KEY POINTS:
Industry split over imports' emissions
Motor industry groups are at odds over the Government's proposed emission rules for used petrol imports. From next year they would have to comply with year-2000 Japanese standards. The 2005 Japanese standard would apply in 2010, the 2009 standard in 2013. The legislation is aimed at cleaning up New Zealand's vehicle fleet, at an average age of 12.1 years one of the oldest in the developed world. It's also one of the dirtiest, emitting exhaust pollution that is responsible, according to research, for 399 premature deaths each year. The Motor Industry Association supports the legislation. The Motor Trade Association and the Imported Motor Vehicles Dealers Association don't. They want the Government to ease in emissions regulations over a longer period, believing that in its present form the legislation will "cut too deeply into the supply of the [used] vehicles needed to progressively update the national fleet." Both the National and Labour Parties were warned 14 years ago that they needed to impose an age limit on used imports. Why? Because international emissions regulations were tightening at such a rate that New Zealand would face an vehicle emissions crisis that would one day compromise its so-called green image. Guess what?
How visionary
The updated BMW 5-Series sedan has landed in New Zealand with the very latest whiz-bang technology: night vision. The optional extra has trickled down from the world of fighter pilots and heat-seeking missiles. We tried it out on Tuesday night in stormy Auckland. Radar on the front of the car picks up hotspots up to 300m ahead. Pedestrians, dogs, torches, cycle lights, brake pads, exhaust pipes ... anything that gives off heat is highlighted to scale on the dashboard's screen. Brilliant.
Best June for Mazda
Mazda recorded its best June sales on record in New Zealand, up 20 per cent over the same month last year for a 7 per cent share of the new car market. So far this year Mazda sales are up 9.4 per cent. Overall, the market is running marginally down on last year. Another high-flyer is Audi. It has just come off its best six months ever in New Zealand, with sales up 37 per cent on 2006. Worldwide, Audi sales are up nearly 10 per cent on last year.
Company cars smoke-free
Company cars in Britain are now smoke-free zones after legislation banning smoking in public came into force on July 1. The new law classifies the company car as a place of work. As a result, auction houses are tipping stronger demand for ex-fleet vehicles - "smoke-damaged" cars attract less money.
We are the world
The popularity of ethanol as a fuel additive in the US could cause a tequila shortage. Demand for ethanol has pushed up the price of corn to the point where Mexican farmers are burning off their cactus-like blue agave fields to make room for corn. Blue agave is the main ingredient in tequila. Cotton farmers in the US are also moving towards corn. But there's a problem: cotton is hardy and grows on the smell of water; corn needs more than 2cm of rainfall a week to thrive. Banks are warning farmers of this.
* alastair.sloane@nzherald.co.nz
