Changes to fuel labels
Information contained on Rightcar’s fuel labels will shift to using Worldwide Harmonised Light-Duty Test Procedure (WLTP) ratings next month.
The Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association (VIA) reports the change is due to the proposed clean car standard requiring fuel-consumption testing to the WLTP rather than other regimes used in New Zealand source markets.
“The older test ratings will be translated to WLTP,” says Malcolm Yorston, VIA’s technical manager. “As a result, you may see slight changes in fuel-consumption figures on the new labels.”
The transition to the WLTP data will begin on December 1. All data on fuelsaver.govt.nz will automatically update to this for the vehicle fuel-economy label (VFEL) tool.
This will also be the case for Rightcar and users linked to fuelsaver.govt.nz, such as car-trading websites, and dealer management system and web service providers.
“Where fuel-economy information is available, the WLTP update will apply to all qualifying existing, and new and used vehicles entering the country,” adds Yorston.
“The existing VFEL will remain unchanged. The WLTP version will, however, be identified wherever possible so that traders and consumers will be able to distinguish between the NEDC [New European Driving Cycle] and WLTP labels at point of sale.
“The WLTP update to the VFEL does not in any way affect the new clean-vehicle label, which is scheduled to be introduced on April 1, 2022, as part of the government’s clean car discount programme. The clean-vehicle label will display WLTP data.”
It is recommended that traders replace the old VFELs with WLTP versions and any VFEL online information required as soon as possible after December 1 to avoid confusion for buyers.
“However, old labels can remain displayed until either the vehicle is sold or April 1, 2022, whichever occurs first,” ass Yorston.
“There will be no change to compliance requirements as long as a valid NEDC or WLTP-based VFEL and the required online information is displayed. There will be no enforcement regarding changing an NEDC label for a WLTP label.”
More information about VFELs can be found on EECA’s website.
