Govt decision means more smoky vehicles on roads

Government decision means more smoky old vehicles on our roads.

“The government’s decision to continue with the timetable for implementation of the 2007 Vehicle Exhaust Emissions Rule will mean that old technology vehicles will remain on our roads for longer, and that businesses throughout New Zealand will be unable to upgrade their smoky old diesel vehicles” says David Vinsen, chief executive of the Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association.

“The rule, introduced by the previous government, severely limits the vehicles that may be imported, and is already having the unintended consequence of forcing owners of old diesel vehicles to keep them running for much longer than necessary, as reasonably-priced later model replacements are not available” says Vinsen.

“The economic slowdown has made it less likely for businesses to be able to upgrade their vehicles, and the industry had proposed that government take this into consideration and defer the implementation of the next phase of the rule, which would have enabled newer vehicles to be imported as replacements”.

“Every time you are stuck in traffic behind a smoky old diesel vehicle, remember that it is the government’s decision that is probably preventing the owner from being able to upgrade it” says Vinsen.

ENDS

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