Thailand Special sales plummet 70% in NZ

[Franco Cozzo]

Our farm animal enthusiast cousins nearby us have introduced new environmental legislation targeting diesel light commercial vehicles, which has subsequently caused Thailand Specials and vans with diesel engines sales to plummet circa 70% in a month.

Now I'm fairly sure there are unleaded and or hybrid variations of these things that aren't offered in the AUS/NZ market, cause you know we traditionally buy diesel LCVs, so the manufacturers only offer diesel in this infinite feedback loop.

Now that this has happened, maybe the car manufacturers will consider bringing in their unleaded/hybrid variations of the Thailand Specials and vans which exist in other markets, rather than losing an entire market, cause you know, capitalism.

New Zealand’s ‘green car’ policy slammed as ute sales hit the brakes

Ute buyers in New Zealand have been left fuming and out of pocket after the government introduced vehicle emissions targets – and financial penalties – that are more severe than in Europe.

Under the radical scheme – which came into force last month – buyers of utes and vans are slugged an extra $NZ2500 to $NZ4500 on the purchase of a new vehicle, while buyers of low-emissions cars such as electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles instead pocket a taxpayer-funded rebate of between $NZ3450 and $NZ8625.

The strict new emissions guidelines – and price penalties – came into force in New Zealand last month and had an immediate impact on sales.

Sales of utes and vans in New Zealand plummeted by 72 per cent in April 2022 compared to the same month the prior year – the biggest slowdown on record – after new cost penalties were applied to vehicles that exceed impossibly strict emissions limits.

https://www.drive.com.au/news/new-ze...it-the-brakes/

[hackney]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Our farm animal enthusiast cousins nearby us have introduced new environmental legislation targeting diesel light commercial vehicles, which has subsequently caused Thailand Specials and vans with diesel engines sales to plummet circa 70% in a month.

Now I'm fairly sure there are unleaded and or hybrid variations of these things that aren't offered in the AUS/NZ market, cause you know we traditionally buy diesel LCVs, so the manufacturers only offer diesel in this infinite feedback loop.

Now that this has happened, maybe the car manufacturers will consider bringing in their unleaded/hybrid variations of the Thailand Specials and vans which exist in other markets, rather than losing an entire market, cause you know, capitalism.



https://www.drive.com.au/news/new-ze...it-the-brakes/

Will be very interesting to see if a Labor government adopts this approach.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by hackney

Will be very interesting to see if a Labor government adopts this approach.

Rather than banning diesels, I think Labor is looking at opening the door to electrified vehicle, be that hybrid PHEV or BEV.

[hackney]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Rather than banning diesels, I think Labor is looking at opening the door to electrified vehicle, be that hybrid PHEV or BEV.

Very likely, someone needs to get the ‘ball rolling’ on that.

[Bossxr8]

More utes for the aussie market then.

Very harsh though, cause what is the alternative green ute? You can't buy a hybrid or EV ute in NZ.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

More utes for the aussie market then.

Very harsh though, cause what is the alternative green ute? You can't buy a hybrid or EV ute in NZ.

Market will probably respond, you can't at the moment but one imagines the OEMs will be looking at this huge loss and investigate bringing PHEV/Hybrid/EV ute to AUS/NZ.

Isn't there a hybrid Ranger? Also the USDM Ranger is unleaded, surely would get around these taxes.

Yes, I'm sure unleaded Ranger uses much more fuel but the alternative is no Ranger

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

More utes for the aussie market then.

Very harsh though, cause what is the alternative green ute? You can't buy a hybrid or EV ute in NZ.

https://www.ace-ev.com.au/ace-yewt/

With the 'Latest news' being around 1.5 years old I'm wondering how long before we see any on the road, if at all?

[smoo]

How to turn a broke **** country with excessive cost of living more broke and more expensive.
The lengths an ideologically driven government void of real world experience will go to stick it to the working man and small businesses while subsiding wealthy boomers into EVs.

It is too early to draw a conclusion on this tax, and it may be a coincidence of timing.
Business and consumer confidence has tanked while interest rates and fuel prices have sky rocketed.
Government introduced harsh lending restrictions at the start of the year making it a more difficult and longer process to obtain finance for home, business and vehicle lending.
There was a rush from all dealers to register vehicles that fall under this tax in March, so April sales will be lagging.

I think people have more important worries atm, whether they run small business, employee or self employeed. Around 50% of fixed mortgage rates come off this year, so that is going to wipe a huge amount of disposable income from households. A Thai special isn’t going to be high on the priority list.
The boomers who’ve cashed in on the property market and downsized their house, or the bludging public service worker on an inflated six figure income creating work for themselves will have no drama buying a model 3 or Kona EV with a tax payer subsided $8k discount though. Happy days.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by smoo

How to turn a broke **** country with excessive cost of living more broke and more expensive.
The lengths an ideologically driven government void of real world experience will go to stick it to the working man and small businesses while subsiding wealthy boomers into EVs.

It is too early to draw a conclusion on this tax, and it may be a coincidence of timing.
Business and consumer confidence has tanked while interest rates and fuel prices have sky rocketed.
Government introduced harsh lending restrictions at the start of the year making it a more difficult and longer process to obtain finance for home, business and vehicle lending.
There was a rush from all dealers to register vehicles that fall under this tax in March, so April sales will be lagging.

I think people have more important worries atm, whether they run small business, employee or self employeed. Around 50% of fixed mortgage rates come off this year, so that is going to wipe a huge amount of disposable income from households. A Thai special isn’t going to be high on the priority list.
The boomers who’ve cashed in on the property market and downsized their house, or the bludging public service worker on an inflated six figure income creating work for themselves will have no drama buying a model 3 or Kona EV with a tax payer subsided $8k discount though. Happy days.

Mind you, NZ keeps electing it's government so there has to be a lot of support for the ideological side of it that we've seen with these new taxes

[Adamz Ghia]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Mind you, NZ keeps electing it's government so there has to be a lot of support for the ideological side of it that we've seen with these new taxes

More so how hopeless the other side of politics is over there. There’s no one else to realistically vote for.

[smoo]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Mind you, NZ keeps electing it's government so there has to be a lot of support for the ideological side of it that we've seen with these new taxes

The last election was when the was country cucked by covid. From memory no policies (including this one) were discussed, announced or proposed that didn't involve covid.
Even if it was, I don't think it would have made a difference. Most people aren't buying Utes every month, so it doesn't effect the population. Well I guess it does indirectly through passed down costs somewhere down the line but most people don't see it that way.

The tax also applies to classic imports that are being registered for the first time, or used vehicles being re registered.
So for example one could have a deregistered EL Fairmont Ghia 6 cylinder. Worth maybe $8k in good condition, but they're gonna get stung $5k tax to put it on the road, along with any repairs required during the inspection.

[xb74_black]

Id buy a hybrid ute. It would be great, especially if i could hook power tools into the giant battery pack.

[Ben73]

Car companies in Australia seem to be increasing their prices at a quicker rate than that tax hike.
Hasn't done much to slow sales here.
I doubt this will make a huge dent in sales.

[CyberWasp]

Locals are saying that this new Tax is very 'Baaaaaaaa d'

[kypez]

Hope they adopt this here locally. I'd love Ford to fast track the Ranger Lightning.

[hayseed]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Market will probably respond, you can't at the moment but one imagines the OEMs will be looking at this huge loss and investigate bringing PHEV/Hybrid/EV ute to AUS/NZ.

Will the OEM's actually care about some Pinprick in a Map where Annual New Sales are ~150,000 ??When there's waiting Lists several Months Long All over the rest of the Globe...

I think Not...

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by hayseed

Will the OEM's actually care about some Pinprick in a Map where Annual New Sales are ~150,000 ??When there's waiting Lists several Months Long All over the rest of the Globe...

I think Not...

European countries are doing similar things,

You could have said the same things about the original emissions regulations that happened in the 1970s, if it wasn't the government forcing OEMs hands we'd probably all still be driving cars with 460s, carbs, C6 and leaded fuel doing 30L/100km.

I thought the same thing about Google and Facebook when our government hit them up for money for our media companies, and they both could have just withdrew their services from Australia, but they're driven by money so they both capitulated, given we're a tiny market on the *** end of the world for both Google and Facebook.

If there's money on the table, they'll want all of it don't worry, all it takes is someone else to offer something in that space and watch them all come crawling back, its who makes the first move is the interesting part.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Market will probably respond, you can't at the moment but one imagines the OEMs will be looking at this huge loss and investigate bringing PHEV/Hybrid/EV ute to AUS/NZ.

Isn't there a hybrid Ranger? Also the USDM Ranger is unleaded, surely would get around these taxes.

Yes, I'm sure unleaded Ranger uses much more fuel but the alternative is no Ranger

NZ market isn't worth doing anything for. It's too small a market.

But a rumoured PHEV Ranger next year might please them.

[simon varley]

if the Kiwis were serious, they'd fast track euro 6 emissions and then they'd get all the lovely UK spec cars. This is just a cash grab.

https://www.transport.govt.nz/area-o...ge/clean-cars/

https://www.rightcar.govt.nz/vehicle...ts?q=15|2633||

any report that this is going to impact sales is a beat up. Of you are really in the market for a ute is a $4k charge really going to push you into a sedan? I don't think so

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

More utes for the aussie market then.

Very harsh though, cause what is the alternative green ute? You can't buy a hybrid or EV ute in NZ.

VF MY13, VF MY14 utes (all motor specs on these) with SIDI 6 or V8 E85 motors.

(Maybe VEII 3.0 SIDI E85 as well?)

[Sprintey]

Cuz, I've got the solution:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xORfYWPzib4

even arranged in a big V shape...

[PooDog]

Originally Posted by simon varley

if the Kiwis were serious, they'd fast track euro 6 emissions and then they'd get all the lovely UK spec cars. This is just a cash grab.

https://www.transport.govt.nz/area-o...ge/clean-cars/

https://www.rightcar.govt.nz/vehicle...ts?q=15|2633||

any report that this is going to impact sales is a beat up. Of you are really in the market for a ute is a $4k charge really going to push you into a sedan? I don't think so

The tax was forecast about 6mths out so everyone that needed a ute bought early thats why the April sales plummeted .....in reality instead of saving the planet it cleaned out all stocks of utes and skyrocketed the price of utes before the tax even arrived and helped fuel inflation (good one Jacinda)

Last service i had done on my near 3 year old Triton the dealer offered me more than i paid for it ....before the tax come in the price had increased 8k so with the tax thats 12k

[PooDog]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

NZ market isn't worth doing anything for. It's too small a market.

But a rumoured PHEV Ranger next year might please them.

I shudder to think what that will be worth $
$
$
$
$
$
$

[smoo]

Originally Posted by PooDog

The tax was forecast about 6mths out so everyone that needed a ute bought early thats why the April sales plummeted .....in reality instead of saving the planet it cleaned out all stocks of utes and skyrocketed the price of utes before the tax even arrived and helped fuel inflation (good one Jacinda)

Last service i had done on my near 3 year old Triton the dealer offered me more than i paid for it ....before the tax come in the price had increased 8k so with the tax thats 12k

I don’t think your Triton will be subject to the tax, as it’s already registered. It only applies to new registrations.
But much like everything the government meddles in and ****s up not considering the unintended consequences. Used vehicles especially utes and SUVs will increase in price consistent with the tax. They were told that from numerous groups and businesses but an admin full of unionists, school teachers and career politicians know best.

[PooDog]

Originally Posted by smoo

I don’t think your Triton will be subject to the tax, as it’s already registered. It only applies to new registrations.
But much like everything the government meddles in and ****s up not considering the unintended consequences. Used vehicles especially utes and SUVs will increase in price consistent with the tax. They were told that from numerous groups and businesses but an admin full of unionists, school teachers and career politicians know best.

No I wasn't suggesting the tax would apply just demonstrating how it had affected prices

[kevino]

So will Luxton the Nats leader get rid of this legislation when Labour lose the next election?

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by kevino

So will Luxton the Nats leader get rid of this legislation when Labour lose the next election?

'IF' more like it, looks like NZ loves a cheeky bit of virtue signalling, who was that angry old woman opposition leader who was making headlines over here?

Edit: Judith 'Crusher' Collins

[PooDog]

Originally Posted by kevino

So will Luxton the Nats leader get rid of this legislation when Labour lose the next election?

Only if there's political gain it's all about getting your snout in the trough , once they've got there all they care about is staying there and hovering up as much as they can

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

Cuz, I've got the solution:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xORfYWPzib4

even arranged in a big V shape...

Love it Kiwis finding a way, tbh if people were serious about the environment converting old cars make much less impact.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

VF MY13, VF MY14 utes (all motor specs on these) with SIDI 6 or V8 E85 motors.

(Maybe VEII 3.0 SIDI E85 as well?)

What do they have to do with new car sales though?