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December 2022 - Bay of Plenty Business News

From mid-2016 Bay of Plenty businesses have a new voice, Bay of Plenty Business News. This new publication reflects the region’s growth and importance as part of the wider central North Island economy.

From mid-2016 Bay of Plenty businesses have a new voice, Bay of Plenty Business News. This new publication reflects the region’s growth and importance as part of the wider central North Island economy.

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16 BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS <strong>December</strong> <strong>2022</strong><br />

AUTOMOTIVE<br />

The future <strong>of</strong> NZ<br />

automotive trends<br />

The Lexus <strong>of</strong> Tauranga store has now been<br />

trading for 19 months, and during that<br />

period we have launched two new models<br />

to the Lexus range, initially the UX300e<br />

(BEV) and then the all-new NX350H (HEV)<br />

and NX450H Plug-in (PHEV). The advancement<br />

in the technology and safety features<br />

<strong>of</strong> the new NX range has given us a prequel<br />

to what the future holds for the next model<br />

change, which is the iconic RX range.<br />

Lexus NZ plan to launch the new RX<br />

range early in 2023, with a choice <strong>of</strong> three key<br />

variations, including a single turbocharged<br />

petrol hybrid version and a choice <strong>of</strong> two<br />

hybrids. These new variations will replace<br />

previous models but will <strong>of</strong>fer more powerful<br />

and fuel-efficient powertrains across all<br />

their ranges. With the option <strong>of</strong> an RX 350H<br />

or RX 350H Limited, however the new RX<br />

500h, (Turbocharged Hybrid) which is the hero<br />

Sales <strong>of</strong> EVs are<br />

projected to reach<br />

10.6 million worldwide in<br />

<strong>2022</strong>, a 57% increase over<br />

2021, with BEVs expected to<br />

reach 8 million units and<br />

PHEVs to reach 2.6 million.”<br />

in the lineup, is only available in the recently<br />

launched F-Sport Performance grade. These<br />

new models will stimulate the Luxury Hybrid<br />

SUV Market in a significant manner.<br />

We have enjoyed excellent growth in the<br />

Luxury Sector over the past 12 months, primarily<br />

because <strong>of</strong> the experience the customers<br />

receive when they visit the dealership, and<br />

naturally, the quality <strong>of</strong> the product reinforces<br />

why they should move to the Lexus brand. This<br />

is despite significant challenges with supply<br />

due to component shortages in various models.<br />

Thankfully our Lexus customers are willing<br />

to wait patiently for the arrival <strong>of</strong> their new<br />

vehicles.<br />

The automotive industry is going through<br />

an evolution <strong>of</strong> change, and in the 30 years<br />

I have been in the industry, this is one <strong>of</strong> the<br />

most significant changes I have seen. With the<br />

world focused on emission reduction, this has<br />

led to many countries <strong>of</strong>fering incentives for<br />

the general population to move towards adopting<br />

EV vehicles.<br />

EV-volumes says, sales <strong>of</strong> EVs are projected<br />

to reach 10.6 million worldwide in <strong>2022</strong>,<br />

a 57% increase over 2021, with BEVs expected<br />

to reach 8 million units and PHEVs to reach 2.6<br />

million. “By the end <strong>of</strong> <strong>2022</strong> we expect nearly<br />

27 million EVs in operation, counting light<br />

vehicles, 70% are BEVs and 30% PHEVs.”<br />

These are significant increases across a significant<br />

number <strong>of</strong> countries.<br />

Now the other consideration is with the<br />

introduction <strong>of</strong> EV vehicles to New Zealand<br />

roads, and with a view to recouping what will<br />

be an inevitable decline in fuel excise duties<br />

which amounted to $2.1 billion last year, the<br />

Ministry <strong>of</strong> Transport (MOT) is proposing<br />

changes to the road user charges (RUC) system.<br />

That could see EV owners start paying<br />

when the exemption for EVs ends in two years’<br />

time.<br />

Under the current system, RUC applies to<br />

vehicles using fuels other than petrol or larger<br />

than 3.5 tonnes. Last year, there were an estimated<br />

800,000 light vehicles which contributed<br />

$800 million in RUC fees, while another<br />

190,000 heavy vehicles contributed about<br />

$1.1b under the system, according to MOT<br />

figures. Under current settings, light EVs will<br />

remain exempt until Mar 31, 2024, which will<br />

save their owners an average <strong>of</strong> about $800<br />

annually.<br />

In its consultation proposals, MOT is suggesting<br />

the possibility <strong>of</strong> applying RUC to light<br />

EVs and electric motorbikes, based on distance<br />

travelled. Naturally, there is also a race to have<br />

EV chargers installed throughout the country to<br />

support this growing trend, and with that will<br />

come additional charges in the future to sustain<br />

the energy cost being delivered. Someone has<br />

to pay the “ferryman” as they say.<br />

The Clean Car Standard (CCS) is one <strong>of</strong> a<br />

range <strong>of</strong> government initiatives to tackle the<br />

overall transport sector’s CO2 emission levels<br />

as part <strong>of</strong> the effort to address climate change.<br />

The Clean Car Standard is a government<br />

target that regulates importers to reduce CO2<br />

emissions to specific targets by encouraging a<br />

greater supply <strong>of</strong> low and no-emission vehicle<br />

imports to New Zealand.<br />

Vehicles with a high CO2 emission rating<br />

will incur a charge, the higher the CO2 rating<br />

the greater the charge. For vehicles that are<br />

below a set standard, the importer receives a<br />

credit that can be used to <strong>of</strong>fset charges. So<br />

as <strong>of</strong> January 1st, 2023, each vehicle importer<br />

must account for their total fleet emissions, so<br />

some <strong>of</strong> these importers will be significantly<br />

impacted as their bias is diesel light commercial,<br />

with very few hybrid or EV vehicles in<br />

their fleet to <strong>of</strong>fset this.<br />

The impact to Lexus New Zealand will be<br />

minimal given that 83% <strong>of</strong> its vehicle fleet<br />

sales in <strong>2022</strong> were either hybrid or fully electric,<br />

which will assist Toyota New Zealand to<br />

<strong>of</strong>fset the diesel variants in their range.<br />

Given the upcoming changes, supply<br />

restrictions, and rising fuel prices, as well as<br />

the possibility <strong>of</strong> a change in the government,<br />

MIKE RANSTEAD,<br />

Lexus <strong>of</strong> Tauranga<br />

Branch Manager<br />

which could also see a change in the EV Rebate<br />

System, the automotive industry will prove to<br />

be very interesting over the course <strong>of</strong> the next<br />

12 months. Therefore, before making a purchase,<br />

make sure you thoroughly research your<br />

options.<br />

EXPERIENCE<br />

AMAZING LOCALLY<br />

DEDICATED STAND ALONE DEALERSHIP<br />

We welcome you to experience amazing at your new<br />

local Lexus <strong>of</strong> Tauranga dealership. Enjoy exceptional<br />

hospitality and a personalised buying experience in<br />

our dedicated stand alone showroom.<br />

Sales, Service & Parts<br />

158 Elizabeth Street, Tauranga<br />

lexus<strong>of</strong>tauranga.co.nz | 07 577 0880

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