Officials asked to clarify EV safety clause

Officials have been asked by the Motor Industry Association to clarify how safety ratings will work in relation to the new EV subsidies, as some new vehicles could be left excluded under the newly-announced plan.

One of the clauses to qualify for the subsidy is that the vehicle is a three-star safety rated model or above.

For used cars this is less of an issue, as when no rating is present, they can default to a five-star.

For new vehicles, until an equivalent vehicle is crash tested there can be no rating. New Zealand generally has to wait for ANCAP, and with Australia well behind us on EV model rollouts this can be a problem. ANCAP is also generally slow to test commercials.

A prime example of this is the LDV eDeliver3, which is prime fodder for the subsidy but is unrated. 

Many other new vehicles launch without, or with an expectation of, a safety rating.

Motor Industry Association chief executive David Crawford says they have raised the officials as a matter of urgency.

“We raised this with officials this morning,” he explains. “Particularly with new models this is going to be an issue. We are often beholden to waiting for ANCAP for a rating.”