Minister ponders CCS exemption

The government is considering making specialised disability vehicles exempt from the clean car standard (CCS) following a dealership warning the new rules risk driving up the sticker prices of such imports.

Autofile Online reported in December how Rod Milner, managing director of Milner Mobility in Auckland, was lobbying politicians and industry associations to seek relief from the CCS.

He said if new and used mobility vehicles attracted fees under the CCS, which was implemented on January 1 this year, it may force people with disabilities into buying older vehicles with higher emissions, the opposite goal of the clean car policies.

The company predicts the CCS could cost it up to $500,000 a year, which would ultimately have to be passed on to buyers of the specialised vehicles it sells.

Michael Wood, Minister of Transport, has now told Stuff the issue was “one I’m giving consideration” and that he had asked for specific advice from officials.

National and the Green Party are both calling on the government to make disability vehicles exempt from the CCS penalties.

Simeon Brown, National’s transport spokesman, says the government needs to change its regulations because there is currently not a suitable range of affordable low-emissions vehicles for people with disabilities.

Julie Anne Genter, transport spokesperson for the Greens, echoes those sentiments and adds “all people should have access to affordable quality transport”, reports Stuff.