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AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY SINCE 1984

February issue out now

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.

The Motor Industry Association model information system – known as MIAMI – now hosts all new vehicles, including motorcycles. The expansion is more than a technical change because it’s a strategic shift that brings greater consistency. CEO Aimee Wiley explains why.

Changing the frequency of WOFs and COFs for the light fleet should focus on distance travelled as much as the age of vehicles, says Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association. Plus: The MIA’s views on government proposals.

Stink bugs are back – well, on Biosecurity NZ’s agenda at least. So, what’s the used-car industry’s take on year-round heat treatments for used imports from Japan?

Volvo NZ has recalled some 2024-26 EX30s because “in very rare cases, overheating of battery cells may occur at high charge levels”. Its advice? “Set the charge level to maximum 70 per cent.”

• VIA’s Malcolm Yorston warns why the government should be toeing the line when it comes to land-transport rules – and not taking short-cuts.

• Car dealers need treat brand campaigns and stock campaigns as different and equally essential layers, says James Hendry, of AdTorque Edge NZ.

• Frank Willett’s contribution to the used-imports sector has been applauded following his retirement from VIA’s board,

Plus: Co-founder Amos Banbury quits Better Finance, the best of 2025’s concept cars, Kiwi land-speed record bids, the NZGP and statistics when you need them – and not weeks after they’ve been published by the NZTA. 

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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
Autofile magazine 2025 / 8
August ’25

Finance providers and car dealers are hoping “necessary” reforms of lending laws will bring a period of consolidation for the sector after numerous changes over the past decade. We look in

Magazine04 Aug, 2025
Autofile magazine 2025 / 7
July ’25

Drive Electric says New Zealand risks missing out on a $100 billion-plus economic opportunity over the next five years unless the government changes its policies around EVs and accelerates plans to in

Magazine05 Jul, 2025
Autofile magazine 2025 / 6
June ’25

The government is being urged to overhaul the clean car standard because it’s preventing importers hitting goals set to reduce emissions, says the Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association (VI

Magazine04 Jun, 2025
Autofile magazine 2025 / 5
May ’25

The Motor Trade Association warns a one-size-fits-all approach to right-to-repair laws is unsuitable for the car industry and may mean some marques exit the market. It’s working with dealers and

Magazine05 May, 2025
Autofile magazine 2025 / 4
April ’25

The annual number of used imports from Japan has tumbled by more than 30,000 with the clean car standard being blamed as a key factor for the downturn. Autofile talks to industry experts about the mar

Magazine03 Apr, 2025