HOT TOPIC
// Nissan New Zealand announces pricing for updated Z, including manual Nismo version
Nissan New Zealand has confirmed pricing for its refreshed Z sports car range, headlined by the long-awaited manual-transmission Nismo variant, with the standard coupe still starting at $89,990.
HOT TOPIC
// Electric Mercedes-Benz GLC 400 4MATIC opens for NZ orders at $128,900
Mercedes-Benz has opened New Zealand ordering for the fully electric GLC 400 4MATIC at a drive-away price of $128,900, marking the brand’s most popular nameplate’s move into the premium electric SUV segment on a dedicated 800-volt EV platform.
- AutoTrader says Mercedes-Benz announces local pricing for electric and AMG GLC models
- Driven Car Guide says Kiwi pricing for Mercedes-Benz GLC 400 EV: head-to-head with BMW iX3 and Volvo EX60
HOT TOPIC
// Inchcape sheds another partner
Inchcape has confirmed it will end its New Zealand distribution partnership for LDV, just weeks after parting ways with KGM, with a transition period to follow before the final date is set.
HOT TOPIC
// Lamborghini Revuelto Impavido honours Japan with 25-car special
To celebrate a quarter-century in Japan, Lamborghini is building just 25 numbered Revuelto Impavido supercars in four Bushido-inspired configurations, with no New Zealand allocation confirmed.
- AutoTrader says Lamborghini’s new Revuelto Impavido is a Samurai special edition
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BEST OF THE REST
// Tesla Cybercab spotted on New Zealand public road for first time
Newly surfaced photos show a Tesla Cybercab driving itself under power on a public road near Cardrona, the first time one of the autonomous two-seaters has been captured outside the company’s nearby cold-weather testing grounds.
IN OTHER NEWS
// Fiat pauses EV sales in New Zealand
Fiat has halted sales of its electric passenger models in New Zealand while parent company Stellantis reassesses future product plans for the local market, mirroring a similar pause recently announced in Australia.
// Smart charger rules take shape as EECA opens consultation
New Zealand is moving closer to its first mandatory smart-charging rules for EV chargers, with EECA opening a consultation on proposed technical requirements and submissions due by early September.
// Government appoints new chairs at EECA and Electricity Authority
The Government has named new chairs and board members for EECA and the Electricity Authority, appointments arriving as both regulators progress work that will shape how the country’s electricity grid handles growing EV uptake.
// Bishop questions lower NZTA performance targets
Transport Minister Chris Bishop raised concerns that NZTA’s draft performance targets for 2026/27 were less ambitious than expected, though the agency’s board opted to leave them unchanged after review.
// Celebration of motoring heritage
Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts have wrapped up the New Zealand leg of a global tour marking 140 years since Carl Benz’s original automobile patent, taking a heritage S-Class convoy the length of both islands.
// Pain at pump eases
Petrol and diesel prices both fell between May and June 2026 according to Stats NZ figures, offering motorists some relief after price rises earlier in the year.
// Rear-drive Atto 2 “unlikely” for New Zealand, Atto 3 Evo looking more likely
BYD New Zealand says the rear-wheel-drive Atto 2 revealed in China is unlikely to come here, while a rear-drive Atto 3 Evo update already confirmed for Australia looks a more probable fit for local showrooms.
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INTERNATIONAL EV NEWS
// Waymo crashes 1/3 as much as a human driver, says IIHS – with some caveats
An independent IIHS study of federal crash data found Waymo robotaxis were involved in 68% fewer reportable crashes than average human drivers over 50 million autonomous miles, though the researchers flagged several limitations in the comparison, including small sample sizes and differences in road types driven.
ONE LINERS
- Amble One is a tiny electric off-roader with Audi R8 design links
- Tesla misses profit expectations despite revenue surge
- Dutch sports car maker Donkervoort taking NZ orders for 780kg, 450kW P24 RS
- Rezvani Dune unveiled as a Mad Max’s Lamborghini Huracan
- Nissan turns new Leaf into 160kW Nismo for Japan
- Ford and Geely plan Valencia manufacturing joint venture
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