HOT TOPIC
// Kiwi ute owners to protest clean car discount next month
Anyone with doubts over how much Kiwis love utes has been brought back to reality via the vitriol from ute owners in response to the government’s Clean Car Discount scheme
- AutoTalk says Utes on the agenda as farmers and tradies set for nationwide protest
- Driven says Clean Car protests: Kiwi ute owners to rally against government scheme
HOT TOPIC
// All-electric Volvo XC90 will benefit from LiDAR technology
Volvo has confirmed two things – the next generation of XC90 SUV will come with at least one all-electric option, and that it will get state-of-the-art LiDAR sensors.
HOT TOPIC
// Value of car imports hits new high
Big monthly rise for the automotive sector as business with all major trading partners increases.
- AutoTalk says May 2021 sees all-time car import record
SPONSORED
// We’ve got a job for you in Tauranga. You lucky thing.
Tauranga is thriving and our recently refurbished, multi-award winning Mitsubishi dealership is in growth mode. Here’s a few jobs we have available:
- NEW Assistant Sales Manager
- Vehicle Administrator – Gone sorry
- Parts Advisor – Gone sorry
- Service Advisor – Gone sorry
- Car Groomer / Detailer – Gone sorry
- Superstar Service Washer
BEST OF THE REST
// New track monster: Aston Martin reveals 746kw AMR Pro
Despite deliveries of its new Valkyrie still being a work-in-progress, Aston Martin has gone ahead and revealed a beastly track-only special edition model — the Valkyrie AMR Pro.
IN OTHER NEWS
// NZ’s largest grid-linked solar power plant opens
Developed under the Sunergise label, a Todd Corporation solar brand, the 2.1MW Kapuni Solar Power Plant with 5800 solar photovoltaic (PV) panels officially opened on June 25
// Honda to focus on EVs
Honda says it will phase out internal combustion engine (ICE) models and switch to EVs from 2040. However, Honda is reportedly pulling the plug on production of its Clarity plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and hydrogen fuel cell (FCEV) in August
// Renault partners on semiconductors
Renault Group has selected STMicroelectronics as a key innovation partner, securing supply of electric and hybrid vehicle advanced power semiconductors to be produced from 2026.
// National sales manager on-board
Dave Cowan joins Oxford Finance from SsangYong LDV NZ after two decades in the industry.
// Alert level uncertainty
Dealers across the Wellington region must stick with strict health rules as the government holds off return to level one.
// Focus on transport sector
Webinars co-hosted by EECA will explore energy scenarios en-route to a net-zero carbon economy by 2050.
// Tesla to allow other brands to use its superchargers (sort of)
American EV specialists Tesla aren’t just eons ahead of the electric car competition because of good branding and Elon Musk’s taste in memes on Twitter.
// Big Tech’s car obsession is all about taking eyes off the road
At first glance, the forays Apple, Google and other technology giants are making into the world of cars don’t appear to be particularly lucrative.
ONE LINERS
- Could these be New Zealand’s first all-electric police cars?
- VW to stop selling combustion engine cars in Europe
- Are you happy to share the road with self-driving cars?
- Five Things: Ferrari V6 facts
- New name for IT solutions provider
HELPFUL RESOURCES
// Current National New Car Deals
Updated every Friday, here’s a complete list of current National deals for new cars, utes, and light commercials.
// Clean Car Calculator
Input vehicle make and/or model to calculate if the car will receive a rebate, fee or sits in the zero band (no change).