Motor Industry Association

1. Business / Trading Name: Motor Industry Association of New Zealand Incorporated (commonly “Motor Industry Association” or MIA).

2. Company Number: Not applicable. MIA is an incorporated society (industry association), not a registered company.

3. NZBN (New Zealand Business Number): Not applicable/Not listed. (As an incorporated society, MIA is not listed on the Companies Register; no public NZBN is readily available.)

4. Entity Type: Incorporated Society (non-profit industry trade association).

5. Business Classification: Industry trade association for the new motor vehicle import and distribution sector.

6. Industry Category: Automotive industry – specifically new vehicle distributors (cars, trucks, motorcycles).

7. Year Founded: 1996 – formed by a merger of the Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Association and the new vehicle importers’ association (AMIDNZ) into a single industry body. (MIA’s predecessor MVMA dated back to 1987 under long-time CEO Perry Kerr.)

8. Addresses: Physical – 417 Cuba Street, Alicetown, Lower Hutt 5010, New Zealand. Postal – P.O. Box 13027, Johnsonville, Wellington 6440.

9. Website URL: Main site – http://www.mia.org.nz (public information on mission, news, and member list). (Note: Some content, e.g. submissions, is behind a members-only login).

10. LinkedIn URL: Official LinkedIn presence not prominent. (MIA does not appear to maintain an active LinkedIn company page; key individuals like the CEO have profiles).

11. Company Hub NZ URL: None. (No public listing on CompanyHub or similar, since MIA is not a company; basic profile appears in Katalyst database).

12. NZ Companies Office URL: None. (MIA is listed on the Incorporated Societies register, not the companies register; no direct Companies Office profile link is available in the public domain).

13. Social Media URLs: MIA itself has no official Twitter/Facebook accounts for public engagement. (It relies on press releases via media outlets and its website. It is occasionally mentioned by partner initiatives on social media – e.g. listed as a supporter on Women in Automotive NZ.)

14. Ultimate Holding Company: Not applicable. MIA is an independent incorporated association with no parent company or holding entity.

15. Key Shareholders: Not applicable. As an association, MIA has no shareholders. Its stakeholders are its member companies, which include virtually all major new vehicle distributors in NZ (e.g. Toyota NZ, Ford NZ, BMW NZ, Mazda NZ, etc.), collectively representing over 98% of new vehicle sales.

16. Leadership: Chief Executive Officer – Aimee Wiley (appointed 2023, former NZ Transport Agency executive). Immediate Past CEO – David Crawford (2013–2023, a former public servant). Board President – an industry-elected role traditionally held by a major car distributor’s executive (e.g. Simon Rutherford, Ford NZ Managing Director, was MIA President 2022–2024). The Board is composed of senior executives of member companies.

17. Staff: MIA operates with a small team. Besides the CEO, notable staff include – and administrative/policy support personnel. The technical adviser leads regulatory submissions and industry data analysis. (Total staff is modest, likely under 10, given MIA’s scale.)

18. Staff that have held previous government roles: David Crawford (CEO 2013–23) had a 20-year government career, including as Ministry of Transport General Manager for safety & environment. Aimee Wiley (CEO from 2023) was a senior manager at NZ Transport Agency, leading the Low Emission Vehicles program (Clean Car Discount/Standard) immediately before joining MIA. These hires reflect a “revolving door” with transport agencies. (Additionally, MIA’s technical adviser Stockdale came from the AA, which, while not government, has quasi-official roles in transport policy.)

19. Past Employees: Perry Kerr – CEO for ~27 years until 2012, oversaw MIA’s formation in 1996 and the era of local vehicle assembly closure. David Crawford – CEO 2013–2023, retired after a decade leading MIA. Both were influential figures; Kerr was honoured by industry for his service. Also, Leo Mortimer (Technical Advisor pre-2021) is a former staff member. Mark Stockdale (Principal Technical Adviser) – 2021-2024 from the NZ Automobile Association. No known MIA staff have moved directly into elected public office, but its former CEOs and advisors often continue in consultancy or industry roles.

20. Clients: Not applicable. MIA is not a consultancy; it represents member companies rather than having clients. Its “clients” are effectively its members – the official vehicle distributors in NZ, for whom it advocates.

21. Industries/Sectors Represented: Automotive (New Vehicle Import and Distribution Sector). MIA speaks for importers/distributors of new passenger cars, SUVs, light commercial vehicles (<3.5t), heavy trucks/buses, and on/off-road motorcycles/ATVs. In essence, it represents the interests of multinational auto manufacturers’ NZ subsidiaries or agents (franchise holders). This sector accounts for virtually all new vehicle sales in the country.

22. Publicly Disclosed Engagements: MIA regularly makes formal submissions to government consultations and parliamentary committees (averaging ~5–6 submissions per year). For example, it submitted on the Clean Car Standard legislation and related regulations, often arguing technical points or timeline adjustments. MIA officials frequently meet with ministers and transport officials (though NZ has no mandatory lobbyist register, ministerial diary releases indicate meetings on vehicle policy). However, MIA does not publish its submissions on its public website (they are available via government sites or OIA requests), which limits transparency of these engagements.

23. Affiliations: Internationally, MIA liaises with sister organisations; it is effectively NZ’s counterpart to bodies like Australia’s FCAI and was historically aligned with the OICA (global auto manufacturers’ association), although NZ’s small size means it’s not a formal OICA member listing. MIA often partners with the Motor Trade Association (MTA) and the Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association (VIA) on issues of common interest – or jointly with other transport groups against policies seen as adverse (this coalition is sometimes dubbed the “road lobby”).

24. Sponsorships / Collaborations: MIA tends to collaborate on industry initiatives rather than direct sponsorships of outside events. It has supported sector training and diversity programs – for example, it is listed as a partner of the “Women in Automotive” network in NZ, promoting female participation in the auto industry. MIA also works with government agencies on road safety campaigns (e.g. promoting vehicle safety features) and has backed schemes like “RightCar” (consumer info on vehicle emissions/safety). It co-funds research and workshops on EV infrastructure and emissions when aligned with its members’ interests, often in collaboration with agencies or academia (to ensure industry perspectives are included).

25. Events (Organised by MIA): MIA holds member-only forums and an Annual General Meeting. Public-facing events are rare – its role is more behind-the-scenes. Historically, MIA organised at least one large Motor Industry Convention in the mid-2000s (bringing together industry and policymakers), though this has not been a regular occurrence. More commonly, MIA participates in events run by others: e.g. auto industry conferences, the Fieldays (agricultural show) for vehicle showcases, and government workshops on transport policy. It also frequently hosts media briefings when releasing monthly vehicle sales statistics.

26. Political Donations: No disclosed political donations by MIA as an organisation have been found in New Zealand’s official donation records. MIA’s influence is exercised via advocacy, not direct funding of parties. (It’s possible individual executives of member companies donate in a personal capacity or through their companies, but the Association itself has not publicly contributed to political campaign finances.)

27. Controversies: MIA has drawn criticism for its stance on climate and emissions policies. It has been accused of using delay tactics and “integrity washing” – professing support for environmental goals while lobbying to weaken or postpone regulations. For example, MIA fought a proposed 2030 ban on new petrol/diesel car sales, calling the idea “ill-informed” and “not achievable,” which was seen as undermining climate efforts. In 2022, MIA publicly chastised the Government as “a Government of mistakes” over a Clean Car Standard drafting error affecting motorcycles. Environmental and active-transport advocates have singled out MIA (along with allied auto trade bodies) for obstructing measures to reduce vehicle emissions and car dependency, comparing their rhetoric to that of the tobacco lobby (shifting blame to consumers and other sectors). These controversies highlight a perceived gap between MIA’s public relations – “promoting low-emission vehicles and safety” – and its behind-the-scenes lobbying to protect the traditional automotive market.

28. Other Information of Note (Media and Public Profile): MIA maintains a significant media profile as the official source of new vehicle sales data – its monthly reports on registrations are widely quoted in business media. This role gives MIA a platform to comment on market trends and policy impacts (e.g. it often attributes sales fluctuations to government policy changes like the Clean Car Discount removal). The Association positions itself as the “voice” of a key economic sector (~$6.5 billion annual turnover), and its statements are regularly sought by journalists on fuel standards, electric vehicles, and road safety. However, MIA’s public messaging is often carefully crafted; it emphasizes industry-led solutions and shared responsibility, a stance critics say serves to preempt stricter regulation of vehicles. MIA’s credibility suffered slightly when it resisted early EV incentives and fuel-economy standards, only to later claim support for emissions reduction in principle. This dual approach – outwardly endorsing sustainability while lobbying to slow the pace – has been noted in academic analysis of NZ’s transport discourse. In sum, MIA has a high-profile, generally respected voice in mainstream media, but with growing public scrutiny of its true commitment to environmental and safety improvements.

29. Recipient of Wage Subsidy Scheme: No. MIA itself did not appear as a recipient of the COVID-19 wage subsidy in 2020. Instead, it publicly welcomed the government’s wage subsidy extension as relief for struggling auto businesses, but there is no record of the Association claiming funds. (Many member companies, like dealerships, did receive subsidies due to the collapse in vehicle sales during lockdowns, but the MIA’s own operations were sustained by member dues and did not meet the threshold for subsidy claims.)

Sources:

[1] MIA farewells long term chief – AutoTalk, 28 June 2013. “The Motor Industry Association farewelled long term chief executive Perry Kerr… after nearly three decades in the role… Kerr started with the MVMA in 1987… establishing the MIA back in 1996, and seeing the closure of the local assembly industry in 1998.” (autotalk.co.nz) https://autotalk.co.nz/mia-farewells-long-term-chief/

[2] About MIA – MIA (Motor Industry Association) official website, 2023. “The Motor Industry Association of New Zealand (Inc) represents the new vehicle industry. Our members are the official importers and distributors of overseas vehicle manufacturers… Membership: Over 43 members representing 84 different marques/brands. Market Share: MIA members account for over 98% of all new vehicles imported and sold in New Zealand.” (mia.org.nz) https://www.mia.org.nz/about-us

[3] David Crawford to retire from MIA – NZ Autocar, 1 Feb 2023. “David Crawford… was appointed CEO of MIA in February 2013 following a 20 year stint working for the New Zealand Government in a variety of senior management positions… His involvement in the automotive industry began when he became general manager of safety, land transport and the environment for the Ministry of Transport.” (autocar.co.nz) https://www.autocar.co.nz/david-crawford-to-retire-from-mia/

[4] Aimee Wiley to lead MIA – AutoTalk, 3 Mar 2023. “Experienced industry and government executive Aimee Wiley is the new chief executive officer of the Motor Industry Association… Wiley has senior experience spanning the business sector (including automotive with Ford NZ and Ford Asia Pacific) through to government. Most recently she was programme director, Low Emission Vehicles (Clean Car Discount and Clean Car Standard) for the NZ Transport Agency (Waka Kotahi).” (autotalk.co.nz) https://autotalk.co.nz/aimee-wiley-to-lead-mia/

[5] Armstrong Motor Group appoints CEO – National Business Review (NBR), 9 May 2025. “Simon Rutherford was president of the Motor Industry Association from 2022 to 2024… [He is] a hugely experienced automotive executive… well respected within the NZ automotive industry.” (nbr.co.nz) https://www.nbr.co.nz/comings-and-goings/armstrong-motor-group-appoints-ceo/

[6] Industry boss takes swipe at minister – AutoFile, 19 Nov 2020. “The boss of the MIA has hit out at a push to ban sales of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030, claiming such a target is not achievable. Chief executive David Crawford has criticised comments made by James Shaw… ‘ill informed and ignore the current issues… The targets are not achievable for NZ by that timeline, as the commercial sector will still be dependent on diesel… It also ignores used imported vehicles…’ Crawford accuses Shaw of being off the mark in criticising Kiwis’ fondness for utes as driving up emissions. ‘NZ’s rise in transport emissions has more to do with the flood of used cheap and old imported vehicles… The sales weighted average of new vehicles… has been reducing.’ He is also unhappy with Shaw voicing fears NZ will become a dumping ground for ICE vehicles once the UK ban hits. ‘This is an ignorant statement that demonstrates how little he knows about how our market operates.’” (autofile.co.nz) https://autofile.co.nz/industry-boss-takes-swipe-at-minister-

[7] Car lobby raises issue with Government’s clean car push – Motoring NZ, 19 Sep 2022. “The organisation speaking on behalf of almost all NZ’s new distributors has taken a shot at the Government over inclusion of motorcycles in impending emissions regulations, saying it’s an error illustrating ‘this is a Government of mistakes.’ The direct criticism from the normally apolitical MIA arrived with a media release about the impending Clean Car Standard… The Act applies to any motor vehicle under 3500kg, but defines vehicles that incur penalties or credits as passenger vehicles or light commercials (cars, SUVs, utes, vans). MIA’s principal technical advisor Mark Stockdale says that means the standard also conceivably applies to any importer of a road-going motorcycle. ‘It comes down to interpretation… whether the section on the Clean Vehicle Standard only applies to light passenger/commercial vehicles, or all light vehicles… The problem is under the Act any importer of a light vehicle has to set up a CO₂ account and record CO₂ emissions of all light vehicles they import – which includes motorcycles and potentially electric bicycles – even if they aren’t subject to penalties or credits.’” (motoringnz.com) https://www.motoringnz.com/news/2022/9/19/car-lobby-raises-issue-with-governments-clean-car-push

[8] We (still) need to talk about cars – Planetary Ecology blog, 30 May 2021. “They [climate advocates] conclude road transport has to be virtually emission-free by 2030… In the blue corner: the car industry. This is a massive industry… represented by the MIA (for sellers of new vehicles), the VIA (for sellers of used imports), and the MTA (all the above plus resellers, petrol stations, mechanics). Then there is the AA with 1.7 million members… it’s fair to say they were all apoplectic about the government’s proposals. You can read the MIA’s comments for yourself. They direct attention for emission reduction to agriculture, electricity, existing vehicle owners – everywhere but new car buyers (the area relevant to MIA and the plan). For rising transport emissions, they blame previous governments, used importers, lack of local vehicle manufacturing, and buyers (for preferring utes/SUVs). They also blame external consultants and would prefer the industry analyse itself. Unlike MIA, the AA does not blame car buyers. However, they do blame car manufacturers for making larger vehicles, and Australia for having no fuel efficiency standard. They state, ‘The principal reason for growth in transport carbon emissions is nothing to do with vehicle efficiency. It has been driven by population growth.’ (This does not seem the whole story: 2014–2017 light vehicle emissions rose 13.7% while population rose 5.7%.) Neither AA nor MIA accepts any responsibility for the rise in land transport emissions, despite both being heavily involved – AA through lobbying for more roads and driver-favorable treatment, MIA through supplying vehicles and heavy advertising. Not surprisingly, MIA does not favor any measure that impacts vehicle demand or supply – i.e., the exact area its members operate in.” (planetaryecology.org) https://blog.planetaryecology.org/2021/05/30/we-still-need-to-talk-about-cars/

[9] Put People Ahead Of The Road Lobby, Say Transport Advocates – Spokes Canterbury (cycling advocates), 26 Feb 2025. “Cycling and walking organisations nationwide are calling on the government to put health and safety ahead of vested interests in the road lobby. The call follows the publication of ‘The road lobby and unhealthy transport policy discourse in Aotearoa’, a study from University of Otago. The study found that policy submissions from seven NZ motoring trade organisations adopted advocacy tactics similar to those used by the tobacco industry. ‘We’ve seen how the tobacco industry blocks, weakens and delays tobacco regulations,’ says Bike Auckland chair Karen Hormann. ‘We’re very disappointed to see the road lobby adopting these tactics to block climate action.’ They believe tactics such as ascribing responsibility for transport emissions and road safety to individuals rather than commercial interests make a material difference to policy outcomes – and therefore health outcomes. ‘The road lobby has consistently advocated for more and more roads and against investing in active travel modes like cycling and walking,’ says Hormann. ‘It’s no surprise that our current government has slashed investments in cycling/walking infrastructure, or that it has raised speed limits in the face of opposition from communities.’” (spokes.org.nz) https://www.spokes.org.nz/2025/02/3354/

[10] MIA submission on NZ Income Insurance Scheme – MBIE Consultation Document (MIA), 22 April 2022. “MIA welcomes the opportunity to submit… As an affiliate member of BusinessNZ and noting that BusinessNZ was involved closely in its development, we do not comment in detail. Rather we support the submission of BusinessNZ… MIA’s position: MIA supports BusinessNZ’s calls… [MIA cannot support a scheme that] does not offset costs via tax relief… [MIA] recommends businesses that provide redundancy compensation can opt out… etc. About the MIA: The Motor Industry Association (MIA) is a voluntary trade association set up to represent the interests of the new vehicle industry (official representatives of overseas vehicle manufacturers). Members account for over 98% of all new vehicles imported and sold in NZ across passenger, light/heavy commercial, and motorcycle. The new vehicle sector… generates around $6.5 b in revenue annually. The Association has over 44 members (official distributors appointed by vehicle manufacturers) covering 81 different marques.” (mbie.govt.nz) https://www.mbie.govt.nz/dmsdocument/24799-motor-industry-association-new-zealand-income-insurance-scheme-submission-pdf

[11] WATCH: Clean Car Standard isn’t achievable – Driven/NZ Herald, 23 Sep 2021. “The Government’s Clean Car Standard is a hot topic as the Amendment Bill makes its way through Parliament. The ‘feebate’ scheme has now been pushed back from Jan 2022 to April, but are more changes coming? The MIA hopes so. It has been forthright in its criticism of the Bill, arguing that the Government has misunderstood how our new vehicles are sourced, which emissions protocols are appropriate and what timeframe is achievable for a market that accounts for just 0.18% of global new-vehicle production. MIA chief executive David Crawford (pictured above left with Transport Minister Michael Wood) talks us through the issues as the car industry sees them.” (Driven/NZ Herald) Source behind paywall

[12] Outcome of Clean Car Standard review – Te Manatū Waka Ministry of Transport (Cabinet Paper), 11 June 2024. “However, the MIA’s support for the level of the targets is contingent on a 4-year transition to uniform targets (i.e. no weight adjustment). The VIA would prefer moving to uniform targets from 2025 for both passenger and commercial vehicles – in its view uniform targets would encourage importers to increase supply of smaller vehicles. VIA is concerned that the review in 2026 of stopping weight-adjusting passenger targets from 2027 will be ‘another opportunity to decrease ambition of the targets’.” (transport.govt.nz) Proactively released Cabinet paper

[13] MIA welcomes wage subsidy, trades training – MotoringNZ, 14 May 2020. “NZ’s troubled new vehicle industry is pleased with today’s Budget. Level 4 lockdown was disastrous, with sales down 90% in April. MIA CEO David Crawford said for the new vehicle market to flourish, the NZ economy needs to be strong – a challenge in the current environment. ‘A Budget focusing on jobs while supporting businesses was what I was looking for,’ he said. MIA was pleased to see a $4b business support package including a $3.2b extension of the wage subsidy scheme, and a $1.6b free trades training package. The wage subsidy has been extended 12 weeks from mid-June, and Crawford said this extension will benefit those companies where revenue remains low. MIA also strongly supported the trades training package. ‘We are delighted to see these initiatives,’ said Crawford.” (motoringnz.com) https://www.motoringnz.com/news/2020/5/14/mia-welcomes-wage-subsidy-trades-training

[14] Otago University Study: “The road lobby and unhealthy transport policy discourse in NZ: a framing analysis” – Journal of Transport & Health, March 2025. “Previous authors have documented instances of political activities by the commercial road lobby to influence transport policy. However, [our study] found a mean annual submission rate per organisation of 12.3. The Motor Industry Association made 28 submissions over five years (~5.6/year), while the AA made 67 over three years (~22.3/year) – indicating high lobbying activity. Submissions often framed issues to shift responsibility from industry to individuals and called for delays or voluntary measures, closely paralleling strategies of the tobacco industry to resist regulation.” (University of Otago / Journal) Summarised in [9] and Living Streets blog

Spot anything in this entry that is wrong? Please either leave a comment at the end or email, in confidence: bryce@democracyproject.nz