2011 Used Imports – Oldest Average Age on Record

Media Release

18 January 2012

2011 Used Imports – Oldest Average Age on Record

NZTA data covering 2011 fleet and registration statistics shows the average age of a used imported vehicle was 8.64 years – the oldest on record.

“This data must be worrying for the Government and our officials charged with keeping motorists safe”, said Mr Perry Kerr, Chief Executive Officer of the Motor Industry Association. “Last year the used import industry mounted a strong, but unsuccessful campaign, including a legal challenge, to halt the introduction of more up to date emission standards – which require used imports certified for use in New Zealand, from the 1st of January 2012, to meet the Japanese 2005 Emission Standard. What this data shows is that if the Government does not continue updating standards used imports will get progressively older. This has implications for the well-being of those people with respiratory problems as well as for all motorists in terms of the safety of the vehicles they drive” he said.

The data confirms what the MIA has always maintained, used imports are no longer competitive with New Zealand new equivalent vehicles, with the percentage of used imports aged five years and under dropping to an all-time record low of 8.8% of total imports. This figure has been as high as 49% in the very early days of the import trade, but has been constantly dropping since then” Mr Kerr said

Last year of the 80,852 used imports, 40,450 were nine, ten or eleven years old when registered for use on New Zealand roads, whereas just 7,127 were five years or younger.

Other data shows the number of passenger cars licensed for use on New Zealand roads declined year over year for the first time since 1995 – by 0.1% from 2,363,403 vehicles licensed in 2010 to 2,361,946 vehicles in 2011. Rental cars and taxis also declined, with motorcycle and mopeds continuing to fall. Mopeds showed the biggest drop of 9% which the MIA attributes to the ongoing effect of the high ACC levies applicable to motorcycles and mopeds.

ENDS.

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