Vehicle traders news

5 September 2024

In this issue of Vehicle traders news we provide some updates on changes to the Clean Car Standard (CCS) and some CCS reminders too. This is essential information for vehicle importers.

We also share some vehicle safety news from ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Programme) and some other updates from us which may be of interest. 

You’re welcome to email us your feedback, questions or suggestions for future topics. We also encourage you to share this newsletter with others who may be interested in it – new subscribers are welcome. 

Changes to Clean Car Standard

Changes to the Clean Car Standard (CCS) are now being introduced, following publication of the Land Transport (Clean Vehicle Standard) Amendment Regulations 2024.

These changes align vehicle importers’ carbon dioxide (CO2) emission reduction targets with Australia and exempt disability vehicles – as the Minister of Transport recently announced would happen in response to a review of the CCS.

They follow changes under the relevant Act which make it possible for emissions targets to be adjusted more easily, as we reported in our last newsletter.

Disability vehicles exemption

From 5 September 2024, disability vehicles will be excluded from CCS. Any disability vehicles accepted before 5 September 2024 will not be excluded.

In regulation 3, the definition of disability vehicles also changed to:
disability vehicle means a light vehicle that is used for the transportation of a person with a disability and
(a) is modified to enable a person seated in a wheelchair to safely enter and exit the vehicle; and
(b) is modified to enable the person and the wheelchair to be safely restrained while the vehicle is moving; and
(c) has been inspected and approved as a disability vehicle by a person appointed under clause 2.2(1)(d) and (e) of the Land Transport Rule:Vehicle Standards Compliance 2002.

New targets for CO2 emissions

The following annual targets for vehicles’ CO2 emissions have been set for Type A (passenger) and Type B vehicles for the next five years: 

• 2025
  Type A - 112.6 grams
  Type B - 223 grams
   
• 2026 
  Type A - 108 grams
  Type B - 207 grams
   
• 2027
  Type A - 103 grams
  Type B - 175 grams
   
• 2028 
  Type A - 76 grams
  Type B - 144 grams
   
• 2029 
  Type A - 65 grams
  Type B - 131 grams

We’ll update this information on our website soon. You can read the regulations online.

Land Transport (Clean Vehicle Standard) Amendment Regulations 2024

ANCAP testing usability of lane keep systems

A pilot project to test real-world driver experience and usability of specific vehicles’ lane support systems is underway, in response to negative customer feedback.

ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Program) says their research is a proactive step to help vehicle manufacturers improve the functionality, calibration and integration of lane keeping crash avoidance systems.

'What we want to demonstrate are the differences in vehicle behaviour, and by sharing these results, encourage manufacturers to improve their systems ... [as] we don’t want to see them being badged as "annoying" and switched off,' says ANCAP Chief Executive Officer Carla Hoorweg.

The new research project is intentionally capturing the steering force, intervention timing, and correction severity of Lane Keep Assist (LKA) and Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK). The vehicles involved are already ANCAP star-rated and were selected for the pilot based on direct consumer feedback to ANCAP.

Test results will be shared with manufacturers and used to inform refinements to ANCAP’s 2026-2028 safety rating test protocols and criteria.  

For more details visit the ANCAP website. 

ANCAP media release on lane keeping research

The graph below shows the variance in response from different vehicles’ emergency lane keeping systems. (Source: ANCAP)

Clean Car Standard reminders

Clean Car Standard (CCS) User Access

Please review your identity and access management (IAM) delegated user access to make sure all records are up to date.  Remember to disable any user accounts no longer required. 

Fleet Average annual review 

With the end of the year approaching, all Fleet Average importers need to provide relevant documents for the annual review process by 30 November 2025. 

Please send us the most recent audited and signed financial statements, a vehicle forecast for 2025 calendar year and a signed compliance plan. 

If you have any questions or need help, please email CCSImporter@nzta.govt.nz. 

Safety differences between local and European models

Recent ANCAP analysis has identified differences in the safety specifications of a few new vehicles sold in New Zealand and Australia compared to their ‘European siblings’.

Twice in recent months ANCAP has highlighted specific new vehicle models available here are built to and/or fitted with considerably different safety specifications to the variant sold in Europe (and EuroNCAP star-safety rated).

Structural differences, fewer airbags and a less-sophisticated suite of crash avoidance features were amongst the variations ANCAP examinations identified.  

As a result of these differences, these vehicles are unrated by ANCAP until relevant locally-supplied models have been tested by them.

ANCAP says it will continue to carefully examine new vehicles supplied locally and point out differences so consumers can make informed purchasing decisions.   

More details are available via the ANCAP website.

ANCAP media release

Note: In New Zealand, when a new vehicle is pending an ANCAP rating, the relevant model has a temporary Vehicle Safety Risk Rating applied. This is an estimate based on other similar vehicles from the same year of manufacture.

Increasing awareness of damaged vehicles

We’ve made changes to improve awareness of vehicles ‘flagged’ as damaged in New Zealand.   

The improvements help ensure this important vehicle safety information is more readily available, including for motor vehicle dealers and the public. 

There are two key changes – applicable for vehicles damaged in New Zealand only (not imported damaged vehicles):

• Safety flags (labelled as ban flags in our systems) are now automatically applied in the Motor Vehicle Register (MVR) when a vehicle is written-off by an insurer, and typically an associated reason is recorded i.e. structural damage (SD), water damage (WD) or fire damage (FD).
   
• Motochek reports for relevant vehicles now include the ban flag and reason, if one of the above, a recall or other reason is recorded. This means dealers and others who use Motochek are better informed. (Third party users of Motochek data may choose to display this information too.)

On our Rightcar website we are continuing to inform people about vehicles damaged in New Zealand and damaged imports (based on the regularly updated list on the NZTA website). The only change is the addition of ‘structural damage’ as a descriptor to use in warnings about relevant vehicles damaged in New Zealand.

As you may be aware, a safety (ban) flag for vehicles damaged in New Zealand or a damage flag for damaged imports prevents the vehicle from being issued a warrant or certificate of fitness (WoF or CoF) until is it properly repaired and inspected again. While the MVR will be updated as appropriate, repaired vehicles are not removed from the damaged vehicle list on our website.

If you are a motor vehicle trader: 

• Check your vehicles via Motochek and against the list of damaged vehicles on our website (updated on different timelines). 
   
• Make sure consumer information notices (CINs) accurately reflect whether a vehicle has been re-registered after being damaged in New Zealand or was imported as a damaged vehicle.

For more information visit the NZTA website.

Written off and damaged vehicles

Did you know?

• An NZTA app providing a simple, secure way to access your driver licence and vehicle information (for up to 10 vehicles) is now available to download free via app stores. Future updates will allow you to pay tolls and view your vehicles’ safety ratings. For more information visit our website.
  
  NZTA app
   
• It’s Motorcycle Awareness Month – and we invite you to join us in promoting this ACC campaign and sharing relevant safety tips. In September many riders get back on the roads after winter, so it’s a great time to remind drivers to look out for people on motorcycles and to encourage riders to take steps to stay safe. More information and resources to help spread the word are available online.
  
  Ride Forever - Motorcycle Awareness Month
  
  Motorcycling safety 

More information

To find out more about the topics covered on the newsletter or to share your feedback, contact us on vehicletraders@nzta.govt.nz