THE TRUSTED VOICE OF NZ’s
AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY SINCE 1984

September issue out now

The Motor Trade Association (MTA) is spearheading the industry’s response to an overhaul of vocational training to ensure it speaks to government with a “unified voice”. Autofile examines what the changes involve and what they mean for businesses.

Greg Hedgepeth provides an expert view of this year’s market. Overall, there appears to be “some light at the end of the tunnel for 2024”, says the CEO of Turners Auto VIA’s new chairman.

2 Cheap Cars reports its first-quarter business performance has been “negatively affected by the prolonged economic downturn”, while Colonial’s after-tax trading profit of $17.88 million for 2023/24 falls by 41 per cent.

Specialist dealer Jesmond Micallef says demand for classic and vintage vehicles is at an all-time high, and the sector’s contribution to our economy is “way bigger” than the $16.5 billion identified in a nationwide survey. 

Dane Wells, of 4Guys Autobarn, talks about importing Americana, industry expert Mark Stockdale explains his love of rare cars, and the MTA’s Larry Fallowfield accesses five years of data to see what historic vehicles have crossed the border.

Sales of low and zero-emissions cars threaten to fall behind Climate Change Commission projections meaning the country risks missing targets in its second and third emissions budgets.

VIA calls for officials to consider allowing imports of left-hand-drive electric cars with modern safety features, and providing financial incentives and support for EV adoption and retrofitting.

Todd Fuller, of Only Cars, explains how the new listings platform for selling vehicles will be “partially owned and run by the industry”. The venture is being prepared for launch in New Zealand shortly. 

Levi Townley, aged 14, sees off the opposition in the Netherlands to become the first Kiwi to claim a world junior motocross title.

• Autocheck has teamed up with the MTA to make it easier for dealers to comply with rules for using the motor-vehicle register.

• Geneva Finance says government amendments to legislation will lead to more loan applications being approved.

• AJ Motors, Custom Fleet, the Giltrap Group, Inchcape and Sime Darby have signed up to Women in Automotive NZ’s accord.

• James Hendry, of AdTorque Edge NZ, says automation is the future of lead management and enhancing dealership processes will drive better performance.

• Kit Wilkerson explains a harm-based method for comparing emissions standards VIA has developed. It focuses on the actual harm these standards cap. 

• Franchise partners are being urged to take part in the MTA’s the dealer-distributor relationship index survey to help shape their futures.

• Why Lexus of Auckland City is moving into purpose-built premises. Plus: Toyota NZ’s after-tax profit for 2023/24 comes in at $88.1m, industry movers, disputes and in-depth statistics.

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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