HOT TOPIC
// Rivian puts the brakes on Mercedes-Benz Vans partnership
Electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian is pausing plans to produce electric vans in Europe and will no longer pursue a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Mercedes-Benz Vans.
- Stuff Motoring says Rivian, Mercedes pause joint European electric van plant
HOT TOPIC
// VIA accepts exemption decision
Waka Kotahi’s final position is the law doesn’t allow for vehicles delayed by strike to secure dispensation from clean car standard.
- AutoTalk says VIA moves on from exemption fight
HOT TOPIC
// Petrol excise duty cut extended
The petrol excise duty cut of 25 cents has been extended to February 28 then will be phased out by March 31, 2023.
- AutoCar says Government to reintroduce full fuel tax next year
- AutoTalk says MTA praises fuel subsidy phase out
- Driven says Petrol tax cut extended briefly, but Grant Robertson leaves little wriggle room for new spending in 2023
HOT TOPIC
// AA promotes Sergel to chief mobility officer
The New Zealand Automobile Association has announced a new role for the organisation, appointing former motoring services general manager Jonathan Sergel, as its new chief mobility officer
- AutoCar says Jonathan Sergel appointed as AA Chief Mobility Officer
- AutoFile says AA appoints chief mobility officer
BEST OF THE REST
// Ram to recall 1.4 million pickups over tailgate issue
Ram Trucks will recall approximately 1.4 million pickups worldwide due to an issue where the tailgate may open unexpectedly.
// New electrode material ‘ideal’ for solid-state EV batteries
Scientists have developed a positive electrode material that doesn’t diminish after repeated charge/discharge cycles, saying it’s “ideal” for solid-state batteries.
// Dealership’s TikTok ad raises eyebrows
A Christchurch car dealership appealing to “beneficiaries and dole bludgers” has caught the attention of the Race Relations Commissioner.
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INTERNATIONAL EV NEWS
// Tesla’s Fast Charging Tech Is Clearly Better, But …
CharIN has put out a forceful article on why it is unlikely to be a public charging standard. We’ll see about that….
IN OTHER NEWS
// Mazda CX-90 teased ahead of January unveiling
Another image of the first-ever Mazda CX-90 has been teased by the marque, giving us a glimpse of the model’s taillight design.
// Transport emissions plummet
New statistics reveal how Covid-19 rules helped reduce the country’s carbon footprint. Annual household transport emissions tumbled by 26 per cent in 2020, when compared with the previous year,
// McLaren partners with Lockheed Martin Skunk Works
McLaren has announced it will partner with aircraft maker Lockheed Martin Skunk Works to implement aerospace design on its cars.
// Electric trucks are coming: Fonterra and Volvo debut new EV
The topic of low-emission transport solutions extends far beyond your cousin’s new Tesla or the neighbour’s old Leaf.
// Pure-electric vehicles catching up to hybrids as Clean Cars of choice for Kiwis
Figures just released from the Motor Industry Association (MIA), the organisation that represents new-vehicle distributors, shows a massive increase in the uptake of electrified vehicles compared with internal combustion engine (ICE) models over the course of 2022.
ONE LINERS
- Polestar NZ celebrates 874 sales, displays electric roadster concept
- Downer ups EV fleet
- Z EV charging minimum balance drops
- Turners and Custom Fleet co-host EV summit
HELPFUL RESOURCES
// NZ Car Dealers Private Facebook Group
A private community for car dealers to vent about the industry and joke about ‘interesting’ customers. A place to rant, debate, ask for help and help others.
// XMAS Deliveries
The Full Brief will be taking a break for 3 weeks over Xmas. The last email will Friday 23rd Dec, and the first for 2023 will be Monday 16th Jan. Have a great Xmas and New Year. Thanks for reading.