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Building bridges across the Tasman
T
he Imported Motor ANCAP crash tests, such as this one on the five-star Subaru WRX, face an uncertain future if Vehicle Industry Australia’s federal government scraps its funding Association (IMVIA) will continue to have talks with its counterparts in Australia about the sector’s future there. A delegation of about 15 people has flown home after being the association’s guests. Discussions in Auckland centred around the possibility of restrictions on high volumes of used imports being relaxed in the wake of the car-making industry in Australia closing over the next few years. Chief executive David Vinsen The commission’s report has describes the visit as a huge highlighted systems in this country success with the IMVIA agreeing to as a possible benchmark on the way continue investigating the forming forward if border restrictions on of an association, possibly with used imported vehicles are canned. Kiwi involvement and advice. ANCAP UNDER THREAT? The delegation included Australia’s federal government is importers, compliance experts and considering its stance on ANCAP supply-chain representatives. Its members visited a number of funding when car-making ends there, with Industry Minister Ian companies, including a compliance Macfarlane questioning if it will shop, transport service delivery be needed. agent and Ports of Auckland. “When we don’t make cars from They also had meetings with the 2017, we should be looking at IMVIA, which covered the past and whether or not we need our own challenges it has faced, and dinner rules especially when European, with industry representatives. Japanese or American rules are in “There were discussions about line,” he says. “If cars are coming the government there making from there, why do we need it?” changes and we have developed ANCAP says it will not comment good trans-Tasman relationships.” until the coalition hands down its The Australians’ tour of facilities first budget on May 13. here was aimed at getting them If funding is axed, it’s unclear familiar with New Zealand’s systems whether imported vehicles will be and standards-based regime in tested in their countries of origin or contrast to the model-by-model if the Department of Infrastructure, structure their country currently has which oversees the Australian for most used imports. Design Rules, will assume wider “Talks will be ongoing regarding responsibility for crash safety. changes to their used import The Australasian rating system regulations,” Vinsen told Autofile. started in 1993 and more than “The industry in Australia is in a state 400 vehicles have been awarded of flux at the moment and no one star ratings with ANCAP only knows what the government will do. recommending five-star cars to “The Productivity Commission consumers. has made further recommendations Vehicles sold there are subject to the government. to different design regulations and “That sealed file may not be opened until August. Until then, we may carry different specifications to models sold internationally, while don’t know what’s in it or what the the system also differs to EuroNCAP. government will decide to do.”
Many countries and regions have their own rating programmes, including the US, Europe, Latin America, South-East Asia, Japan, Korea and China. The Australian federal government funds half of ANCAP’s annual budget, but other partners
include the New Zealand government, state and territory governments, and other organisations. Andrew Clearwater, president of the Motor Industry Association, questioned ANCAP’s future in the last issue of Autofile. “New Zealand recognises safety ratings from all sorts of markets,” he says. “Consumers and industry rarely worry about what organisation rates vehicles. “This begs the question can ANCAP be big enough and is its future warranted, particularly when it’s only crash-testing about 45 vehicles a year? “I’m not sure about its relevance in the future.” Australia’s Registered Automotive Workshop Scheme for used imports – p16
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miles motor group www.autofile.co.nz | 15