stricter traffic laws and reduced speed limits in residential streets and main roads. But the most supported safety area is around enhancing driver education programmes. There is less support for reducing speed on motorways.”
If you have any questions, please contact Amanda Dudding at [email protected]
