Used imports 'pollute less than some NZ-new cars'

Some New Zealand-new cars emit more pollution than used Japanese imports, according to research by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa).

And the Independent Motor Vehicle Dealers Association says the findings warrant closer scrutiny of the quality of New Zealand-new cars.

Association chief executive David Vinsen said the Niwa findings exploded the myth that new cars were necessarily better than Japanese used imports simply because they were brand new.

He said it was particularly disturbing that Niwa had found that some New Zealand-new cars incorporated less sophisticated exhaust emission control technology - or in some cases none - because New Zealand had few emission regulations.

"The findings are clearly evidence that new car distributors cannot be relied on to provide the best technology and the best product on the market until they are forced to," he said.

Niwa said in its reports that vehicles produced for the Japanese domestic market - and imported to New Zealand as used imports - required a higher level of technology in order to meet tough Japanese emission regulations.

- NZPA