1st September 2011

“Estimates of the number of vehicles in Japan with the safety feature electronic stability control, contained in the Safer Journeys New Zealand’s Road Safety Strategy 2010-2020 document were wide of the mark” said Mr Kerr, Chief Executive Officer of the Motor Industry Association.

“Data contained in the just published Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) 2010 Yearbook shows in 2009, 18.6% (705,939 vehicles) of the passenger cars added to the Japanese domestic fleet had electronic stability control fitted. The Safer Journeys strategy estimated this figure to be less than 10%.

“Used imports were meant to bring the motoring public safer and cleaner vehicles and they did this for a period back in the late 90’s. However for the past ten or so years used imports have lagged well behind the latest safety and environmental technologies as the majority of imports have been eight years or older and therefore do not have the latest life-saving technologies.” said Mr Kerr

Mr Kerr further noted that the figures provided by JAMA show there have been well over two million vehicles registered in Japan since 2005 that have electronic stability control fitted as standard. This coupled with the used import industry estimates of only 45,000 used vehicles crossing our border next year gives our Government the perfect opportunity to mandate electronic stability control.

Mr Kerr said “not only will used imports be younger because of the introduction of tougher emissions standards but if as predicted the volume is down this will make it easier for the used import industry to source vehicles with electronic stability control. “

“If the Government is prepared to move quickly and mandate electronic stability control this initiative will have limited or no impact on the used import industry, but moving forward there will be a huge gain for safety with lives saved and a reduction in serious injury accidents” concluded Mr Kerr.

ENDS.

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