THE TRUSTED VOICE OF NZ’s
AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY SINCE 1984

March issue out now!

Five entry-certification inspection organisations – VINZ, the AA, VTNZ, Drivesure and Canterbury Vehicle Compliance – are weighing up the costs of extra regulation because of new auditing and reporting requirements.

The AA warns there will be a financial impact on its services and compliance costs.

A bright future is emerging from Holden’s shadow. Brian Trebes, of Linn Motors in Waikato, talks about the marque’s demise, and shifting to Hyundai and Isuzu Utes. We also chat with Clive Linn, Holden’s longest-serving dealer principal in New Zealand, about the business his father set up.

We get the lowdown on Honda NZ shifting to an agency model network. Nobuya Sonoda, managing director, explains what it and the marque’s e-commerce platform are all about. “The changes are about managing our operations to ensure they’re fit for the future.”

Used-vehicle importers are being warned the normal three to four-week wait for stock to arrive from Japan may end up being a few months, reports Autohub’s Frank Willett. That’s because there is so much pressure on the global supply chain in the wake of Covid-19 disruptions.

• Tony Everett, of the MTA, warns more business may suffer from income loss and higher costs if we are forced to continue shifting between Covid-19 alert levels.

• The company that owns 2 Cheap Cars is looking to expand its market share after listing on the NZX. At launch, its 45.5 million ordinary shares were priced at $1.30 to value it at more than $59m.

• Mark Stockdale reflects on his 16 years with the AA before joining the MIA as its principal technical adviser. 

• The MTA says there’s insufficient details about the clean-car import standard (CCIS) and Climate Change Commission’s draft advice for car dealers to make big decisions yet.

• The MIA is emphatic – even with penalties reduced until 2025 – without incentives the CCIS’ targets “will be impossible to reach and with incentives it’s likely they still will not be reached”.

• European Motor Distributors is lobbying for a feebate scheme to help lower the cost of electric cars at the point of purchase. Plus: What Toyota NZ and Drive Electric have to say.

• AA Motoring has signed up Jacanna and Bordercheck as its providers of odometer verifications in addition to JEVIC.

• Todd Fuller, of AdTorque Edge, explores why it’s important for dealers to retain customers for future success.

• In-depth statistics on light-vehicle sales and stock, Brendon Leitch interview, industry movers and much more.

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Autofile magazine 2026 / 9
September ’26

The used-imports sector is calling on the government to review penalties under the clean vehicle standard (CVS) and offer scrappage credits as part of its revamp. VIA says the standard’s setting

Magazine03 Sep, 2026
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