Recently, New Zealand's Minister for Trade and Investment, Hon. Todd McClay, visited Chengdu, Sichuan Province. In addition to holding high-level talks with key provincial leaders, he engaged in in-depth discussions with representatives of outstanding local enterprises, including Chengdu Hengtu Zhiyuan Trading Co., Ltd. and Chengdu Junchuang Runda International Trade Co., Ltd. He also inspected the sales of New Zealand fruits in Sichuan. The discussions focused on used car exports, new energy vehicle (NEV) cooperation, and cross-border e‑commerce, charting a clear course for deeper automotive trade between the two regions.
During the exchange, Minister McClay addressed the much‑debated automotive trade policies. He made it clear that while New Zealand maintains strict standards and policies for vehicle imports, as long as the relevant conditions are met, the New Zealand government warmly welcomes Chinese new energy vehicles to enter the local market.
Minister McClay specifically noted that Chinese NEVs are currently performing exceptionally well in the New Zealand market and are highly favored by local consumers. He cited BYD as an example, highlighting that the brand has gained strong popularity in New Zealand thanks to its outstanding product competitiveness and technological innovation. He believes that the rapid development of China's electric vehicle sector not only provides robust support for New Zealand's green transportation transition but also opens up vast opportunities for bilateral economic and trade cooperation in the automotive field.
This face‑to‑face exchange between Minister McClay and Chengdu's automotive export enterprises not only demonstrates New Zealand's openness to high‑quality Chinese vehicles but also sends a positive signal for deeper collaboration between the two countries in the green economy and advanced manufacturing. As bilateral cooperation continues to advance, more Chinese NEVs and used cars that meet New Zealand's standards are expected to accelerate their "global expansion", further elevating China‑New Zealand economic and trade relations to a higher level.
