Dire predictions about a drop in imports of used vehicles because of tougher vehicle emissions standards have failed to eventuate.
In the first six months of the year, 40,382 used vehicles were brought into New Zealand.
That's almost as many as the Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association predicted for the entire year following the implementation of the new standards in January.
association chief executive David Vinsen says there was a drop at the start of the year but the situation has rebounded.
He says the high New Zealand dollar is giving importers good buying power and by helping its citizens to buy new cars, the Japanese government is freeing up used vehicles for the international market.
The association is now forecasting as many as 72,000 imports for the year. That would be about 20,000 fewer than last year.
