Vehicle traders news

13 December 2023

Welcome to the first edition of Vehicle traders news - an e-newsletter for motor vehicle importers, dealers and others interested in the automotive industry.

You are likely to be receiving this email because you previously got our Rightcar or Clean Car Programme e-newsletters - which this combined communication replaces.

We hope you find this is an easy and useful read. Please forward the newsletter on to people you think may be interested in this information, and send us your feedback or questions using the contact details provided below. To unsubscribe, just click on the link at the end.  

Clean Car Discount is ending on 31 December 2023

The Clean Car Discount (CCD) is ending on 31 December 2023. To get a rebate, you need to apply by 11:59pm, 31 December 2023.

• Eligible vehicles registered up to and on 31 December 2023 will be subject to CCD fees and rebates.
   
• Vehicles eligible for a rebate and registered up to and on 31 December 2023 can apply for a rebate up to and on 31 December 2023. Apply for a rebate
   
• No vehicles will be subject to a CCD fee from 1 January 2024.
   
• Rebate applications submitted after 11:59pm on 31 December 2023 won’t be accepted. There will be no exceptions.
   
• From 1 January 2024, vehicles advertised for sale are required to have new Vehicle Emissions and Energy Economy Labels (VEEEL) generated and displayed without Clean Car Discount information.

We’ll be updating the information on our webpages over the next few weeks.

Clean Car Discount is ending

Latest vehicle safety ratings released on Rightcar

New safety ratings for most cars and other light vehicles in Aotearoa New Zealand are now live on the Rightcar website. 

The updated (2023) safety ratings, which indicate how much protection a vehicle provides people in a crash, apply to the vast majority of used cars, SUVs, utes and other light vehicles on our roads. They are based on the latest independent analysis of real-world crash data from Aotearoa and Australia.

Around 900,000 used light vehicles’ safety ratings have changed compared to their 2022 star-safety ratings.

So, make sure you visit the dealer section of Rightcar to check the latest safety rating of vehicles you are buying or selling. 

Many people are unaware the safety of different vehicles varies greatly, or that in a crash they're twice as safe in a 5-star safety rated car than in 1-star safety rated car.  

Motor vehicle traders have an important role in helping people learn about vehicle safety. One way to do this is by displaying up-to-date vehicle safety ratings labels - which you can generate via EECA's website.
Label generator online.  

Here's some links to other information and some free resources to help you.

• Tools and resources for dealers
• Overview of different vehicle safety rating systems
• Overview of environmental ratings
• Order free copies of Rightcar brochure
• Order free copies of Rightcar poster

Improving vehicle safety is a key part of New Zealand's current road safety strategy. To keep people safe on our roads we need everyone making safe choices, in safe vehicles, on safe roads and travelling at safe speeds.

Safety rating labels survey success

Thanks to overwhelming support from registered motor vehicle dealers, our first nationwide survey of vehicle safety rating labels’ use is now complete. 
 
Over the past few months researchers visited more than 300 randomly selected dealers to help us better understand currrent practice with vehicle safety rating labels - and nearly 100% agreed to participate.   

This level of support, and engagement from industry associations too, is greatly appreciated.
  
Results of the survey have been compiled to form a baseline of national data and analysis is now underway. The key findings will inform future communication and engagement with dealers, to help us work together to get people into safer vehicles.

Vehicles and ANCAP crash tests have evolved significantly since the 1990s, as seen above.

ANCAP celebrates major milestones

ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Programme) celebrated two big milestones in November – its 30th anniversary and a renewed industry partnership.

ANCAP was established in the early 1990s as just the second NCAP in the world. Until then, there was no way for new car buyers in New Zealand and Australia to see how well their vehicle performed in a crash, nor any incentive for manufacturers to fast-track safety improvements.  

Now ANCAP star safety ratings - which are published on Rightcar and apply to about 12% of light vehicles in Aotearoa - are a trusted and valuable tool for buyers, sellers and manufacturers. They are based on 7 lab-based crash tests covering various scenarios, as well as a range of collision avoidance performance tests.  

Last month, ANCAP also celebrated the signing of an updated Memorandum of Understanding with European New Car Assessment Programme (EuroNCAP) - paving the way for even closer collaboration.

Euro NCAP and ANCAP first signed an MOU in 1999, to assist with alignment of test protocols and results. The renewed MOU reflects the evolution of both organisations, technological advancements in vehicle safety, plus changing regulatory and environmental objectives. 

Watch this video to see how ANCAP tests have changed over the years.
30 years of ANCAP

When vehicles and rain don’t mix

With unprecedented rainfall in 2023, water damage to vehicles is on the increase - so please be vigilant when trading. 

Water damage is most likely to occur when water rises above the door sill (the bottom of the door frame) and can reduce vehicle safety.

Unfortunately, drying out a vehicle (including stripping out carpets to dry) may not prevent damage from building over time. Unseen damage which impacts the safety of the vehicle – to circuit boards, wiring or metal parts hidden by interior covers and safety systems susceptible to water such as seatbelts and SRS airbags.

If you have vehicles which may have been flooded, please contact your insurer to arrange for them to be assessed. If you don't have insurance, it's recommended you have a qualified automotive technician complete a thorough inspection of affected vehicles.

More information is on our website.
Water damaged vehicles - what you need to know   

Reminder: CO2 targets are changing

From 1 January 2024 the annual Clean Car Standard (CCS) CO2 targets change from 145 g/km to 133.9 g/km for passenger vehicles and from 218.3 g/km to 201.9 g/km for commercial vehicles.

Vehicles that haven’t been accepted or paid in the Clean Car Standard system (by the account owner or delegate) by 31 December 2023 will have the targets recalculated to show what their new values are based on the 2024 target.

The annual targets for passenger and commercial vehicles are set in legislation until 2027. More details are on our website: Data, values and formulas

More information

If you have questions or feedback, please email vehicletraders@nzta.govt.nz

• For Safe Vehicles & Rightcar: email safevehicles@nzta.govt.nz
• For Clean Car Discount: call 0800 108 809 or email cleancars@nzta.govt.nz
• For Clean Car Standard: call 0800 141 801 or email  CCSImporter@nzta.govt.nz