MOTOR IMPORTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 36, 12 February 1936, Page 12

MOTOR IMPORTS

INCREASE SHOWN

BRITISH VEHICLES

ASSEMBLING PLANTS

I An increase in the number of motor vehicles imported into New Zealand during last year is shown by figures compiled by the Customs Department. A total of 20,845 vehicles, which were valued for duty at £3,207,436, were imported, compared with 14,415 vehicles valued at £1,809,574 in 1934. Of the total 3001 were commercial vehicles, compared with 2668 in 1934. Of these vehicles 1214 came from the United States, 920 from Great Britain, and 67 from Canada. Following is an analysis, prepared by the Comptroller of Customs, of the dutiable value of motor imports in 1935:— United United Kingdom. States. Canada. S. £ ■ £ Unassembled or completely knocked downCars 326.778 519,280 82 Car chassis . 35,308 10,915 — Com. vehicles 21U.003 151,145 108,901 Totals £578,991 £681,340 £109,043 Assembled— Cars 1,203,630 154.G10 438,664 Car chassis . 1,839 1,610 493 Com. vehicles 3.180 . 404 1,610 Totals ... £1,310,635 £186,624 £440,783 The total value of imports from the three sources, compared with those of 1934 are:— 3 933. 1034. £ £ United Kingdom 1,789,640 967,977 United States 867,964 477,502 Canada 549.526 338,033 Totals £3.207,436 £1,809.37-1 ASSEMBLING IN NEW ZEALAND. A feature of last year's figures is the remarkably high percentage of vehicles assembled in New Zealand. Of the 20,845 machines imported, 11,317 were already assembled and 9528 were assembled in the Dominion. This figure is likely to be considerably higher next year, as preparations are now in hand in Wellington for the erection of an asSembly plant for one of the largest manufacturers in ' the world. In the passenger car field, United States factories supplied the bulk of the unassembled cars, but imports of cars assembled in the United Kingdom were nearly double those of assembled cars from the i United States and Canada. Britain appears to be obtaining a much stronger footing in the New Zealand market every year. Her share in 1935, on the value of the imports, was approximately 55 per cent., the figure for 1934 being. 53 per cent. Canada's share of the business has diminished considerably, several leading makes of cars formerly imported from Canada now coming from English factories. FIGURES FOR WELLINGTON. I The majority of the unassembled > I vehicles imported came to Wellington ' t during the year. Completely knockedI down passenger vehicles, other than buses, numbered 6039, valued for Customs purposes at £820,186; chassis, other than buses, numbered 326, valued at £44,722; lorries, trucks, vans, and buses totalled 1882, valued at £303,779. t Assembled passenger vehicles, other ; than buses, reached the total of 4557, and a value of £749,057, but there were . only tan chassis, valued at £1761, and six lorries, trucks, vans, or buses, I valued at £1769.