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THE Australian Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association (AIMVIA), the Australian arm of the group representing used-car importers in New Zealand who have made a fortune selling old cars to Kiwis, has launched an online petition to back-up their claim that “Australian motorists want cheaper cars and a wider choice of good quality used vehicles”.

The petition states: “For the last three decades, Australian taxpayers have subsidised the manufacturing of vehicles in Australia to the tune of tens of billions of dollars.

“In 2017, all manufacturing of vehicles in Australia will cease; all vehicles will soon be imported. There is nothing left to protect any more.”

The petition goes on to claim that two separate government inquiries have recommended that used vehicles under five years of age should be eligible for import to Australia and questions, “why hasn’t the change happened”?

The AIMVIA is crystal clear in its view that “new-car manufacturers are dead set against it because they think imported used vehicles will drive down prices and cut into their profits”.

The industry’s position on this matter is succinctly put by the Australian Automotive Dealers’ Association (AADA) which says that Australia already has the most competitive car market in the world.

Honda Civic Type R

Honda Civic Type R

“We already sell more brands than any other nation. The government thinks it is making things better for the consumer when what it is really doing is opening a can of worms regarding service, repair and maintenance.”

The AADA argues that because such imported vehicles will, by definition, have been designed for other countries, they will not necessarily have the same specifications, parts and service requirements as those made specifically for Australian roads and sold by Australian dealers.

A point which, if accepted, leads to questions such as who fulfils the warranty, who is liable for repairs, what if parts are different and what if there is a recall?

“Dealers are accused of self-interest when they argue against personal imports,” according to the AADA, “but surely anyone looking objectively at the evidence must wonder what benefits will come from their introduction.”

As GoAutoNews Premium closed for publication some 1282 people had signed the AIMVIA petition.

By Daniel Cotterill

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Toyota Supra

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