10 August 2007
Immediate release

Classic government PR trick on micro dots

Hyundai suspects the government is planning a stealth attack on the motor industry with its controversial plan for micro dots.

After a flurry of publicity on what’s called whole-of-vehicle marking, Transport Minister Annette King has gone quiet in the face of opposition from much of the industry.

“This has all the signs of the classic PR trick, going silent on the issue then pushing a law through when things have died down,” said the Executive Director of Hyundai Motors NZ, Philip Eustace.

“The issue is too important for that.”

“The public position of the government is that in some way car theft will be reduced, but of course micro dots won’t stop theft at all.

“They may help the identification of parts of cars that are broken down for sale, but that’s too late!”

Only a minuscule number of cars stolen are actually broken down for parts, explained Mr. Eustace.

“Police state that 70 to 80 percent of car theft is opportunistic, which quite clearly shows that whole-of-vehicle marking is a waste of time and money.

“A far better approach is to encourage immobilisers, which are fitted to most modern cars and which stop theft dead in its tracks.

“All new Hyundai vehicles are fitted with transponders so you can’t start the car without the keys, and as a consequence the theft rate of Hyundai vehicles is very, very low.

“A partial defence raised by the micro-dot people is that it will somehow result in reduced insurance premiums.

“However the insurance industry has been very quiet on the issue.

“Maybe it’s time to introduce mandatory third-party insurance, if we want insurance premiums to come down for the average hard-working New Zealand family.

Mr. Eustace said the government has lost touch with reality in its defence of micro dots.

“As we have already shown, the cost and the logistical nightmare of marking all the vehicles coming across our wharves, 18,000 cars per month, has huge implications for the industry.

“These huge new costs will have to be passed on to the long-suffering New Zealand car buyer, it’s as simple as that.

“The time has come for Ms King and the government to announce that they are going back to the drawing board on whole-of-vehicle marking,” states Mr. Eustace.

• Hyundai is on a meteoric rise in New Zealand with almost 400 percent growth in four years and numerous new locations among its 23 dealerships. The brand has been imported into New Zealand by the Giltrap Group for the past 25 years.
• Worldwide Hyundai was the sixth largest automaker in 2006, selling in 193 countries and employing 50,000 people. Forty years old, Hyundai has targeted customer satisfaction as its 2007 keynote, part of the brand's overall aim to become global quality leader.
• Hyundai is a committed sponsor of sports and cultural organisations in New Zealand and worldwide. See www.hyundai.co.nz

• For further information about Hyundai vehicles in New Zealand, including high resolution images and an archive of press releases, log onto the dedicated Hyundai Media website at www.hyundai.co.nz/media
• For the international media news room, where you can download press releases, high-resolution photos, as well as preview and request broadcast-standard video which will be delivered digitally or by tape, visit www.thenewsmarket.com/HyundaiMotor. Registration and video is free to accredited media.

End

© Scoop Media