THE TRUSTED VOICE OF NZ’s
AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY SINCE 1984

February issue out now!

Climate change is the hot topic for the automotive industry amid a push for a clean-car import standard and a call to ban sales of newly imported petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035.

We talk to senior figures from across the industry to find out their thoughts on proposals put forward by the government and Climate Change Commission.

Leading industry organisations, including VIA, the MTA and MIA, fear the plans to slash emissions from light passenger vehicles are too aggressive.

Besides wanting any date for a fuel-economy standard pushed back, other concerns include increasing sticker prices and the potential for major disruption to businesses for little environmental gain.

The government wants to cut the average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from light vehicles from about 171g/km currently to 105g/km by 2025. 

It plans to introduce legislation this year, enact the standard based on fuel economy from 2022 and start levying charges the following year for importers who miss their targets.

Meanwhile, the AA is pleased the government is investigating a biofuels mandate so what’s dispensed at the pump can become lower-emitting.

• Autofile also reveals how the Climate Change Commission is recommending half of all cars imported by dealers should be electric vehicles or plug-in hybrids by 2027. The commission is consulting on a draft package of advice to tackle transport emissions. It advocates banning sales of light vehicles with internal combustion engines by no later than 2035. Plus: The MIA and Drive Electric give their views.

• Dealers are being encouraged to have their say about a new one-stop portal created by the NZTA.

• The MTA’s Tony Everett has some top tips for dealers on keeping good paperwork, out-of-town sales, checking trade-ins, taking care with over-trade, selling on behalf and much more.

• Mark Baker talks to ex-racer Greg Brinck about bringing the Radical brand to New Zealand.

• Plus: Unrivalled car-industry statistics, Turners upgrades profit guidance and much more.

Autofile magazine – the first in print with the big news when it matters.

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Autofile magazine 2026 / 8
August ’26

Drive Electric warns New Zealand risks being left increasingly “isolated” from the global supply of EVs unless there are consistent policy signals and shared political commitment across el

Magazine04 Aug, 2026
Autofile magazine 2026 / 7
July ’26

The MTA is calling on politicians to set up a training fund to support businesses taking on apprentices and a scrappage scheme to clean up the fleet. The items are included in its roadmap published ah

Magazine05 Jul, 2026
Autofile magazine 2026 / 6
June ’26

Drive Electric says New Zealand’s switch to EVs needs cross-party support. Its State of the Nation 2026 report laments a setback for the transition after clean-car policies have been “virt

Magazine04 Jun, 2026
Autofile magazine 2026 / 5
May ’26

VIA’s chief executive explains why used imports should be spared from the clean vehicle standard (CVS) and urges the coalition to focus on measures that encourage fleet renewal. Greig Epps&rsquo

Magazine04 May, 2026
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
Autofile magazine 2026 / 3
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
Autofile magazine 2026 / 2
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
Autofile magazine 2026 / 1
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
Autofile magazine 2025 / 12
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
Autofile magazine 2025 / 11
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
Autofile magazine 2025 / 10
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
Autofile magazine 2025 / 9
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