A loophole in how car emissions will be counted could let car makers rush high-polluting cars into Australia without penalty.The government says it wants to address the loophole, but conceded it won't be able to do so before the scheme starts.
Unlike other markets which register imported cars at the point of sale at a dealership, Australia's imports are registered at port, meaning they can be brought in and registered before the NVES formally begins, but then sold at a later date without being counted under the scheme. There are early signs that car manufacturers are considering bringing forward stock in order to use the loophole.
"While implementing this would be particularly complex and is not possible by 1 January 2025, the government will look to move to compliance at the point of sale, including through the review of the scheme to be undertaken in 2026," Ms King said. Mr Voortman said as it stood, car dealers would bear the risks of manufacturers who rush in dirty supply, as they would end up paying finance on those cars for longer if they sat on dealership lots unsold.