The German marque will no longer achieve rebate qualification for every model it sells here, but that’s okay.

DESPITE being among brands to take a hit from revision to the Clean Car Discount scheme, the man heading Opel’s product push here reckons the scheme is worth having and is good for Kiwis.

Opel’s pure petrol editions of the Mokka and Corsa will lose their rebate status when the revised programme enacts on July 1, thereafter falling into a neutral position. 

However. the parent brand has made clear those are temporary products anyway, as ultimate goal is to become a fully electric brand.  

The electric Mokka and Corsa are presently leading that push here. It also has a plug-in hybrid Astra and the Grandland sports utility, the latter set to be usurped by a fully battery replacement from next year.  

Noah Robertson (above), Opel NZ commercial manager, today shared his view that the Clean Car Discount is a huge success, positively impacting many New Zealanders.

“I’m not just talking about the positive effects of less air pollution, and furthering sustainability,” he said in shared comment.

“It’s also been about … new car buyers having greater choice.”

The Discount’s revision comes a year after it fully enacted and is needed because the Government fund created to support it is running dry.

However, Robertson says it has worked in principle, as EV penetration of new car sales rocketed from four percent to 17 percent in the first year.

Robertson says governments have a duty to focus on improving life for the majority, not the few. The CCD is a great example of this in action. It is reducing air pollution, has improved the national emissions profile and has made low emission vehicles more affordable.  

Equally importantly, he believes, “new makes and models entered our market, just like Opel - some with lower costs than ever anticipated - giving more choice across a broader price range of new cars.”

Robertson cites a recent international survey by Opel’s ultimate owner, Stellantis. This found 75 percent of the conglomerate’s global audience consider ‘environmental impact’ the top factor in their decision to choose their next new car.

“The range of options and prices for zero CO2 vehicles in New Zealand increased faster than any other OECD country, benefitting Kiwis,” says Robertson.  

Under the initial scheme, Opel stood out by achieving rebate qualification for every model it sold here.

“… following the upcoming CCD scheme adjustments, it will be one of only a few brands to have a zero-fee range,” says Robertson.

He says the marque continues to have the lowest average CO2 for any brand that isn’t purely electric.