With the introduction of the mandatory fitment of electronic stability control to new passenger and commercial vehicles from July 1, 2015, DIESELtalk asked the affected brands for comment on current vehicle stocks.
Any vehicle without ESC fitted had to pass through a pre-delivery inspection and receive a warrant of fitness prior to the end of June, which then allowed the distributor a 24-month window to sell it.
Suzuki New Zealand marketing general manager Gary Collins says the only vehicle affected was the APV van, and he says the small amount of stock left is likely to sell before year end.
Collins made no comment as to whether an ESC-equipped APV van was on the horizon for future market consumption.
Toyota New Zealand has two models that fall into the ESC category being the Hilux 4×2 and Land Cruiser 70 series.
I don’t have exact figures, but current Hilux range will be superseded in a few months by a new model, so existing 4×2 units are in run-out, says Toyota New Zealand spokesman Morgan Dilks
Land Cruiser 70 series sales are on track, with some customers preferring to purchase the no-VSC model before replacement with a new model, he says.
Ateco Group sales and marketing manager Lawrie Malatios says there are limited numbers of some variants in dealer stock without ESC, but all new Foton utes coming into stock have ESC fitted.
Jaguar Land Rover product manager Paul Ricketts says that all new Land Rover Defender models have ESC fitted, and there are no models left in dealer stock without it.
Mahindra New Zealand director Robert Young says the Genio received ESC in June production, and the Pik-Up will receive ESC from the next generation.
Young did not comment on the number of any ESC vehicles left in dealer stock.
The distributor of LDV Vans and Ssangyong SUV, Great Lake Motor Distributors, did not respond to calls from DIESELTalk regarding which of their models were affected by the new legislation.
