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Commercial vehicle fears

Posted on 26 February, 2014

The Motor Industry Association (MIA) is concerned about the July 2015 deadline for the mandatory introduction of electronic stability control (ESC) on light commercials in the NA class vehicles crossing the border. David Crawford, the MIA’s chief executive officer, is pushing for this to be changed so it’s in-line with legislation in Australia, which makes ESC compulsory on light commercials in November 2015. He warns New Zealand’s light commercial market could become distorted, with manufacturers overseas gearing up ESC production on NA class vehicles to match up with the date across the Tasman. Crawford says the uptake of ESC on light commercial vehicles has been much lower compared to passenger and SUVs. Despite this, he welcomes news of the government’s decision to make ESC mandatory on MA and MB and MC vehicles, which covers most passenger vehicles and SUVs. “We’ve always said should have been mandatory so we've pleased it’s come in,” he says. Meanwhile, Crawford doesn’t understand the government’s rationalisation to split the mandatory date on used imports by engine size. Under the proposed timetable, the safety system will be required on used imported cars with engine capacities of more than two litres from January 2018. All other used light vehicles will require ESC from the January 2020. More than 95 per cent of new vehicles distributed in New Zealand are already fitted with ESC.