Brandwave

How popular isTesla?

In September 2026, people searched for Tesla by name about 28,600 times in New Zealand, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 34.6% of all New Zealand electric-first car brand searches, placing Tesla first out of eight brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about electric-first car brands, Tesla appeared in all answers and was the most recommended of the eight.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Tesla is the most searched of 8 competitors and the most recommended in AI answers.

  1. TeslaShare of searches 34.6%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  2. BYDShare of searches 29.1%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  3. ZeekrShare of searches 11.4%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
  4. DenzaShare of searches 7.4%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  5. PolestarShare of searches 6.9%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd

+3 more

Tesla website (opens in a new tab)

Follow Tesla and get free monthly updates on what changed

By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy

Top electric-first car brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Tesla appeared in all five answers. Tesla is the most recommended of the eight.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Tesla1st
  2. BYD2nd
  3. Polestar3rd
  4. XPENG4th
  5. Zeekr5th
  6. Denza–
  7. Leapmotor–
  8. Ora–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Tesla5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • BYD4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Polestar2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • XPENG2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Zeekr1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Denza0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Leapmotor0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Ora0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about electric-first car brands

5 answers

  • Asked ChatGPT

    “Which electric-first car brand should I buy in New Zealand?”

    1. 1Tesla
    2. 2BYD

  • Asked ChatGPT

    “What are the best electric-first car brands in New Zealand?”

    1. 1Tesla
    2. 2BYD
    3. 3Polestar
    4. 4Zeekr
    5. 5XPENG

  • Asked ChatGPT

    “What's the best electric-first car brand in New Zealand for everyday driving?”

    1. 1BYD
    2. 2Tesla

  • Searched Google, AI Overview

    “best electric-first car”

    1. 1Tesla

  • Searched Google, AI Overview

    “electric-first car brands”

    1. 1Tesla
    2. 2BYD
    3. 3XPENG
    4. 4Polestar

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 19, 2026.

Which electric-first car brands compete with Tesla?

Tesla against electric-first car brands in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Tesla, BYD, Zeekr, Denza, Polestar, Leapmotor, XPENG. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthTeslaBYDZeekrDenzaPolestarLeapmotorXPENGOra
Oct 202546.1%28.6%5.9%1.4%11.1%4.6%1.7%0.61%
Nov 202544.2%30.4%4.8%3%10.5%3.9%2.7%0.51%
Dec 202539.5%31.1%5%8%10.4%4%1.3%0.64%
Jan 202638.3%35.4%4.6%6.7%9%3.9%1.4%0.63%
Feb 202639.9%31%5.8%6.8%8.9%4.1%2.9%0.65%
Mar 202633.6%40.2%6.2%2.6%10.4%3.6%3%0.47%
Apr 202635.4%38%8.2%3.4%7.9%3.9%2.7%0.42%
May 202633.9%34.4%8.9%5.6%9.6%4.2%2.9%0.45%
Jun 202635.8%36.3%6.7%4.8%8%5.4%2.5%0.47%
Jul 202636.2%31.2%6.7%6.3%7.4%4.6%7%0.49%
Aug 202634.2%32.5%11%7.5%6.2%4.4%3.6%0.57%
Sep 202634.6%29.1%11.4%7.4%6.9%5.4%4.6%0.47%

  1. 1.Tesla

    34.6%

    Held 1st. 28.6K estimated branded searches, -0.9% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.

  2. 2.BYD

    29.1%

    Held 2nd. 24K estimated branded searches, -12.3% vs prior month. Share -3.4 points.

  3. 3.Zeekr

    11.4%

    Held 3rd. 9.4K estimated branded searches, +1.4% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.

  4. 4.Denza

    7.4%

    Held 4th. 6.1K estimated branded searches, -2.5% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  5. 5.Polestar

    6.9%

    Held 5th. 5.7K estimated branded searches, +8.7% vs prior month. Share +0.7 points.

  6. 6.Leapmotor

    5.4%

    Held 6th. 4.5K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share +1.1 points.

  7. 7.XPENG

    4.6%

    Held 7th. 3.8K estimated branded searches, +24.1% vs prior month. Share +1 points.

  8. 8.Ora

    0.47%

    Held 8th. 390 estimated branded searches, -18.8% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

Compare popularity between Tesla and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Tesla

36 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Tesla changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Tesla in New Zealand held steady, from 29.7K to 28.6K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Tesla’s share of searches among electric-first car brands in New Zealand decreased from 46.1% to 34.6%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Tesla’s share of searches among electric-first car brands in New Zealand peaked at 46.1% in October 2025 and was lowest at 33.6% in March 2026.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand electric-first car brands in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Leapmotor gained share of searches among electric-first car brands in New Zealand, from 4.4% to 5.4%.

  2. In September 2026, XPENG gained share of searches among electric-first car brands in New Zealand, from 3.6% to 4.6%.

  3. In September 2026, Polestar gained share of searches among electric-first car brands in New Zealand, from 6.2% to 6.9%.

  4. In September 2026, BYD lost share of searches among electric-first car brands in New Zealand, from 32.5% to 29.1%.

  5. Zeekr’s share of searches among electric-first car brands in New Zealand has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 6.7% to 11.4% in September 2026.

  6. Estimated monthly branded searches for Denza in New Zealand rose 558.1% over 12 measured months, from 930 to 6.1K in September 2026.

How are Tesla’s branded searches counted?

8 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Tesla’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • cybertruck
  • tesla
  • tesla car
  • tesla cars
  • tesla cybertruck
  • tesla model s
  • tesla model x
  • tesla model y

Do you work for Tesla? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Where does Tesla compete?

Tesla is ranked in two competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Car brands8th of 873.3%Show ranking
Electric-first car brands1st of 834.6%Shown above
Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

Is Tesla your brand?

Put your own campaigns, spend and outcomes next to this demand line, so you can see which of your marketing lined up with the movements above.

Start free