Car Dealers' Safety Net May Be Banned
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The trusted voice of the auto industry for more than 25 years Issue 3-2014 www.autofile.co.nz 21 February 2014 In this issue Car dealers’ safety p6 Trader’s view on WOFs p9 IMVIA’s capital venture p10 Kia Soul EV unveiled net may be banned p12 Spotlight on Hamilton he Financial Services unscrupulous lenders, particularly sets of keys from day one of loans. p15 MTA’s take on Lumley Federation (FSF) is urging in the lower end of the market. “Doing so may facilitate the government to allow But in its present form, the subsequent repossession to the p18 Buyer was ‘trying it on’ motorT vehicle manufacturers, legislation will affect how finance benefit of all concerned in terms traders and lenders to hold spare companies and car dealers go of cost savings,” says executive sets of car keys after finance is about their business – as revealed director Lyn McMorran. “The use approved for purchases. in the previous issue of Autofile. of keys should be regulated, not The long-established practice The FSF has also raised the custody of them.” could be banned under the concerns with other parts of the The issue is particularly Credit Contracts and Financial bill and is calling for Craig Foss, important with car finance Services Reform Bill, which the Minister of Consumer Affairs, to because manufacturers typically government describes as the address them. hold duplicate keys for their Specialised training biggest overhaul of the sector for The federation submits there’s vehicles with many having outlets to increase a decade. nothing wrong in principle with that provide point-of-sale finance your sales Most of the proposals are lenders and registered motor for new stock. Find out more on Page 17 aimed at cracking down on vehicle dealers holding duplicate The FSF questions if one section [continued on page 4] Vehicles boost profits at port p10 ew Zealand’s booming performers was the automotive “The motor vehicle numbers motor vehicle industry sector, with motor vehicle imports we’ve been experiencing have is providing Ports of increasing by 29.3 per cent to been very good,” Tony Gibson, NAuckland Ltd with a massive 99,710 units from 77,122. chief executive officer, told increase in business, as reflected in Volumes of break-bulk – or Autofile. its half-yearly financial statement. general – cargo, which is non- “Having almost 100,000 units From Gran Turismo The company has announced containerised and includes cars, coming through the port in the to Chicago - a 70 per cent increase in profits for were up 41.9 per cent to 2.87m second half of 2013 is a good sign Toyota’s FT-1 PlayStation the six months up to December 31. tonnes compared to 2.02m over – the economy seems to be really One of the port’s star the same timescale. picking up.” racer becomes reality [continued on page 8] ACCESSORY BUNDLING Retro Vehicle Enhancement MORE SALES CREATE AN www.rve.co.nz EXCLUSIVE MODEL MORE PROFIT 0800 RETRO 4 U FOR YOUR BRAND CUSTOMERS FOR LIFE VIEW VIDEO WWW.DEALERSHIPEDITIONS.CO.NZ Driving Solutions Protect your investment with MAY COVER EXISTING DAMAGE EASY TO INSTALL AND REMOVE PREVENTS KERBING DAMAGE RANGE OF COLOURS COST-EFFECTIVE 0800 4 RIMPRO WWW.RIMPRO-TEC.COM editor’s note Call Steve Owens now on 021 947 752 Getting fuelled up in the future t’s often said that because month drops in market share for the New Zealand no longer Nissan Cube and Mazda Demio – manufactures as much stuff as both due to be replaced shortly – and Iit used to – such as motor vehicles sales of Suzuki’s Swift are decreasing. EDITOR ADVERTISING – that this country is more of a Another gem of information was Darren Risby Brian McCutcheon technology taker than provider. that the Nissan’s Leaf was the only [email protected] [email protected] That’s not to knock what is pure electric vehicle (EV) to show up 021 137 5430 021 455 775 made here or belittle how high in in the Japanese charts. It notched JOURNALIST & ONLINE PRODUCER DESIGNER the innovation stakes we come. up 13,021 registrations in 2013, with Cameron Carpenter Adrian Payne But perhaps more could a number arriving on these shores. [email protected] [email protected] be done to prepare us for new EVs are continuing to find their technology before it actually Autofile is also available as an electronic copy via email. If you’d like to receive electronic feet in New Zealand and their copies please send an email with your name and organisation to: [email protected]. arrives on our wharves inside cars, uptake will be slower than hybrids Back copies are also available on request. or powering them. but where Australia leads, surely Copyright: Published twice monthly by 4Media, PO Box 6222, Dunedin 9059 Latest statistics from the Imported we can try to follow. All statements made, although based on information believed to be accurate and reliable, Motor Vehicle Industry Association The Leaf scored a sales and cannot be guaranteed, and no liability can be accepted for any errors or omissions. Reproduction of autofile in whole or part, without written permission, whether by xerography (IMVIA) on what’s happening in Japan exposure goal last year when the or any other means, is strictly forbidden. All rights reserved. shouldn’t be underestimated. Lord Mayor of Sydney took delivery The bottom line is that of 10 of the small hatchbacks. motorists in that country – the The council’s purchase marked biggest source market for all the largest single order of Leafs vehicles crossing our border – are in Australia at the time and they falling in love with hybrids. joined four Mitsubishi i-MiEVs. Like it or not, the revolution They replaced a fleet of Toyota there is in full swing and that will Prius petrol-electric hybrids eventually impact on what can be because the use of zero-emission sourced and brought over to be vehicles was seen as a wholesale sold on yards here. gain in an urban environment. JAPAN The IMVIA’s views are covered in- Citizens can also make their AUCKLAND depth online at www.autofile.co.nz. own choices about what they drive to KAWASAKI Among the news is the fact because dozens of charging points OSAKA NAGOYA WELLINGTON that Toyota is leading the charge have been installed in council car NELSON by announcing it will introduce parks to overcome range anxiety. LYTTELTON 15 more hybrids in Japan over the It was also interesting to find next two years to complement its out that EVs were a common NEW ZEALAND existing fleet. thread at the IMVIA’s national The two best-sellers there last year executive meeting in Wellington, were the Aqua and Prius, with the two which was attended by cabinet service hybrids making up almost 16 per cent to DOOR members, government officials and Full RPORT of over-1,000cc registrations. representatives of motor vehicle Vessels arriving every two weeks And the hybrid version of the industry associations. RServicing Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton new Honda Fit accounted for more Perhaps it’s time to realise that & Nelson with ‘Direct Port Calls’ than 70 per cent of the model’s alternative ways of powering our sales in four months. cars are coming to New Zealand. CALL ME NOW! The massive rise in the It’s already happening in other Karla Sorensen popularity of hybrids in Japan parts of the world – be that with Mob: 0276 796 981 appears to be coming at the hybrids, EVs or fuel-cell technology. Ph: 09 373 5881 Fx: 09 303 0072 expense of some tried and tested Email: [email protected] models on dealers’ yards here. Darren Risby www.dolphinshipping.co.nz There were notable month-on- Editor www.autofile.co.nz | 3 news [continued from page 1] At a glance Disabling devices under scrutiny The loan-shark law changes include lenders taking responsibility for the likely effect of their credit. They of the bill, which defines these the keys at the start of the it will be activated and advised will only be able to provide loans to proposals, is intended to prevent repossession process, which how to prevent this. meet borrowers’ needs and repayments marques, dealers and financiers may be sensible for the They must not be connected Access to goods shouldn’t cause substantial hardship. from holding duplicate keys. borrower to do. to, or used with, essential Companies may be banned for “Our members submit the There’s nothing wrong with a household goods and important Part of the Credit Contracts irresponsible lending and there will be and Financial Services Law Reform cost to replace modern motor financier holding a duplicate documents, and devices will be tighter controls on misleading adverts. Bill covers devices that disable goods. vehicle keys is significant,” says set after a contract has defined by having functions Repossession will be banned unless “A contract may not provide for McMorran. been signed because this that warn debtors repayments specified in the paperwork, while agents keys or other devices to be held by the “This cost would be passed can facilitate repossession are overdue, prevent goods and employees will be licensed. creditor prior to repossession,” it states. onto consumers and is one which to the benefit of everyone from being used and limit When a contract states the creditor will often need to be incurred by concerned. their use. has security over the goods, they lenders if the clause is enacted Their other functions include must be identified in the contract Paying arrears without change.” The FSF wants the word “hold” enabling creditors to locate – and to what the device is The issue is flagged up replaced with “use” in the goods and achieving beneficial The proposed legislation says connected and what the right elsewhere in the bill, which states relevant parts of the legislation to outcomes for lenders.