March issue out now

Aimee Wiley, chief executive officer of the Motor Industry Association, explains why a major review of the clean car standard’s targets is critical and timely. Those set for 2025-27 have largely been considered unachievable by becoming “too steep, too soon” and are the most extreme of anywhere in the world. 

A stewardship scheme to recycle and reuse batteries from electric vehicles (EVs) could be operating in about 18 months if the government keeps them among its priorities for reducing waste, Autofile can reveal. The news follows hot on the heels of the Tyrewise scheme launching on March 1.

Drive Electric warns imposing road-user charges (RUC) from next month could affect sales of electric cars. Chairperson Kirsten Corson says: “We are concerned the quantum of RUC may be unfair on EV drivers.”
Vehicles aged 15-plus should be required to undergo six-monthly warrant of fitness inspections, says the Motor Trade Association (MTA). It’s also calling for in-service emissions to be assessed.

The Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association (VIA) has a new online stakeholder engagement system as it seeks more input from members and strives to keep them better informed about matters affecting the sector.

Auction Online says it will be sticking with the wholesale market and has no plans to venture into the retail space despite three high-profile figures in our car industry taking a 40 per cent stake in the dealer-only trading platform.

• Mazda NZ will be dropping the BT-50 from its line-up this year, marking an end to 58 years of the marque selling utes here.

• The Collision Repair Association has joined forces with the MTA. Autofile explains why the partnership has come about.

• Registered motor-vehicle traders claimed almost one-in-five of the clean car discount rebates approved in December.

• The idea of applying RUC to all light vehicles has been tossed around and you know what? Kit Wilkerson, of the VIA, answers his own question by saying he’s “come around to it”. 

• Importers will be relieved to know a monitoring programme has failed to find any brown marmorated stink bugs at survey sites in New Zealand.

• Hawke’s Bay Toyota has taken out the top honour at this year’s Toyota and Lexus Business Excellence Awards. Plus: all the winners.

• Automotive software company Auxo takes steps to contain the effects of a cyberattack by offshore hackers.

• Dealership staff have been recognised for their contribution to helping MTF Finance achieve “substantial expansion”.

• A criminal who targeted dealerships in the Waikato has been jailed for four years and five months.

• In-depth: It’s not a matter of if, it’s when. Liam Lawson is gearing up to become New Zealand’s next star of F1. 

Plus: access rules to the motor-vehicle register, new cars, disputes, appointments and February’s industry statistics in print.

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