HOT TOPIC
Watch out Rav4? MG confirms kiwi pricing for HS plug-in hybrid
It’s a race at the moment for distributors to put affordable electrified SUVs on sale in New Zealand, and the latest challenger to the crown is MG’s first electrified version of its mid-size HS.
MG’s HS medium-sized SUV finds new energy with a $53k EV model for New Zealand
MG can’t claim its new HS Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle is the cheapest PHEV in New Zealand: Toyota still has that nailed down with its $49,490 Prius Prime.
MG gets even more plugged in
Not content with selling the cheapest new EV in New Zealand, MG Motor is now taking on the country’s best-selling plug-in hybrid, the Mitsubishi Outlander, by unleashing a PHEV version of the rather good HS SUV.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/124406997/mg-gets-even-more-plugged-in
HOT TOPIC
Supply continues to hit used car sector
Registrations of used import vehicles were down again in February, with pressure on supply appearing to be more the issue than a lack of demand from customers.
https://autotalk.co.nz/news/supply-continues-to-hit-used-car-sector
Used vehicle imports facing months of delays
Supply chain disruptions and MPI inspections at the border are having a big impact on used vehicle importers who are having to wait up to two months for stock to arrive from Japan.
https://autotalk.co.nz/news/used-vehicle-imports-facing-months-of-delays
Used-imported cars suffer sales drop
The Toyota Aqua and Nissan X-Trail make big moves in the latest monthly figures. There were 9,096 used-imported cars registered in New Zealand last month, a drop of 15.4 per cent when compared to 10,747 sales in February 2020.
https://autofile.co.nz/used-imported-cars-suffer-sales-drop-
HOT TOPIC
Mitsubishi Express van scores zero-star ANCAP safety rating
Mitsubishi’s newly updated Express van has been handed down the worst safety rating ever given to a car by the Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) in its 28 years as an independent safety advocate.
Van delivers zero stars
ANCAP boss urges marque to install more safety features as Express makes history. Mitsubishi’s Express has scored a dubious first – a zero-star ANCAP rating because of its absence of active safety systems.
https://autofile.co.nz/van-delivers-zero-stars-
BEST OF THE REST
Spectacular Tesla crash blamed on autopilot failure
While Tesla’s autopilot system might sound like it has the capabilities to get passengers from one point to another without any driver input, in reality, the system still has a long way to go.
https://www.driven.co.nz/news/spectacular-tesla-crash-blamed-on-autopilot-failure/
IN OTHER NEWS
This tiny Chinese EV is outselling Tesla
When you think of electric vehicles, chances are you’re thinking of a Tesla. And for good reason, the American carmaker has made big efforts to put EVs on the map.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/evs/124402359/this-tiny-chinese-ev-is-outselling-tesla
Lexus NZ supporting Australian loan car programme
Lexus New Zealand has confirmed it will be supporting an initiative by Lexus Australia to expand its on demand loan car programme to customers travelling to New Zealand in the future.
https://autotalk.co.nz/news/lexus-nz-supporting-australian-loan-car-programme
Loopit predicts greater car subscription uptake in 2021
Australasian car subscription provider Loopit reached a milestone of 6000 cars on its platform – with more than 1000 cars added in January 2021.
https://autotalk.co.nz/news/loopit-predicts-greater-car-subscription-uptake-in-2021
ID. Buzz first VW to get autonomous driving
The electric ID. Buzz will be the first Volkswagen to use driverless technology. It will mainly be used for “robo-taxi” and “robo-van” services such as car-pooling, ride sharing and deliveries.
https://evsandbeyond.co.nz/id-buzz-first-vw-to-get-autonomous-driving/
Record February for sales
Motor Industry Association says new-vehicle sector benefits from stock arrivals. The Motor Industry Association (MIA) reports that last month’s registration figures for new vehicles were the strongest ever for a February.
https://autofile.co.nz/record-february-for-sales-
Hilux storms to top spot
Sales of new commercials last month jumped by seven per cent year on year, while used-imported commercials declined by 41.2 per cent.
https://autofile.co.nz/hilux-storms-to-top-spot-
Battle at the tops tight for new cars
Fewer than 50 units separated the top three marques in February’s sales charts. There were 8,710 new passenger vehicles sold in New Zealand during February.
https://autofile.co.nz/battle-at-the-top-tight-for-new-cars-
2 Cheap’s owner expects up to $3.7m profit
Company factors in latest Covid-19 disruptions as end of the financial year looms. NZ Automotive Investments (NZAI) is expecting a net profit after tax of between $3.3 million and $3.7m for the year ending March 31, 2021.
https://autofile.co.nz/nzai-expects-up-to-37m-profit-
Aston Martin to (almost) go fully electrified by 2030
European-based car-maker dominoes continue to topple in their support of internal combustion, with Aston Martin joining others in pledging to electrify its future — the brand’s CEO Tobias Moers confirming that the brand will go 90 per cent ‘electrified’ by the end of the decade.
https://www.autocar.co.nz/autocar-news-app/aston-martin-to-almost-go-fully-electrified-by-2030
Hyundai hit with tsunami of interest in Ioniq 5 EV
Last week’s launch of the all-new Ioniq 5 electric car got plenty of tongues wagging in the motoring industry; from talks that its futuristic styling made it look like a modern-day Lancia Delta Integrale, to the usual ‘is this a Tesla killer’ discussion.
https://www.autocar.co.nz/autocar-news-app/hyundai-hit-with-tsunami-of-interest-in-ioniq-5-ev
More details emerge on four-cylinder AMG C 63
It’s all but confirmed the Mercedes-AMG C 63 is ditching its famous V8 in favour of a more emissions friendly set-up of a turbocharged inline-four with an electric motor.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/124397788/more-details-emerge-on-fourcylinder-amg-c-63
Watch: World’s first electric ute tested in sub-zero conditions
While Tesla’s Cybertruck is the most famous electric ute in the world right now, the chances of it actually becoming a thing before the next turn of the century is quite slim.
https://www.driven.co.nz/news/watch-world-s-first-electric-ute-tested-in-sub-zero-conditions/
Report: Huawei to become next tech manufacturer to join electric car race
Huawei is the latest tech giant that has been linked to plans to build cars, according to a Reuters report.