Crazy Car campaign just crazy

“Despite claims from the used importers that Government initiatives to tighten standards on vehicle emissions are a ‘crazy car’ policy, the plan should be applauded”, said Perry Kerr, CEO of the Motor Industry Association.

“The Government plan is trying to improve New Zealand vehicle emission standards to a level more comparable with Europe, Australia and North America”, Mr Kerr said. “The present rules are more aligned with those in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Eastern Russia.”

“The campaign, mounted by the IMVDA (Association of Used Vehicle Importers) is entirely based on promoting their desire to continue to be able to dump old cars onto the New Zealand market with complete disregard for safety, the environment or any public interest”, said Mr. Kerr. “Their intention is to keep New Zealand’s import standards at third world level and that certainly is crazy!”

Vehicle-related air pollution has been identified as causing the premature deaths of over 400 people per year in New Zealand. “Clearly the IMVDA regards this scandalous health issue as being a secondary consideration to their profit motive,” said Mr. Kerr.

“Furthermore, their arguments that used car prices will go up are completely misleading,” said Mr. Kerr. “There will be no change in price for used imports of five and six years old, and people seeking an older, cheaper car than that will be able to find one that’s already in New Zealand instead of paying an inflated price for a freshly imported one. Without the importer’s margin, the price for such a car will be less, not more.”

ENDS

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