www.autofile.co.nz
JUNE 2024
THE TRUSTED VOICE OF THE NZ AUTO INDUSTRY FOR 40 YEARS New-vehicle distributors say they need six months’ notice ahead of CCS changes
Importers keen for decision on targets
Minister to soon consider potential shake-up of clean car standard as review of scheme nears completion
T
he new-vehicle industry is hoping for swift action by Simeon Brown, the Minister of Transport, once he receives advice from government officials about possible changes to the clean car standard (CCS). Members of the Motor Industry Association (MIA) ideally need at least six months’ notice of any shake-up of regulations that set emissions targets for light vehicles being imported. A review of the CCS legislation is being conducted by the Ministry of Transport (MoT) and it expects
to deliver its recommendations to the government by the end of this month. Aimee Wiley, chief executive officer of the MIA, is urging the coalition to announce amendments sooner rather than later because any delays will increase uncertainty and risk for importers. Brown ordered a review of the CCS in January after saying it needs to deliver available and affordable vehicles to the New Zealand market while reducing emissions of the light fleet. The CCS came into force in
January 2023. Under it, importers incur a credit or charge for new and used light vehicles brought into the country based on their carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Annual targets for passenger and commercial models are set in legislation until 2027, but many in the automotive industry have voiced concerns that the rate at which those figures decrease each year is too steep. Under current legislation, the CO2 targets are set to next change on January 1, 2025. A MoT spokesperson told
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