Government retains Clean Vehicle Standard after review considered scrapping it

The government will retain the Clean Vehicle Standard after a review that included an option to scrap it entirely, Transport Minister Chris Bishop has confirmed. Bishop said the review found the standard was "the most cost-effective way to increase the availability of lower-emissions vehicles in New Zealand." Scrapping it would have left New Zealand one of just two OECD countries without a vehicle emissions standard, alongside Russia. New targets take effect from 1 January 2028; current reduced penalty rates remain in place until then.