Brandwave

Exide vs Optima:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Exide had more branded searches than Optima among car battery brands in New Zealand. Exide had about 660 branded searches, while Optima had 230. Exide made up 15.8% 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, Exide appeared in two of the five answers and Optima in none.

Among car battery brands in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Exide, about 3 searches for every 1 for Optima

Exide 660 searchesOptima 230 searches

Who does AI mention more?

Exide, mentioned in 2 of 5 answers, Optima in 0

Exide in 2 of 5Optima in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Exide, the only one of the two named

Exide first in 2Optima never named

Follow Exide vs Optima 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

Track your brand against a rival →

Top car battery brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Exide was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one 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.

  1. Yuasa1st
  2. Varta2nd
  3. Exide3rd
  4. Bosch Car Batteries4th
  5. Century Batteries5th
  6. 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

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 Exide or Optima more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Exide 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.

Exide and Optima among car battery brands in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Exide, Optima. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthCentury BatteriesExideBosch Car BatteriesOptimaVartaYuasa
Oct 202561.2%12.1%9.5%5.3%5.1%6.8%
Nov 202563.3%10.7%9.4%5.1%5.4%6.1%
Dec 202563.2%11.1%9.3%4.5%4.8%7.1%
Jan 202661.8%12.5%8.4%5.8%4.8%6.7%
Feb 202663.3%13.4%7.8%4.6%4.8%6.1%
Mar 202664.5%12.3%7.8%4.8%5%5.5%
Apr 202662.4%14%6.9%4.9%6.4%5.4%
May 202659.5%14.6%7.6%5.1%7.6%5.6%
Jun 202664.4%14.1%6.9%4.6%5.9%4%
Jul 202662.6%15.7%6.3%5.5%5.7%4.3%
Aug 202658.6%18.1%7.7%5.1%5.6%4.9%
Sep 202660.1%15.8%9.3%5.5%4.8%4.5%

How has the Exide and Optima comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Exide was ahead of Optima in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Exide’s share of searches among car battery brands in New Zealand moved from 12.1% to 15.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 500 to 660.
  • 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
  1. In September 2026, Exide lost share of searches among car battery brands in New Zealand, from 18.1% to 15.8%.

  2. In September 2026, Optima rose from 5th to 4th among car battery brands in New Zealand.

How are branded searches counted?

6 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Exide’s 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.

Exide

4 branded search terms

  • exide batteries
  • exide battery finder
  • exide car battery
  • exide extreme battery

Optima

2 branded search terms

  • optima batteries
  • optima car battery

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among car battery brands

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

Put your own brand in this comparison

Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.