Automotive news

• Ineos Automotive posts record first-half sales as fleet demand grows

  17-07-2026 00:50 via autotalk.co.nz
  
  Ineos Automotive has recorded its strongest-ever first half, with global Grenadier orders rising 14.6% year-on-year as demand from both retail buyers and fleet customers continued to grow. The company says customer orders increased after a record first quarter, with second-quarter sales up 9.3% compared with the same period in 2025, following 20% growth in the […]
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• Taupō technician retires after 61 years in automotive industry

  17-07-2026 06:31 via autotalk.co.nz
  
  Veteran automotive technician Graham Church has retired after a 61-year career in the motor industry, with colleagues at Morrell Motors celebrating his long service and contribution to the trade.
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• Public consultation opens on digital driver licences

  17-07-2026 02:38 via autotalk.co.nz
  
  The Government has launched public consultation on the design of digital driver licences, bringing New Zealand a step closer to allowing motorists to carry their licence on a smartphone. Associate Transport Minister James Meager says the proposal is aimed at making transport services more convenient while giving drivers another way to prove their identity and […]
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• Petrol, diesel prices fall again in June

  17-07-2026 02:19 via autotalk.co.nz
  
  Petrol and diesel prices fell for a second consecutive month in June, although both remain significantly higher than a year ago, according to the latest figures from Stats NZ. Petrol prices dropped 4.2% between May and June, while diesel prices fell 12.1%. “Fuel prices remained high in June but decreased for a second consecutive month, […]
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• Industry group renews push for Choice of Repairer law

  16-07-2026 00:33 via autotalk.co.nz
  
  The New Zealand Choice of Repairer Industry Leaders Group is stepping up its campaign for legislation protecting motorists’ right to choose where their vehicles are repaired, saying growing support from across the automotive industry has strengthened the case for reform. The group is calling on Parliament to introduce a Choice of Repairer law requiring vehicle […]
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• Jaecoo partners with Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey

  15-07-2026 23:31 via autotalk.co.nz
  
  Jaecoo has partnered with Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film The Odyssey ahead of its release in cinemas on July 17. The campaign promotes the brand’s Super Hybrid System (SHS), which is available across the Jaecoo range, including the new Jaecoo 8 SHS-P plug-in hybrid SUV. Jaecoo says the partnership centres on the theme “tech empowers the […]
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• Business confidence rebounds as fuel price concerns ease: NZIER

  15-07-2026 06:24 via autotalk.co.nz
  
  Business confidence improved in the June quarter as concerns over the fuel crisis eased, although firms remain cautious about hiring and investment amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, according to the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER). The latest Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion (QSBO) found a seasonally adjusted net 12% of firms expect general economic […]
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• Motor vehicle trader fined after selling SUV with tampered odometer

  15-07-2026 04:15 via autotalk.co.nz
  
  A Tauranga motor vehicle trader has been fined after selling a vehicle with a tampered odometer, with the company also buying back the vehicle following prosecution action by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). The Tauranga District Court this week fined Sachis Holdings Ltd, trading as Carporium, $5,000. Sole director Sachinthaka Nagasinghe was […]
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• Vehicle spending edges higher as fuel purchases decline in June

  15-07-2026 01:58 via autotalk.co.nz
  
  Spending on motor vehicles edged higher in June while fuel purchases declined, according to the latest electronic card transaction data from Stats NZ. Seasonally adjusted spending on motor vehicles (excluding fuel) increased 0.8% ($1.6 million) during the month compared with May, while fuel spending fell 1.7% ($8.9m). The latest figures show consumers spent $195m on […]
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• Rare $1m Nissan Skyline to headline Sunday Drive JDM auction

  14-07-2026 03:46 via autotalk.co.nz
  
  One of the most valuable Japanese performance cars ever offered at auction in New Zealand will headline Sunday Drive’s largest Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) auction later this month. A rare 2002 Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 M-Spec Nür, valued at between $950,000 and $1.2 million, will be the star attraction at the Sunday Drive JDM Legends […]
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• Light traffic eases as heavy vehicle volumes continue to climb

  14-07-2026 03:03 via autotalk.co.nz
  
  Light vehicle traffic declined in June while heavy vehicle movements continued to trend higher, pointing to resilient freight activity and economic production. ANZ’s latest Truckometer data shows light traffic fell 0.5% during the month and was down 0.4% compared with June last year. ANZ says the recent softness in light traffic is likely to reflect […]
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• SAIC tops two million global vehicle sales in first half

  14-07-2026 02:45 via autotalk.co.nz
  
  SAIC Motor has become the first Chinese automotive manufacturer to sell more than two million vehicles in the first six months of a calendar year, with the MG parent company reporting global sales of 2.045 million vehicles in the first half of 2026. The result was driven by growth in new energy vehicle (NEV) sales […]
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• NZTA suspends 16 driver testing officers after investigation

  13-07-2026 06:39 via autotalk.co.nz
  
  The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has suspended 16 driver testing officers and stood down a further seven from conducting practical driving tests following an investigation into irregular testing results. The investigation began in October 2025 after NZTA’s monitoring identified practical test results from some driver testing officers that were outside the expected range. Director of […]
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• Mitsubishi Motors explores humanoid robot production in new partnership

  13-07-2026 04:15 via autotalk.co.nz
  
  Mitsubishi Motors has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Japanese robotics startup Highlanders to jointly develop humanoid robots for use in its manufacturing operations and explore mass production of the robots at its Kyoto plant.
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• NPDGull launches national commercial fuel offer after merger completed

  13-07-2026 01:15 via autotalk.co.nz
  
  A new fuel retail business, NPDGull, has officially launched following the completion of the merger between NPD and Gull, with the company unveiling a national commercial fuel offer and outlining plans to invest in its operations. The new entity will oversee both the NPD and Gull brands, with retail sites continuing to operate under their […]
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• Sena & Co moves to take full control of 2 Cheap Cars

  13-07-2026 00:14 via autotalk.co.nz
  
  Sena & Co Ltd has signalled its intention to acquire all remaining shares in 2 Cheap Cars Group that it does not already own, lodging a takeover notice under the Takeovers Code.
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• Hilux secures naming rights for NZ Rugby’s domestic competitions

  12-07-2026 23:44 via autotalk.co.nz
  
  Toyota Hilux has been announced as the new naming rights partner of New Zealand Rugby’s three premier domestic competitions, with the partnership coinciding with the 50th anniversaries of both the Hilux and the National Provincial Championship (NPC). The agreement covers the NPC, Farah Palmer Cup (FPC) and Heartland Championship for the 2026 season, extending Toyota’s […]
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• Inchcape names Paul Mallard as New Zealand General Manager

  12-07-2026 23:30 via autotalk.co.nz
  
  Paul Mallard has been appointed General Manager, New Zealand, for Inchcape Australasia, taking up the role from 13 July 2026. Mallard joins from Synlait, where he served as Chief Operating Officer, leading the company’s end-to-end value chain across performance, transformation and operational excellence. Prior to that, he held a range of senior roles at Fonterra […]
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• The 99-year-old Victorian mechanic still working six days a week

  10-07-2026 22:39 via abc.net.au
  
  Ray Gloster has been a mechanic for 83 years and counting, and at 99, he might be on the verge of a world record.
  
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• The 99-year-old Victorian mechanic on the verge of a world record

  10-07-2026 22:39 via abc.net.au
  
  Ray Gloster has been a mechanic for 83 years and counting, and at 99, he might be on the verge of a world record.
  
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• Windscreen repairers renew calls for ComCom probe

  08-07-2026 23:32 via autotalk.co.nz
  
  Independent windscreen repairers are again calling on the Commerce Commission to investigate what they say are anti-competitive practices involving major players in New Zealand’s automotive glass repair market. According to reporting byThe Post, the repairers are seeking an investigation into the relationship between market leader Novus and Auto Glass Claims (AGC), alleging the arrangement gives […]
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• Business fined for not allowing worker to leave site during meal breaks

  08-07-2026 22:25 via abc.net.au
  
  An automotive industry group made threats "to create fear" in a man who had brought legal action against his employer for not giving him adequate lunch breaks, a tribunal judgement has found.
  
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• Adelaide employer to pay $25k penalty for not providing adequate meal breaks

  08-07-2026 22:25 via abc.net.au
  
  An automotive industry group made threats "to create fear" in a man who had brought legal action against his employer for not giving him adequate lunch breaks, a tribunal judgement has found.
  
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• BMW iX3 first through ANCAP’s new ‘Stages of Safety’ regime with five stars

  08-07-2026 11:13 via autotalk.co.nz
  
  The new BMW iX3 has become the first vehicle rated under ANCAP’s tougher 2026-2028 protocols, achieving five stars and setting an early benchmark for the safety body’s new “Stages of Safety” assessment structure. The electric medium SUV scored 71% for safe driving, 83% for crash avoidance, 86% for crash protection and 95% for the new […]
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• OCR lifted to 2.5% as Reserve Bank responds to inflation risks

  08-07-2026 05:54 via autotalk.co.nz
  
  The Reserve Bank has increased the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 25 basis points to 2.5%, saying further reductions in monetary stimulus are likely as it works to return inflation to its 2% target.
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• Motor industry pioneer Mike Nelson dies aged 78

  08-07-2026 04:38 via autotalk.co.nz
  
  The New Zealand motor industry is mourning the loss of respected dealer, importer and entrepreneur Michael (Mike) John Nelson, who died on July 1, aged 78. Nelson’s career spanned more than five decades, taking him from Wellington dealerships to pioneering the used import trade in New Zealand and later exporting Japanese vehicles into South America. […]
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• Auto lending remains resilient as NZ credit demand softens

  08-07-2026 02:37 via autotalk.co.nz
  
  Demand for vehicle finance remained resilient in June despite an overall slowdown in consumer borrowing, as New Zealand households continued to prioritise larger purchases while cutting back on discretionary credit. The latest Credit Indicator from Centrix shows consumer credit demand fell 5.3% year-on-year in June, reflecting ongoing caution among households despite improving economic conditions and […]
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• Australia’s used EV sales surge despite softer market

  08-07-2026 01:03 via autotalk.co.nz
  
  Australia’s used vehicle market softened during the first half of 2026, but demand for used electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids continued to grow strongly as buyers increasingly turned to lower-emission vehicles. New data from the Australian Automotive Dealer Association and AutoGrab shows just over 1.3 million used vehicles were sold nationally during the first six […]
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• Rising fuel prices driving behaviour change – Genesis

  08-07-2026 00:31 via autotalk.co.nz
  
  Rising fuel prices are prompting more New Zealanders to change how they travel and look for ways to cut household energy costs, but the upfront price of electric vehicles remains the biggest obstacle to wider EV adoption, according to new research commissioned by Genesis Energy.
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• Mystery Bedford prison fire engine heads to auction

  07-07-2026 05:21 via autotalk.co.nz
  
  A rare 1975 Bedford J1 fire appliance with a possible link to New Zealand’s Tongariro prison network has been listed for auction by Turners. The New Zealand-new Bedford, showing 12,945km, is being offered through Turners Trucks & Machinery in Palmerston North, with the auction closing on July 13. While the vehicle remains substantially intact as […]
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