THE TRUSTED VOICE OF NZ’s
AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY SINCE 1984

February issue out now!

Trade Me Motors says all car dealers could have offshore listings on the website if a pilot scheme is a success and there’s a demand for such a service. It has launched a trial for 200 listings of vehicles in Japan or the UK after trying out the idea last year.

Average greenhouse gas emissions from new vehicles sold in New Zealand in 2019 declined at a significantly faster rate than in the previous five years – and by 21 per cent since 2006. The MIA’s David Crawford questions if there’s any need for a fuel-economy standard. 

Andrew Caseley, EECA’s chief executive, understands why Kiwis are switching to hybrids as our fleet transitions to vehicles. “They are becoming a major part of our journey to a low-emission economy.” We have an in-depth interview with him.

VIA is to become an office-free organisation as part of a review into how it operates. The association’s headquarters in Auckland will close at the end of February in a cost-cutting move to save up to $50,000 a year.

An obsession with safety, “not in my backyard” and the amateur nature of administrators are big threats facing Kiwi motorsport. That’s according to Phil Dark, aka “The Voice of Speedway”.

The number of newcomers to our light-vehicle fleet with some form of electrified engine provides powerful pointers to the future if you take a close look at 2019’s sales statistics.

PLUS: Julie Anne Genter gives an update on the clear-car proposals, Turners launches a subscription service, Flip The Fleet examines battery capacity fade in EVs, and the MTA’s Tony Everett combines new and used-import car sales in 2019 – and comes up with an overall winner.
 

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Autofile magazine 2026 / 4
April ’26

MITO bosses tell Autofile what its priorities and challenges are now the training organisation is under industry ownership, with getting more learners into automotive careers and keeping them up to da

Magazine06 Apr, 2026
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March ’26

The number of used imports attracting border damage flags has more than doubled in the past year, despite the volume of cars coming into New Zealand dropping. VIA, which is in talks with the NZTA abou

Magazine05 Mar, 2026
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February ’26

The Motor Trade Association is lobbying for a maximum age of 10 years by 2030 for used cars coming into New Zealand to act as a safety proxy for entrants to the fleet. Find out why with Autofile. T

Magazine04 Feb, 2026
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January ’26

The government is being warned older cars will stay in the fleet for longer if ADAS mandates prevent safer models being imported, with industry associations also calling for realistic transition times

Magazine13 Jan, 2026
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December ’25

Regulators give their advice to loan providers in the automotive space as oversight of the non-banking sector is set to transfer from the Commerce Commission to the Financial Markets Authority. We

Magazine04 Dec, 2025
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November ’25

Autofile talks to experts about the downturn as dealer numbers drop, some sectors suffer more than others and the risk of liquidations is “fairly high”. It’s not all bad news, though

Magazine05 Nov, 2025
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October ’25

The number of registered traders has fallen to a 13-year low amid conditions many describe as among the toughest New Zealand’s vehicle market has experienced. We talk to three experts about what

Magazine05 Oct, 2025
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September ’25

The industry has broadly welcomed a major revamp of the clean car standard. The government plans to scrap the weight-adjustment system for imported passenger and light commercial vehicles. It will als

Magazine07 Sep, 2025
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August ’25

Finance providers and car dealers are hoping “necessary” reforms of lending laws will bring a period of consolidation for the sector after numerous changes over the past decade. We look in

Magazine04 Aug, 2025
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July ’25

Drive Electric says New Zealand risks missing out on a $100 billion-plus economic opportunity over the next five years unless the government changes its policies around EVs and accelerates plans to in

Magazine05 Jul, 2025
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June ’25

The government is being urged to overhaul the clean car standard because it’s preventing importers hitting goals set to reduce emissions, says the Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association (VI

Magazine04 Jun, 2025
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May ’25

The Motor Trade Association warns a one-size-fits-all approach to right-to-repair laws is unsuitable for the car industry and may mean some marques exit the market. It’s working with dealers and

Magazine05 May, 2025