The company holds its annual meeting on August 25.
NZ Shareholders' Association chief executive Oliver Mander said the association was happy that Shaw, who has a background with Vehicle Inspection NZ, and Stiassny, who has an extensive experience in corporate governance, restructuring and insolvency, would fit the bill as independent directors.
"We have been continuing to have a dialogue with the company and the various protagonists so we have been supporting those conversations.
"We are confident that Gordon Shaw and Michael Stiassny would both meet the criteria for what we would consider to be an independent director," Mander said.
The association last month raised concerns about investors being caught in the crossfire in an apparent board room stoush between Sena and the other major shareholder, Eugene Williams.
Under the NZX rules, the NZAI's notice of meeting to consider the appointment of Stiassny and Shaw must also include information on the current NZAI board's view on whether or not those candidates qualify as independent directors.
That notice of meeting must be sent to NZAI shareholders not less than 10 working days before the annual meeting.
In today's statement, NZ RegCo said it had been made aware of the steps taken by Sena in identifying and nominating Shaw and Stiassny.
"NZ RegCo is concerned about the circumstances of the exit of the resigning directors, and notes the involvement of Mr Sena in the nomination and intended appointment of Shaw and Stiassny," it said.
In an email to the Herald, Sena said he "firmly believed" in the principles of good governance and that significantly improved, cost-effective management of the company would be essential if NZ Automotive was to regain its footing in the market.
"This is in the best interests of all shareholders, irrespective of their holding," Sena said.
"As the largest shareholder I am uniquely placed to ensure the right people who can develop strategy and drive change are identified and I make no apology for that: NZAI has underperformed and this must be remedied for the benefit of all shareholders.
"I fully support the appointment of independent directors.
"Using advisors to ensure full transparency, I have worked hard to find experienced directors with the appropriate expertise to effect the significant change required within the company.
"I am confident that Gordon Shaw and Michael Stiassny qualify as independent directors and that this will be borne out by the NZAI's board assessment due to be provided to NZ RegCo on Monday," he said.
The boardroom dust-up started on July 19 when Sena notified he intended to put a proposal to the company's annual meeting to remove all of NZAI's independent, non-executive directors.
NZAI's independent directors - Charles Bolt, Tim Cook and Tracey Rowsell - together with executive director and founder shareholder Eugene Williams, had resigned.
The company received nominations from Sena for the appointment of Julian Davidson, Jason Lewthwaite and Gordon Shaw as NZA directors.
On July 20, NZAI announced that Lewthwaite had withdrawn his consent to be nominated as a director.
On August 4, NZAI said Davidson had also withdrawn his consent, and that Michael Stiassny had been invited by Sena to join NZAI's board.
Stiassny and Shaw had advised they would accept an invitation to join the NZAI board from August 21.
Governance issues have weighed on the company's share price.
The stock traded today at 50c, down 3c from Friday's close, and down from 65c just before the issues arose.
NZAI - the company behind 2 Cheap Cars - listed on the NZX in February last year.
The stock was a direct listing, meaning no new securities were issued.
NZAI's issue price was $1.30 a share.
