New clean vehicles regulation in New Zealand

New Zealand published for comments a new emission regulation for light motor vehicles.

The aim of the Land Transport (Clean Vehicles) Amendment Bill is to achieve a rapid reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from light vehicles imported into New Zealand by increasing the supply and variety of zero- and low-emissions vehicles, increasing the demand for zero- and low-emissions vehicles, and informing New Zealanders about vehicle emissions levels and rebates receivable or charges payable in relation to light vehicles.

The Bill will introduce a ‘Clean Vehicle Standard’ increasing the supply and variety of zero- and low-emissions vehicles. Vehicle importers will be given annually reducing carbon dioxide targets to meet from 2023.  Moreover, updates to vehicle labelling requirements will be implemented to inform New Zealanders about carbon dioxide emissions of individual vehicles at point of purchase.

New Zealand anticipates that the proposed changes will have a consequential impact on the types of vehicles imported in New Zealand. In particular fewer high carbon dioxide emitting vehicles are forecast to be imported New Zealand, which in turn means that greater quantities of low carbon dioxide emission vehicles, such as hybrids and electric vehicles, would be imported. Annual average carbon dioxide targets on vehicles entering New Zealand are set out by the Bill.

The Bill is open for comments till the 4 November 2021.

To find out more about the details of the Bill, do not hesitate to contact our EFS Product Compliance Team.