UPDATE – Vehicle Exhaust Emissions Rule

UPDATE – Vehicle Exhaust Emissions Rule

As you will be aware there are upcoming changes to the Vehicle Exhaust Emissions Rule which impacts some vehicles that are border inspected from 30 April 2024. An area of concern with this new rule, is the requirement for vehicles that do not meet the new standard after 30 April to be registered within 4 months of the border inspection being completed.NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) have now advised that they are working with the Ministry of Transport (MOT) and industry representatives on solutions that will eliminate financial pressure on importers and dealers to register impacted vehicles. Moana Blue will provide further updates as information becomes available and will confirm deadlines for when impacted vehicles will need to be received in our yards for the border inspection to be completed prior to the 30 April 2024 change.   The Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Exhaust Emissions Amendment 2023An explanation of the changes from the latest NZTA bulletin is as follows:

  • Petrol imported vehicles (except disability vehicles) of vehicle classes MA, MB, MC, MD1, MD2 and NA – commonly known as passenger cars, vans and utes from Japan – that are border inspected from 30 April 2024, must meet an exhaust emission standard of Japan 05 Low Harm or Japan 2018 or higher. Petrol vehicles with a Dxx emission code must be first registered anywhere on or after 1 January 2012. From 30 April 2024, these codes for petrol vehicles will be acceptable to import: Dxx (first registered on or after 1 January 2012), 3xx, 4xx, 5xx, 6xx, 7xx or higher.
  • Diesel vehicles from Japan must meet an emission code of Lxx or higher. The codes are: Lxx, Fxx, Mxx, Rxx, Qxx, 3xx, 4xx, 5xx, 6xx, 7xx or higher.
  • For other jurisdictions, like Europe and Australia, used petrol and diesel vehicles that have been border inspected or are newly manufactured from 30 April 2024, must meet emission standards Euro 5, US Tier II and ADR 79/04.
  • Vehicles classes MD3, MD4, ME, NB and NC – commonly known as heavy trucks – that are border inspected from 30 April 2024 must meet Euro V, US Tier II or ADR 80/03. Used vehicles of these classes imported from Japan will need to meet the following emissions codes: Lxx, Fxx, Mxx, Rxx, Qxx, Sxx, Txx, 2xx, 3xx, 4xx, 5xx, 6xx, 7xx or higher.
  • Vehicle classes LA, LB, LC, LD and LE – commonly known as motorcycles and mopeds – will need to meet and emission standard only from 30 April 2025. These standards will be Euro 4m, US2010m or Japan 2012m. The Japanese codes for these are: JBK, EBL, JBH or EBJ.

If you have any queries around these changes, please do not hesitate to contact Moana Blue sales@moana-blue.com