Toyota New Zealand has acknowledged the Government’s decision to move the start date of the Clean Car Discount scheme extension back four months to 1 April 2022 and provide more time to balance import schedules and meet the expected high demand for hybrid and battery electric vehicles.

Toyota New Zealand Chief Executive Neeraj Lala said while the announced delay to the rebate and fee scheme was disruptive to the business, it would mitigate some of the supply chain pressure caused by the impact of the COVID pandemic on Toyota’s automotive production facilities.

“We are experiencing significant delivery delays due to COVID’s impact on production, so this delay gives us a chance to catch up. As ever, our customer relations are incredibly important to us so we will be contacting customers who are waiting for a new vehicle and will work with them on the implications of the change to the rebate and fee start date.”

Mr Lala said the delay in the Bill would also provide more time for Toyota New Zealand and the industry to continue discussions with the Government to achieve a realistic transition to low and zero emitting transport and on a timeline that is commensurate with global production and supply plans.

“Our long-term goal is the decarbonisation of the transport sector,” he says. “The Clean Vehicle Bill, in its current state, does set some steep hurdles for the industry.”

“We empathise with the Government and its decision to delay the Bill. There is a fine balance between encouraging low carbon-emitting vehicle purchases and accepting the realities of the current global supply chain issues. However, allowing more time for a transition to rebalance our portfolios is critical and it creates a level playing field for all vehicle importers.”

Mr Lala says the transformation from a petrol and diesel dominated private transport market to a low- to zero-emissions scenario must be seen as a journey with many diverse elements contributing to the end goal. “It is going to take a combination of highly-efficient petrol, diesel, hybrids, battery electric and even hydrogen engines for New Zealand’s fleet to achieve our low carbon targets,” he says.