Century Batteries vs Optima:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Century Batteries had more branded searches than Optima among car battery brands in New Zealand. Century Batteries had about 2,520 branded searches, while Optima had 230. Century Batteries made up 60.1% of all car battery brand searches we track, and Optima accounted for 5.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about car battery brands, Century Batteries appeared in three of the five answers and Optima in none.
Who do people search for more?
Century Batteries, about 11 searches for every 1 for Optima
Who does AI mention more?
Century Batteries, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Optima in 0
Who does AI recommend more?
Century Batteries, the only one of the two named
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Top car battery brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Century Batteries was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Optima did not appear in any of the five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Yuasa1st
Varta2nd
Exide3rd
Bosch Car Batteries4th- Century Batteries5th
Optima–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Yuasa4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Century Batteries3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Exide2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Bosch Car Batteries2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Varta2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Optima0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about car battery brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which car battery brand should I buy in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best car battery brands in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best car battery brand in New Zealand for reliable starting?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“car battery nz”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“12v car battery”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 20, 2026.
Is Century Batteries or Optima more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Century Batteries and Optima by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six car battery brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for Century Batteries, Optima. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Century Batteries | Exide | Bosch Car Batteries | Optima | Varta | Yuasa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 61.2% | 12.1% | 9.5% | 5.3% | 5.1% | 6.8% |
| Nov 2025 | 63.3% | 10.7% | 9.4% | 5.1% | 5.4% | 6.1% |
| Dec 2025 | 63.2% | 11.1% | 9.3% | 4.5% | 4.8% | 7.1% |
| Jan 2026 | 61.8% | 12.5% | 8.4% | 5.8% | 4.8% | 6.7% |
| Feb 2026 | 63.3% | 13.4% | 7.8% | 4.6% | 4.8% | 6.1% |
| Mar 2026 | 64.5% | 12.3% | 7.8% | 4.8% | 5% | 5.5% |
| Apr 2026 | 62.4% | 14% | 6.9% | 4.9% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| May 2026 | 59.5% | 14.6% | 7.6% | 5.1% | 7.6% | 5.6% |
| Jun 2026 | 64.4% | 14.1% | 6.9% | 4.6% | 5.9% | 4% |
| Jul 2026 | 62.6% | 15.7% | 6.3% | 5.5% | 5.7% | 4.3% |
| Aug 2026 | 58.6% | 18.1% | 7.7% | 5.1% | 5.6% | 4.9% |
| Sep 2026 | 60.1% | 15.8% | 9.3% | 5.5% | 4.8% | 4.5% |
How has the Century Batteries and Optima comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Century Batteries was ahead of Optima in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Century Batteries’ share of searches among car battery brands in New Zealand moved from 61.2% to 60.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 2.5K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Optima’s share of searches among car battery brands in New Zealand moved from 5.3% to 5.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 220 to 230.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand car battery brands in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Century Batteries gained share of searches among car battery brands in New Zealand, from 58.6% to 60.1%.
In September 2026, Optima rose from 5th to 4th among car battery brands in New Zealand.
How are branded searches counted?
7 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Century Batteries’ and Optima’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Century Batteries
5 branded search terms
- century batteries
- century batteries batteries
- century batteries battery
- century batteries nelson
- century battery chargers
Optima
2 branded search terms
- optima batteries
- optima car battery
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