Cars stuck in system face fees
An industry group remains frustrated there will be no exemptions from the clean car discount regime for light vehicles that may be trapped in the compliance process or facing delays for parts because of the Covid-19 restrictions of recent months.
The Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association (VIA) lobbied government to allow cars imported well before the April 1 roll-out of the feebate scheme to avoid copping a penalty once they are finally able to be registered in New Zealand.
Only cars defined under the clean car legislation as “excluded vehicles”, which includes special interest and motor sport vehicles, will avoid facing penalties or rebates under the scheme.
Kit Wilkerson, VIA’s senior policy adviser, told Autofile Online there are a number of people across the industry upset that officials have ruled out providing exemptions despite the impact of Covid-19 on businesses.
It means the anticipated cost of some used vehicles yet to be registered will increase by up to $2,875 once the feebate’s penalties are applied next month.
“People have imported cars three months ago but the vehicles have been stuck in compliance shops waiting for parts,” explains Wilkerson, pictured.
“These people brought those cars in a while ago in good faith and either the compliance shop has had to shut down because of Covid or the supply chains are backing up and as a result they’re not getting their cars through on time and they’re now going to get a penalty on those vehicles.
“We tried to get all vehicles that were in the country by April 1 exempted but the government just said no because it had already delayed the implementation of the feebate because of Covid.
“We have entire compliance shops shut down and so all the cars going through those compliance shops risk being affected.”
VIA sent out an alert to its members recently clarifying there will be no exemptions once the full clean car discount scheme offering discounts and charging fees based on a vehicle’s emissions is implemented.
Wilkerson adds concerns from dealers about significant gaps in a database on the Rightcar website, which is administered by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, has dropped off in recent weeks.
Autofile Magazine reported in its March issue that searches using the online tool had produced a range of different results when using details such as chassis identities or model names.
VIA noted that results for specific models could return a potential fee or discount with no way of people being able to determine which one would apply to their particular vehicle.
“I think everyone’s given up on it,” says Wilkerson. “I know Waka Kotahi have made revisions and maybe it’s better or maybe it’s not, but people are not coming to us with complaints like they were previously.
“I would guess everyone’s hunkered down and are just waiting and hoping it works out okay once the clean car discount is rolled out.”
