Transport Minister Chris Bishop confirmed on 21 August 2026 that the coalition Government will retain the Clean Vehicle Standard, the scheme introduced under the previous Labour government that charges vehicle importers when the vehicles they bring in exceed a set tailpipe emissions limit. Bishop said the standard is now well established, with importers having accumulated credits and charges over time, and that removing it at this stage would be highly disruptive for the vehicle industry. The Government has not yet decided what the emissions limits will be. Officials are to work with the motor industry on settings the Minister described as realistic and achievable, report back in early 2027, and have new targets take effect on 1 January 2028. Current charges stay at $15 per gram over the limit for new vehicles and $7.50 per gram for used vehicles.

The reaction

Industry groups told RNZ they want the rules taken out of the political cycle. Drive Electric chair Kirsten Corson said the sector wants a bipartisan approach so policy can be strategic, long-term and consistent, and described the current pattern as changing the rules every two or three years. Motor Trade Association chief executive Lee Marshall, who had argued the original standard was too punitive, said there should be cross-party consensus so transport stops being a political football, and raised concern about consulting on settings so close to the November election. RNZ reported that some importers take the opposite view and consider the charges too weak, while clean car advocates have warned that loosening or scrapping the limits would leave New Zealand buying the high-emitting vehicles manufacturers can no longer sell in Australia.