People Are Keen To Spend
Tauranga motorcycle dealer Bayride ended 2020 positively with very strong December sales and very few signs of consumer concern about spending. “December culminated in a buying frenzy,” says co-owner Damian Fleming.
https://autotalk.co.nz/news/people-are-keen-to-spend
Low Market Not Bad For Dealers – Online Discussion
Is a slower vehicle market bad for dealers? Not according to a number of industry experts who engaged with a discussion over the topic on AutoTalk managing editor Richard Edwards’ Linkedin page.
https://autotalk.co.nz/news/low-market-not-bad-for-dealers-online-discussion
Better Than Expected Trading Boosts Turners’ NPBT
Because trading results exceeded expectations across its vehicle retail, finance and insurance business units last November and December, Turners Automotive Group now expects its FY21 Net Profit Before Tax (NPBT) to be within a range of $33 million to $35 million.
https://autotalk.co.nz/news/better-than-expected-trading-boosts-turners-npbt
Border Delays Causing Issues For Import Trade
Delays caused by the shift of border inspection verification from Japan to New Zealand are causing an array of issues for the import trade – but authorities are insistent their work is necessary.
https://autotalk.co.nz/news/border-delays-causing-issues-for-import-traden
Mercedes-Benz EQA Due Here Mid-Year
The compact electric Mercedes-Benz EQA has been launched globally in a digital world premiere and is due in New Zealand from mid-2021 according to Mercedes-Benz Cars New Zealand Limited.
https://autotalk.co.nz/news/mercedes-benz-eqa-due-here-mid-year
Toyota Reclaims Lead As Most Searched Car Brand
After dominating Google search terms in 2019, BMW has fallen back into second place and Toyota has reclaimed the title of most searched car brand in 2020.
https://autotalk.co.nz/news/toyota-reclaims-lead-as-most-searched-car-brand
Rivian Raises US$2.65B as EV Production Nears
Rivian has raised US$2.65 billion as it prepares to begin production later this year of its electric ute.
https://evsandbeyond.co.nz/rivian-raises-us2-65b-as-ev-production-nears/
Vauxhall Combo-E Van in UK Showrooms This Year
A fully electric variant of Vauxhall’s award-winning Combo van has up to 275km range and 800kg maximum payload.
https://evsandbeyond.co.nz/vauxhall-combo-e-van-in-uk-showrooms-this-year/
NZ To Hit 78,000 EVs In 2025?
New Zealand will probably get 33,000 EVs on the country’s roads by the end of this year and should reach 78,000 by the end of 2025.
https://evsandbeyond.co.nz/nz-to-hit-78000-evs-in-2025/
New MPV takes cues from SUVs
Kia Carnival’s revamp makes it safer and more economical than its predecessors.
https://autofile.co.nz/new-mpv-takes-cues-from-suvs-
Q&A: David Crawford
David Crawford, chief executive of the Motor Industry Association (MIA), talks to Autofile Online about the year that was and what the future holds.
https://autofile.co.nz/qa-david-crawford-
Mercedes Unveils its Smallest, Cheapest Electric Car Yet
Another big step forward has been taken overnight in EV land, with Mercedes-Benz revealing one of the first premium electric compact crossovers in the form of its new 2021 EQA.
https://www.autocar.co.nz/autocar-news-app/mercedes-unveils-its-smallest-cheapest-electric-car-yet
A Tesla … Convertible? Italian Firm Builds Stunning Model S Drop-Top
While Tesla is slowly working its way through building cars for each popular vehicle segment, for the moment those wanting a drop-top variant are out of luck. Unless you approach Italian coachbuilder Ares, that is.
Which Cars Are Buyers Most Likely To Keep For 15 Years?
The majority of new-car buyers generally hop behind the wheel of their fresh-scented machinery with the thought that they’ll probably have sold it to get something else some five years down the track.
https://www.autocar.co.nz/autocar-news-app/which-cars-are-buyers-most-likely-to-keep-for-15-years
Lexus Confirms NZ Pricing, Specs For Its BMW 3 Series Fighter
Following its quiet local arrival last month, Lexus New Zealand has confirmed pricing and spec for its heavily updated IS compact sedan — a reshaped and more tech-laden version of the outgoing IS, with a modest price increase to match.
Rainbow Warrior: Volkswagen Brings Back ‘Harlequin’ Polo
If there was any sign that the troubles of 2020 were behind us, maybe it’s this — the recreation of one of Volkswagen’s zanier, sillier, more bizarre projects.
https://www.autocar.co.nz/autocar-news-app/rainbow-warrior-volkswagen-brings-back-harlequin-polo
Mercedes-Benz reveals second all-electric model, the EQA
Mercedes-Benz has followed up the Top Cars category-winning EQC with a smaller all-electric SUV, dubbed EQA.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/evs/124005507/mercedesbenz-reveals-second-allelectric-model-the-eqa
Porsche expands Taycan range with sub-$200k entry model
Porsche has revealed the new entry point to the Taycan range, simply called Taycan with no suffix.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/124012336/porsche-expands-taycan-range-with-sub200k-entry-model
New Israeli battery tech set to ‘revolutionise’ electric vehicles
Electric cars might be about to get much more desirable. An Israeli company called, StoreDot, is on the cusp of a major breakthrough that would remove one of the biggest hurdles to making electric cars mainstream.
https://www.driven.co.nz/news/new-israeli-battery-tech-set-to-revolutionise-electric-vehicles/
Renault’s feisty new Megane R.S Trophy confirmed for NZ
There are no two ways about it, the hot hatch segment includes the most interesting and easily accessible performance vehicles in the world right now, and Renault is about to add another option here in New Zealand.
https://www.driven.co.nz/news/renault-s-feisty-new-megane-r-s-trophy-confirmed-for-nz/
New Mercedes-Benz EQA revealed as the brand’s most affordable electric SUV
While it wasn’t the first German brand to turn its hand to EVs, Mercedes-Benz already knows the segment well, with its fully-electric EQC SUV winning the New Zealand Motor Writers Guild’s Car of the Year award in 2020.