National warns emissions won’t drop, extra tax could add another $12k to a Hilux

National Party transport spokesperson Michael Woodhouse is slamming the Labour-led Government’s clean car policy saying it will slow the turnover of existing fleet while a second tax could add $12,000 to the price of a ute like the Toyota Hilux. 

Under the Government’s Clean Car Standard an importer of some Toyota Hilux models in 2025 will have to pay $9376. The purchaser of the Hilux will then have to pay $2900 under the recently announced feebate scheme. 

“This is a second tax on farmers and tradespeople for whom electric vehicles are simply not suitable,” Woodhouse says. 

“Clearly Transport Minister Michael Wood doesn’t realise that the Toyota Hilux is the workhorse of the primary sector.

“What’s worse here is that the Ministry of Transport told the Minister a target of 105g by 2025 would require a 40 per cent drop in emissions in just four years would disrupt vehicle supply, push up vehicle prices, and slow the turn-over of the existing fleet. 

“It wasn’t just officials who didn’t like the policy, the International Council on Clean Transportation thought the target would be ‘counterproductive’ and ‘unlikely to be achievable’ even if the standard was implemented alongside the Car Tax,” Woodhouse says. 

“Once again Labour is pushing ahead with ideological policies which will only end up punishing Kiwis who don’t have a choice when it comes to their vehicle and won’t reduce emissions to the target the Minister has set.

“Labour is increasingly out of touch on its transport priorities. After announcing a $785 million cycle bridge in Auckland while roads across the country have been left in disrepair, it’s now upped the tax on utes to $12,000 – a kick in the guts for those who need them.

“National supports transitioning to a low emission economy, but this policy goes too far and will only end up hurting New Zealanders,” he says.