The chief executives of two of New Zealand’s main nameplates, Toyota and Holden, strongly support consumer law changes to better protect used car buyers.
Toyota CEO Alistair Davis (pictured above top right) said he welcomed moves by Consumer Affairs Minister Craig Foss to “provide more meaningful information” on the Consumer Information Notice, the used car fact sheet.
“We introduced our Signature Class product range in 1997 in part because customers had experienced so many unreliable imports coming into New Zealand and we wanted to provide a better, safer option,” said Davis.
“It was really sad to hear of the industry regressing by again importing unsafe vehicles – in this case write-offs being sneaked in to create a quick windfall for importers who don’t stand behind their products. This puts consumer lives at risk.”
Consumer Affairs Minister Foss said the amendments would help consumers make a more informed decision when buying a vehicle.
Foss wouldn’t say what changes would be made, but recent NZ Transport Agency evidence of used cars that have been written off by insurers in Australia before landing in New Zealand is believed to have hastened the changes.
Holden NZ managing director Jeff Murrary (pictured above top left) said the changes would better protect car buyers against imports slipping into the country without Holden’s stamp of approval.
“If people want to run the risk of bringing a Holden into New Zealand, or they purchase a Holden from an importer who is not a part of the Holden dealer network, then the purchaser may not necessarily be buying the vehicle they want,” said Murray.
“Holden’s high quality assurance can only exist when customers buy their Holden from an approved Holden dealer.
“If a Holden is purchased outside the New Zealand Holden dealer network we cannot be held responsible for the condition or history of a vehicle.”