June issue out now

A decision on banning vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICEs) from being imported into New Zealand has been put off, for now at least.

While there has been a media frenzy about a scrappage scheme – on the government’s agenda and reported by Autofile since at least 2019 – its emissions reduction plan (ERP) failed to seal the fate of petrol and diesel cars crossing the border.

Meanwhile, the Motor Trade Association (MTA) is lobbying for the trial of the “scrap and replace” scheme to target a broader range of people and vehicles to help create a safer and cleaner fleet. 

We also have reaction from the Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association (VIA) and Motor Industry Association on the clean car upgrade, what the ERP’s all about, more proposals affecting transport and what policies are going to cost. In other news:

• The Low-Volume Vehicle Technical Association has described the process around exclusions from the clean car policies as “fair and sensible”.

• A dealership is left to face the music after one of its employees flees New Zealand with the $15,500 a customer paid for a 2009 BMW Z4.

• Armstrong Prestige Christchurch and Mercedes-Benz North Shore have been honoured by Mercedes-Benz NZ as the marque’s top-performing dealers of 2021.

• The MTA’s Tony Everett, believes the ERP is long on statements of intent but short on tangible actions, and hints at the dilemma between action and political survival. 

• Kit Wilkerson, of VIA, tackles the concepts behind Vision Zero, a global initiative based on all road deaths being unacceptable and preventable. 

• Nico Caillol, category manager and motorsport manager for the Castrol Toyota Racing Series, talks about a major recruitment drive in the US and Europe. 

• Peter Mersi is stepping down as chief executive of the Ministry of Transport after six years.

Plus: VIA postpones AGM until June 22, car-carrier delays averted, new vehicles, industry statistics and much more.

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