Pollution findings vex industry

By ALASTAIR SLOANE

Imported used-car dealers have been accused of putting a misleading slant on research into motor vehicle pollution.

The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research found that some older cars originally sold new in New Zealand produced higher levels of pollution than used imports.

Niwa did the study last year for the Auckland Regional Council and released the result recently.

The Independent Motor Vehicle Dealers Association - the used-import body - said the findings warrant closer scrutiny of the quality of New Zealand-new cars.

"The findings are clearly evidence that new-car distributors cannot be relied on to provide the best technology and the best product on the market until they are forced to," said dealers association chief executive David Vinsen.

He said they exploded the myth that new cars were necessarily better than Japanese used imports simply because they were new.

But Perry Kerr, the chief executive of the Motor Industry Association, the body representing the new-car industry, says Vinsen is talking "nonsense".

"This [pollution result] was an expected outcome because back in the early 1990s catalytic converters [which reduce emissions] were mandatory in the Japanese domestic market but were just starting to make their appearance on cars sold new in New Zealand," said Kerr.

The unavailability of unleaded fuel in New Zealand before 1996 ruled out catalytic converters and restricted the extent of emission control technology on cars sold new.

Niwa said in its report that vehicles produced for the Japanese domestic market and brought here as used imports required a higher level of technology in order to meet tough Japanese emission regulations.

"The IMVDA, through Mr Vinsen, has used this information to blatantly, mischievously and incorrectly suggest that new cars are still being sold in New Zealand with inferior emission levels to the average used import.

"Such a suggestion is utter nonsense," he said.

Niwa analysed pollution levels between cars of different ages, and found that the average eight-year-old car produces two-and-a-half times as much hydrocarbon and over five times as much nitrous oxide as the average new car.

"The new-car industry stopped importing or assembling eight-year-old cars eight years ago, yet this is the average age of the cars imported by the IMVDA's members," said Kerr.

"All new cars sold in New Zealand now meet the emission regulations of Japan, Australia or the European Union, all of which are more stringent than those applying in Japan eight years ago.

"It's the used-vehicle industry that is guilty of subjecting New Zealanders to the pollution caused by outdated and worn-out technology and Mr Vinsen is being totally irresponsible in twisting the Niwa findings," said Kerr.

The Motor Trade Association says the Niwa findings highlight the high incidence of excess exhaust emissions, mainly from old and inadequately maintained vehicles.

"These are factors not necessarily related to whether vehicles tested were used imports or New Zealand-new, but rather how old they were and how they were being looked after," said its communication manager Andy Cuming.

"Vehicle technology is an area where it could be said that generally the newer the better.

"New Zealand does have a sophisticated car market and it will be consumer demand for the newer technologies, and the regularity of qualified vehicle servicing, that will be the primary contributors to improved air quality, not how the vehicles came here," he said.

Imported new and used vehicles must now meet vehicle emission standards applicable in their country of origin.

In two years, New Zealand will introduce mandatory Warrant of Fitness emission tests.