Month: January 2021

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Subaru Outback Moves Upmarket For 2021

Subaru is taking its Outback SUV range upmarket with the all-new version which reaches New Zealand showrooms next month. It will be sold in three all-wheel drive versions, the $49,900 Outback, the Outback X at $54,990 and the $57,490 Outback Touring.

https://autotalk.co.nz/news/subaru-outback-moves-upmarket-for-2021

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Australian New Car Sales Bounce Back In December

Sales of new vehicles in Australia bounced back again in December 2020 with 95,652 units recorded, 13.5% increase over December 2019 when 84,239 were sold. This result follows a similar upturn in November 2020, when sales of 95,205 vehicles, a 12.4% gain over November 2019, were recorded.

https://autotalk.co.nz/news/australian-new-car-sales-bounce-back-in-december

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New Logo First Move in Kia’s Strategy Revamp

Kia has unveiled a new corporate logo and global brand slogan that it says represent its ambition to become a leader in the mobility industry by revamping nearly all facets of its business.

https://autotalk.co.nz/news/new-logo-first-move-in-kias-strategy-revamp

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Kia reveals new logo

Marque rejigs branding as it prepares to face the challenges of a “fast-changing industry”. Kia has marked plans to revamp all facets of its business and an ambition become a leader in the future mobility industry by unveiling a new corporate logo and global brand slogan.

https://autofile.co.nz/kia-reveals-new-logo-

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Dealers’ optimism grows across the ditch

Sales down for the year but the final months offer encouraging signs for the new-vehicle industry. New-car sales in Australia are starting to show positive signs of growth after the financial impact of Covid-19 led to sales dropping by 13.7 per cent in 2020 when compared to the previous year.

https://autofile.co.nz/dealers-optimism-grows-across-the-ditch-

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Electric sales boom in UK

Uptake of greener vehicles accelerates despite slump across the wider industry. The coronavirus pandemic pushed UK car sales in 2020 down to their lowest level since 1992.

https://autofile.co.nz/electric-sales-boom-in-uk-

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Electric vehicles hit the roads in a record-breaking summer

Electric vehicle chargers have had a record-breaking holiday season – the number of fast-charges rose by more than a quarter compared to last year, according to ChargeNet.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/evs/123878762/electric-vehicles-hit-the-roads-in-a-recordbreaking-summer

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Don’t worry about charging your electric car – Volkswagen’s smiling robot will do it for you

Getting charging infrastructure in the right places is a key challenge for the Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) industry. But what if the charger could come to you?

https://www.driven.co.nz/news/don-t-worry-about-charging-your-electric-car-volkswagen-s-smiling-robot-will-do-it-for-you/

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Mazda confirms the rotary engine’s revival, but with a catch

Back in 2019, Mazda revealed its very first electric vehicle in the form of the MX-30, but with a range of just 200km on a full charge, critics were left wondering how it would perform in the real world.

https://www.driven.co.nz/news/mazda-confirms-the-rotary-engine-s-revival-but-with-a-catch/

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What would Carroll Shelby think of the new AC Cars… electric scooter?

The AC Cars brand might be best known for powerful petrol-powered roadsters, but it’s taking a different tack for 2021 with the launch of an e-scooter.

https://www.driven.co.nz/news/what-would-carroll-shelby-think-of-the-new-ac-cars-electric-scooter/

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Mazda Celebrates a Decade of Kodo Design

Ten years ago the Mazda Shinari concept car introduced the brands “Kodo – Soul of Motion” design language at the 2010 Los Angeles International Motor Show. Head Designer Ikuo Maeda was the person responsible for setting the bold new design direction for the Mazda brand.

https://autotalk.co.nz/news/mazda-celebrates-a-decade-of-kodo-design

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Hyundai Motor Group Wants 23 BEVs by 2025

Hyundai Motor Group wants to expand its range of battery electric vehicles (BEV) from the current eight models to 23 by the year 2025. It’s part of future growth strategy unveiled by the Group chairman Euisun Chung in a speech outlining the company’s commitments for 2021 and beyond.

https://autotalk.co.nz/news/hyundai-motor-group-wants-23-bevs-by-2025

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Enforcing Repayment of Disputed Car Loan Reasonable Says FSCL

Financial Services Complaints Ltd (FSCL) says its investigation concludes it is reasonable that a woman should be required to repay a $17,000 car loan that she says she had never signed up for.

https://autotalk.co.nz/news/enforcing-repayment-of-disputed-car-loan-reasonable-says-fscl

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Toyota Sees Positives in Final Results

While 2020 may have recorded the toughest trading conditions ever for the automobile industry, caused by COVID-19 lockdowns and a halted rental car sector, Toyota New Zealand is feeling positive about their own results.

https://autotalk.co.nz/news/toyota-sees-positives-in-final-results

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Miles Buys Large Christchurch Land Block

Christchurch car dealer and property developer Bruce Miles has bought a large block of land that has been the focus of zoning and legal action near Christchurch Airport. Miles reportedly plans to use it for his business interests and will develop the rest, news agency Stuff says.

https://autotalk.co.nz/news/miles-buys-large-christchurch-land-block

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New-car sales plunge 22.5%

Toyota dominates the charts in a year of disruption for dealers. New-car registrations in New Zealand came in at 80,849 in 2020, down 22.5 per cent on the previous year’s figures.

https://autofile.co.nz/new-car-sales-plunge-225-per-cent-

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Demand for light commercials slips

Used commercial market takes a hit for first-time sales of imports. There were 9,051 used-imported commercials registered for the first time last year, which was a 19.8 per cent decrease compared to the 11,281 units sold in 2019.

https://autofile.co.nz/demand-for-light-commercials-slips-

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New commercials suffer decline

Ford and Toyota battle for top two spots as sector’s annual sales figures fall by nearly one-quarter. There were 38,760 new commercial-vehicle registrations last year, a drop of 23.2 per cent, and 11,721 units, on the volumes seen in 2019.

https://autofile.co.nz/new-commercials-suffer-decline-

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Supply issues close factory

Honda temporarily mothballs operation due to problems arising from Covid-19 and Brexit. Japanese carmaker Honda says it was due to halt output at its factory in the UK for two days this week due to global supply delays.

https://autofile.co.nz/supply-issues-close-factory-

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Traders record sales boom

Second-time around registrations of used cars by dealers to the public jumped by almost six per cent last month. Dealers sold 18,898 second-hand cars to the public last month, which was up by 5.9 per cent compared to December 2019 when there were 17,837 changes of ownership.

https://autofile.co.nz/traders-record-sales-boom-

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Toyota NZ’s new-vehicle trade plunges 31%

Company hails rebound from Covid-19 and notes the increasing demand for hybrid models. Toyota New Zealand saw its new-vehicle sales slump by nearly one-third in 2020 compared to the previous year, with the company mostly blaming the impacts of Covid-19.

https://autofile.co.nz/toyota-new-vehicle-sales-plunge-31-

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Used imports tumble by nearly one-fifth

Annual figures reveal the full impact of Covid-19 and a disappointing end to the year. There were 113,142 used-imported cars registered in New Zealand in 2020, a drop of 19.5 per cent when compared to 140,590 sales in the previous year.

https://autofile.co.nz/used-imports-tumble-by-nearly-one-fifth-

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Ford’s ‘pivotal’ deal with Mahindra goes kaput, adding twist to financials

A cost-cutting deal called “pivotal” by Ford in 2019 has gone kaput, the automaker announced just after the stock market closed on New Year’s Eve.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/300198903/fords-pivotal-deal-with-mahindra-goes-kaput-adding-twist-to-financials

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Toyota NZ down 31 per cent in 2020, but a running start on 2021 with 5700 orders in the bank

We’re yet to see official New Zealand new-vehicle sales figures for the whole of 2020 (expect them in the next week or so), but based on its own numbers market leader Toyota NZ (TNZ) has revealed that it was 31 per cent down on 2019.

https://www.driven.co.nz/news/toyota-nz-down-31-per-cent-in-2020-but-a-running-start-on-2021-with-5700-orders-in-the-bank/

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Raptor who? Supercharged RAM 1500 TRX emerges for sale in NZ

For a few years now, FCA or Fiat Chrysler Automobiles have been cramming the supercharged 6.2-litre V8 or Hellcat engine into almost everything that has an engine bay big enough.

https://www.driven.co.nz/news/raptor-who-supercharged-ram-1500-trx-emerges-for-sale-in-nz/

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December Import Registrations Match Year

Used import vehicle registration for December 2020 matched the year overall almost exactly – down 19.7% for the month vs 19.5% for the year. Overall used import passenger car registrations for down for the COVID-hit year to 113,225 from 140,590 units – down by 27,365 vehicles.

https://autotalk.co.nz/news/december-import-registrations-match-year

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New Market Down 23% For 2020

The official registration statistics are in – showing the tough COVID-19 market in 2020 was down 22.7% year-on-year. That means overall registrations dropped a massive 35,121 units to 119,620 for the year.

https://autotalk.co.nz/news/new-market-down-23-for-2020

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Chargenet – Five Years On And Growing Beyond Expectations

New Zealand has one of the best DC charging networks in the world for its population, beaten only by leaders like Norway. A lot of that is down to one company,

https://autotalk.co.nz/news/chargenet-five-years-on-and-growing-beyond-expectations

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Failure To Clear Debt No Cause For Rejection

Chapman v Taylor and Southern Autos Manukau Ltd The purchaser was looking for a van to use in her employment as a courier driver. She contacted the first trader party to the case after seeing an advertisement shown to her by a colleague.

https://autotalk.co.nz/news/failure-to-clear-debt-no-cause-for-rejection

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Your Crm Strategy Has To Be A Main Priority At Your Dealership

Consumers have more choice today than they ever had when buying cars. With higher consumer expectations, dealerships have to work harder to increase sales and service appointments. People today are impatient – they want everything immediately, with the best service and the cheapest price.

https://autotalk.co.nz/news/your-crm-strategy-has-to-be-a-main-priority-at-your-dealership

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We Need A Better Plan

Many countries are declaring a “global climate emergency”. So we can expect more government, business and individual initiatives to reduce carbon emissions. Shifting to electric vehicles is the ultimate goal to cut transport-related carbon.

https://autotalk.co.nz/news/we-need-a-better-plan

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Covid Triggers Changes For Automotive Finance

COVID-10 has triggered changes in the way New Zealand companies do business that might otherwise have taken years, a panel discussion at the Financial Services Federation’s Recovery Conference 2020 was told.

https://autotalk.co.nz/news/covid-triggers-changes-for-automotive-finance

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Border Control ‘Out Of Whack’

The Government’s decision making on who comes through the Covid-19 restricted border and quarantine process is in my view increasingly out of whack. I am not talking about the right of New Zealanders to come home, that bit is as it should be.

https://autotalk.co.nz/news/border-control-out-of-whack

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What Will Happen To Car Imports After A 2022 Clean Car Emissions Standard (Ccs)?

Phill Haynes is a strategist with an analytical, problem solving skillset. He’s got a lot of intel, with a dash of fun and spice. Some of you will know Phill (pic) from his days with Deloitte MIS team, or maybe Honda, (cars and motorcycles), or recently Holden.

https://autotalk.co.nz/news/what-will-happen-to-car-imports-after-a-2022-clean-car-emissions-standard-ccs

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Toyota NZ Chair Receives New Year’s Honour

Toyota New Zealand’s former chief executive, now non-exec chair, Alistair Davis, was acknowledged last week in the New Year’s honours. David was made an Officer of The New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the motor industry, business and sustainability.

https://autotalk.co.nz/news/toyota-nz-chair-receives-new-years-honour

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Let’s Get on With It

New Zealand’s EV market will see exponential growth from this year with the government starting to implement carbon reduction policies.

https://evsandbeyond.co.nz/lets-get-on-with-it/

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Getting Into the ‘Green Stuff’

The world’s attention has focused on sustainability and reducing emissions to mitigate climate change. That’s been encouraged by people realising the extent of pollution caused by internal combustion engine (ICE) transport during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns when traffic became scarce for a time and the air cleared over major cities.

https://evsandbeyond.co.nz/getting-into-the-green-stuff/

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The Most Important EV of 2021?

In 2019 the arrival of the Tesla Model 3 saw registrations of electric vehicles rocket in New Zealand. Late in 2020, the MG ZS EV is (admittedly in smaller numbers) causing a spike in registrations – expect over 100 to be on the road by sometime in January and more

https://evsandbeyond.co.nz/the-most-important-ev-of-2021/

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Switching on a Low Emissions Energy Future

Ara Ake was launched as the $27 million National New Energy Development Centre in July this year by prime minister Jacinda Ardern and energy minister Megan Woods.

https://evsandbeyond.co.nz/switching-on-a-low-emissions-energy-future/

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World’s First EV Travel Guide Released

A global EV travel guide ‘#recharge’ has been produced by Tesla travellers Ralf Schwesinger and Nicole Wanner who featured in EVs and Beyond and EVtalk Australia in April and May last year on their “Mr and Mrs T on Tour” sojourn.

https://evsandbeyond.co.nz/worlds-first-ev-travel-guide-released-2/

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Six in a row for Ranger

Ford NZ boss says utes perform a vital function in supporting business productivity in this country. The Ford Ranger has been crowned New Zealand’s top-selling new vehicle for the sixth year in a row.

https://autofile.co.nz/six-in-a-row-for-ranger-

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Marque unveils tiny EV

Toyota targets business and government customers before plans to launch new model into the wider market. Toyota has launched a new car that is being dubbed an “ultra compact” electric vehicle (EV) with seating capacity for two adults.

https://autofile.co.nz/marque-unveils-compact-ev-

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Look out for a used import near you: humble Toyota wagon achieves retro glory

A Japanese company known for customised versions of classic Toyota SUVs and vans has turned its attention to a Corolla-sized station wagon, with awesome results. In beige if you want it (who wouldn’t?).

https://www.driven.co.nz/news/look-out-for-a-used-import-near-you-humble-toyota-wagon-achieves-retro-glory/

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Honda set to raise bar in autonomous race

Marque prepares to unleash a luxury sedan that will allow drivers to take their eyes off the road. Honda says it will be the world’s first carmaker to mass produce level three autonomous cars that will be able to navigate busy highway traffic all on their own.

https://autofile.co.nz/honda-set-to-raise-bar-in-autonomous-race-

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Davis honoured for work at Toyota NZ

Former CEO “blessed to be recognised” after being made Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Alistair Davis, whose career with Toyota NZ has spanned more than four decades, has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the motor industry, business and sustainability.

https://autofile.co.nz/davis-honoured-for-work-at-toyota-nz-

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MITO’s leader wins recognition

Chief executive of two decades recognised for services to tertiary education. Janet Lane, who has been chief executive of MITO since 1999, has been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

https://autofile.co.nz/mitos-leader-wins-recognition-