The manifesto, which is subtitled “How the next Government and the Automotive Industry can drive economic growth”, contains 20 calls for the next Government and the automotive industry to work together to create economic growth and progress.
They note that the sectors represented by MTA employ over 65,000 people and have close to 16,000 separate geographic business units. Together they produce $6.8 billion of gross domestic product (GDP), representing 1.9 percent of New Zealand’s total GDP.
They state that, “The industry is facing the biggest step change in its history as it transitions to low-emissions technology, complex safety systems, and a greater dependence on vehicle software than ever before. It is a challenge, but one that brings unique opportunities for collaboration beyond any three-year electoral cycle.”
“The Road to Prosperity sets out a clear, practical, and cost-effective set of proposals across four priority areas.” These include:
• A skilled workforce.
• A safer fleet.
• A fairer playing field.
• A focus on crime (focussed on service stations).
Key calls include:
• Create a $2000 incentive payment for vehicle owners to move from an old (20 years +) vehicle to a cleaner, newer (10 years or under) one.
• Allow fleets to claim the double the depreciation rate (40 percent) on new EV vehicles under investment boost framework.
• Create a new National Trades Training Fund, using savings redirected from the cancellation of Final Year Fees Free to increase financial support for employers taking on apprentices, replacing Apprenticeship Boost.
• Industry-led Green List roles, where peak industry bodies manage a fixed annual allocation of priority roles within an agreed quota.
• Delay the second stage of the WoF interval reform (extending the WoF interval to two years for cars aged 8-14) until analysis shows if it’s safe to do so.
• Introduce Right to Repair legislation.
• Expand the Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal to include repair and workmanship disputes.
• Prioritise addressing fuel theft by including in the Police Minister’s letter of expectations to the Police Commissioner.
• Amend the Consumer Guarantees Act and Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal.