New Zealand Used Car Imports Are At a Five Year High

Most popular import - Suzuki Swift - 351 cars

From New Zealand Herald.


Arrivals of used imported cars reached their highest level in nearly five years in April, spurred on by steadily improving availability of product and the continued strength of the New Zealand dollar.

The performance of the used imported vehicle sector backed up the strong results achieved in the new car and commercial vehicle market in April, said the Motor Trade Association (MTA).

New commercial vehicle registrations had the biggest April since 1982, with 2235 sold. The number of new commercial vehicles sold was 38 per cent higher than April 2012. New passenger car sales, of 5908 vehicles, were also up 8.8 per cent on April 2012.

In April, 10,539 used cars entered New Zealand - the highest number since January 2008. The surge in arrivals flowed through to actual sales with 7418 used cars sold during the month, representing a 26 per cent increase over the same month last year. For the year to date, used imported car arrivals are 51 per cent ahead, while actual sales are ahead by 4637 (19 per cent).

"The additional stock will replenish car yards, bringing more choice to consumers. There are a lot of vehicles looking for a buyer," MTA spokesman Ian Stronach says.




Read More -http://www.nzherald.co.nz/motoring/news/article.cfm?c_id=9&objectid=10882638

India - Import of cars made before 1950 allowed

1930 Bugatti

The notification dated April 18, 2013 reads, “Cars manufactured prior to January 1, 1950 are free for import by actual users. However, such cars plying on public roads will continue to be subject to Central Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and Rules, 1989.” The amendment has been carried out with immediate effect.There is no clarity yet regarding how the import duty will be calculated, although a flat duty structure could be considered to avoid under-invoicing of the vehicle’s value. The import ban had heavily restricted the number of classic and vintage cars in the country, sending prices skywards over the last decade. We could expect prices of these cars to reach more realistic levels once collectors start importing them in considerable numbers.

The president of the ‘Vintage and Classic Club of India’ Nitin Dossa welcomes this as a positive move. But he has concerns regarding how the cars will be evaluated for the amount of duty they will carry. Also, it is not clear if left-hand-drive cars will be considered for import. If they are excluded under the new rule, enthusiasts will be disappointed as it would not be possible to import fine American vintage cars such as Cadillacs and Studebakers.

Overall, vintage car collectors and admirers are thrilled as this has opened up options that weren’t possible before. An influx of vintage cars in the country may also lead to prices of vintage and classic cars already present here reaching realistic levels.

 http://www.hindustantimes.com/Autos/HTAuto-TopStories/Import-of-cars-made-before-1950-allowed/Article1-1054051.aspx

EPA Voids Certificates Approving Import of Over 70,000 Small Recreational Vehicles

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that it is withdrawing approval of the import and sale of up to 74,000 gas-powered on- and off-road motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles from China. The agency believes that it received either incomplete or falsified certification information.

EPA issued the vehicle certificates from 2006 to 2012 to two companies which operate as Snyder Technology, Inc. and Snyder Computer Systems, Inc. (doing business as Wildfire Motors Corporation). As a result of a lengthy investigation, the agency believes that the applications for the certificates contained misleading information and must be voided.

All vehicles imported into or manufactured in the United States are required to have certificates of conformity. Manufacturers or importers must submit an application to EPA that describes the vehicle and its emission control system. It must also provide emissions data demonstrating that the vehicle will meet federal emission standards for certain pollutants, including oxides of nitrogen (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), and total hydrocarbons (HC)--all of which can harm public health and the environment. These pollutants can contribute to soot (fine particles) and smog (ground-level ozone), which are associated with asthma and heart attacks, increased emergency room visits and premature death.

In the cases of Snyder and Wildfire, EPA believes the manufacturers failed to accurately test the emissions from their own products, all of which were imported from China. Without proper emission controls, these vehicles can emit substantially more pollution than allowable under Clean Air Act standards.

Today’s action impacts the companies that manufactured and imported these vehicles. A consumer who owns a model that was covered by these voided certificates is not responsible for these companies’ wrongdoing and can continue to use the vehicle.

More information on the recreational vehicles: http://epa.gov/otaq/recveh.htm

http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d0cf6618525a9efb85257359003fb69d/4a8dd3435ed15ab385257b420051cb6a!OpenDocument

Importing A Race Car Into the USA Permanently : NHTSA and EPA Requirements

BNR34-000092: Permanent Race Car Exemption

The first thing to get straight with this "race car" is that just because you are going to "race" it does not it a race car make.  In order to import the race vehicle permanently you are going to have to meet NHTSA/DOT requirements and EPA requirements. This isn't impossible, nor is it the only way to import a car. However if you want to do it right, want to have something here in the US legally permanently, this is the process. It is very difficult to import a normal production car under the permanent race car exemption. You can import cars under a temporary importation, but you have to export them within a year.

NHTSA/ DOT REQUIREMENTS

Race car exemption

The following sets forth the requirements for a vehicle to be imported as a racing vehicle. A vehicle that was originally manufactured as a racing vehicle can be declared as an off-road vehicle under Box 8 on the HS-7 Declaration form that is to be furnished to the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (Customs) at time of importation. Such a vehicle can be permanently imported into the United States. A motor vehicle that was not originally manufactured as a racing vehicle can only be imported on a temporary basis under Box 7 on the HS-7 Declaration form. The importer must obtain a letter of permission from NHTSA to import a vehicle on that basis. To obtain such a letter, the vehicle must be in full racing configuration at the time of importation and lack features associated with safe and practical public road use. Determinations are based on the capability of the vehicle to be used on public roads, not its intended use.

REQUIREMENTS

To import a racing vehicle into the United States on a permanent basis, you must:

Obtain from the vehicle’s original manufacturer a letter stating that the vehicle was originally manufactured as a racing vehicle.

File with Customs, upon entry, an HS-7 Declaration form on which Box 8 is checked, indicating that the vehicle was not manufactured primarily for use on the public roads, and is therefore not a motor vehicle subject to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety, Bumper, and Theft Protection Standards.
Attach a copy of the manufacturer’s letter to the HS-7 Declaration form that you furnish to Customs.
To import a motor vehicle into the United States on a temporary basis for racing purposes, you must:
Apply to NHTSA for a letter granting you permission to import the vehicle on a temporary basis. For that purpose, you should use the application form posted on this website.
File with Customs, upon entry, an HS-7 Declaration form on which Box 7 is checked, indicating that the motor vehicle does not comply with all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety, Bumper, and Theft Prevention Standards, but is being imported solely for the purpose of competitive racing events.
Attach a copy of the NHTSA permission letter to the HS-7 Declaration form that you furnish to Customs.
To obtain such a permission letter from NHTSA, you must submit to the agency the following information in the order stated:

1. Importer’s name, address, and daytime phone number.
2. Customs broker’s name, contact, and phone number.
3. Vehicle information (make, model, model year, and VIN or identifying number).
4. A list of the racing features of the vehicle.
5. A list of the features lacking that are needed for use of the vehicle on public roads.
6. Photographs showing the following views: front, rear, side, and interior. Racing features and/or features lacking for on-road use on public roads should be shown in the photographs.
7. The name of the sanctioning body and competition class.
8. Previous race history of the vehicle (if any).
9. Schedule of racing events, including dates and locations where vehicle will compete (if any).
10. Copy of the competition-racing license of the importer (if any).

Permission to import a motor vehicle temporarily is granted in annual increments for up to three years if duty is not paid, or for up to five years if duty is paid. No later than 30 days after the expiration of the period for which permission is granted, the vehicle must be either exported from the United States or destroyed.

RESTRICTION FOR REGISTRATION AND LICENSING

A racing vehicle may not be registered or licensed for on-road use. A vehicle allowed entry for racing purposes cannot subsequently be converted for use on public roads.

DOT Approval letter on a permanent race car importation

Super GT Nissan Skyline GT-R: Temporary Race Car Import

EPA REQUIREMENTS

So once you get all the NHTSA/DOT requirements finished and get their approval letter, and the approval letter from the EPA, you can take both those letters, fill out the HS-7, and the 3520-1, and clear customs with those documents. Its not a short or easy process, but its also not impossible.