Car dealers fear new rules | Hawkes Bay News | Local News in Hawkes Bay

LAWRENCE GULLERY

Major advertising campaigns have begun in Hawke's Bay and Christchurch as car dealers speak out about the Government's proposed vehicle exhaust emissions rule.

The new legislation, which could be in place early next year, would restrict the importation of Japanese used vehicles to those built from 2000 and diesels would be restricted to those built from 2003.

An advert placed in Hawke's Bay Today said the exhaust emission rule would ban up to 90 per cent of petrol imports and 96 per cent of diesel imports.

A similar ad had been placed in Christchurch papers recently.

The advert said the price of an entry-level import would increase by up to 100 per cent and many motorists would decide to keep their older vehicles longer, causing greater pollution.

"Up to 50,000 people are employed directly or indirectly in the motor and related industries. This rule will cause thousands of job losses," the advert said.

The Government is trying to improve vehicle emissions but dealers indicated the plan would probably backfire. Tukituki MP Craig Foss said he was "sympathetic" towards the exhaust emission legislation proposal but was not happy about how it would be implemented.

He said he believed the changes should be introduced over time rather than in one hit, which could make cars more expensive.

"Many more people can afford a car now than before, even though they are older Japanese cars, but a least they are getting to work.

"No one wants dirty cars around, but not everyone ca afford a newer car, it's as simple as that," he said.

The Independent Motor Vehicle Dealers' Association had been reported to oppose the legislation but was not speaking publicly until the Government had decided on whether the new rule would be implemented.

Automobile Association (AA) spokesperson, Mark Stockdale, said the AA made a submission to the emissions rule when the Government held a hearing recently.

"The average price of an import vehicle will be higher ... the upshot of that is that people won't be able to upgrade their vehicles and will have to hang on to them longer.

That would mean emissions won't get better, but will get worse compared to the status quo," he said.

Mr Stockdale said the AA was waiting for the Government to decided when it wanted to implement the rule, a decision was expected next month.

"But the date it comes into force may be delayed for several months," he said. The AA hoped the emission rule would be "redefined."