Car fleet getting older

The car population is not getting any younger, despite Prime Minister Jenny Shipley's claim.

"It's getting older every year, in fact, because of the numbers of used imports from the early 90s on the road," said Perry Kerr, chief executive officer of the Motor Industry Association. "As these cars are coming through, they are ageing the fleet."

The mean age of the country's cars at the end of December last year was 11.2 years, more than a year older than the 9.93 years in 1992. In 1994 it was 10.42 years; in 1996 it was 10.54.

One industry executive said it was time the Government started managing fundamental roading issues like the age of vehicles.

"The promise made all those years ago that used imports would rid New Zealand of old cars is proving a myth," said Murray Hart, managing director of Daihatsu New Zealand.

"Part of [the Government's] commitment should be ensuring that the vehicle fleet gets younger not older. It should also ensure that the volume of vehicles imported - new or used - relates to our roading conditions.--Alastair Sloane