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Motoringnz

Car Stuff You Should Know

News and Car Reviews - Independent and Authoritative

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Latest News

August 20, 2026

Leapmotor’s latest timed for brand profile lift

August 20, 2026/ Richard Bosselman
Leapmotor’s latest timed for brand profile lift

Make’s most affordable product yet, B03X, is core to campaign to raise market status, sales network expansion and customer awareness.

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August 20, 2026/ Richard Bosselman/
Leapmotor
ADNZ, Auto Distributors Limited, Simon Rutherford, EV, C10, B10, B05, B03X, fleet, ride share
August 06, 2026

Arcfox first arrival sets prestige precedent

August 06, 2026/ Richard Bosselman
Arcfox first arrival sets prestige precedent

The initial product coming here from BAIC’s premium marque has landed as a budget treat.

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August 06, 2026/ Richard Bosselman/
Arcfox
Armstrong Group, Simon Rutherford, BAIC, X55, electric
June 11, 2026

Nippy and zippy with zap

June 11, 2026/ Richard Bosselman
Nippy and zippy with zap

Leapmotor is going old school with a future-proofed edge with its  B05, which aims to sell as a hot hatch for battery fans.

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June 11, 2026/ Richard Bosselman/
Leapmotor
B10, B05, hot hatch, Simon Rutherford, VW Golf GTi, Smart, BAIC, Dongfeng, Peugeot, JMC, Opel
May 07, 2026

Arcfox first arrival also a pathfinder

May 07, 2026/ Richard Bosselman
Arcfox first arrival also a pathfinder

The initial product coming here from BAIC’s premium marque has also been chosen as a candidate for an exciting technology breakthrough.

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May 07, 2026/ Richard Bosselman/
Arcfox
BAIC, Simon Rutherford, Armstrong Group, Auto Distributors NZ, T1, electric, LFP, sodiu, sodium-ion
April 02, 2026

Better Box incoming, original packs up with sales surge

April 02, 2026/ Richard Bosselman
Better Box incoming, original packs up with sales surge

Dongfeng’s baby car has gone from provisioning two airbags to six and adopts more refinements, with market-leading price unchanged.

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April 02, 2026/ Richard Bosselman/
Dongfeng
Box, ANCAP, Waka Kotahi, Simon Rutherford, Auto Distributors Limited, ADL, Vigo, 007
March 01, 2026

BAIC big boss enthusiastic about NZ push

March 01, 2026/ Richard Bosselman
BAIC big boss enthusiastic about NZ push

The latest of China’s giant car makers, BAIC, has landed here, with its boss vowing full product support - including potentially even more choices than on distributor’s wish list.

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March 01, 2026/ Richard Bosselman/
BAIC
Simon Rutherford, Auto Distributors NZ, Rick Armstrong, B30, B40, X55, ArcFox, Foton, Electric, REV, range extender, hybrid
February 27, 2026

Gone once, gone twice … and now Opel’s gone again

February 27, 2026/ Richard Bosselman
Gone once, gone twice … and now Opel’s gone again

For Germany’s only mainstream brand, once again the phwoar is over.

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February 27, 2026/ Richard Bosselman/
Opel
Stellantis, Rick Armstrong, Auto Distributors NZ, Simon Rutherford, Russelsheim, PSA, Peugeot, Citroen, Leapmotor, BAIC
February 20, 2026

Box safety improvements yet to be unpacked

February 20, 2026/ Richard Bosselman
Box safety improvements yet to be unpacked

Dongfeng distributor says there’s no hiding from baby EV’s shortcoming. “It is what it is.” 

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February 20, 2026/ Richard Bosselman/
Dongfeng
ANCAP, VSR, European NCAP, Waka Kotahi, Simon Rutherford
January 27, 2026

Performance shove: 007 out to shake and stir

January 27, 2026/ Richard Bosselman
Performance shove: 007 out to shake and stir

Almost as quick as Tesla’s rocket - and half the price.

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January 27, 2026/ Richard Bosselman/
Dongfeng
007, Long Range, Performance, Simon Rutherford, EV, electric, LFP
November 24, 2025

China Inc: When push becomes shove

November 24, 2025/ Richard Bosselman
China Inc: When push becomes shove

More than two dozen Chinese vehicle brands are now represented in NZ, and all have ambition to be powerhouses.

Read More
November 24, 2025/ Richard Bosselman/
Industry
China, BYD, Atto 3, Shark 6, Warren Willmot, GWM, Dean Sheed, Simon Rutherford, Cameron Thomas, MIA, NCAP, ANCAP
November 18, 2025

BAIC adds to Armstrong’s arsenal

November 18, 2025/ Richard Bosselman
BAIC adds to Armstrong’s arsenal

Two sports utility models first arrivals from the state-owned mega-maker.

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November 18, 2025/ Richard Bosselman/
BAIC, Armstrong's Distribution
BAIC, Rick Armstrong, Dongfeng, Leapmotor, Opel, Peugeot-Citroen, Smart, X55, B30, Wang Jianhui, Simon Rutherford
October 17, 2025

Opel under review: Low sales, EV slump has hurt

October 17, 2025/ Richard Bosselman
Opel under review: Low sales, EV slump has hurt

Germany’s only mainstream brand returned in 2022 with a plan to exploit  Clean Car rebates - those have gone, it’s struggling. End of story?

Read More
October 17, 2025/ Richard Bosselman/
Opel
Auto Distributors NZ, Simon Rutherford, Euro, Clean Car, electric, EV
October 17, 2025

Self-drive function among potentials for Leapmotor

October 17, 2025/ Richard Bosselman
Self-drive function among potentials for Leapmotor

Leapmotor B10 has landed with an advanced technology suite, but self-drive requires one more ingredient.

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October 17, 2025/ Richard Bosselman/
Leapmotor
Stellantis, Snapdragon, Brian Carr, Simon Rutherford, Auto Distributors NZ, FSD, 4G, B10, C10
October 01, 2025

Dongfeng joins China brand onslaught

October 01, 2025/ Richard Bosselman
Dongfeng joins China brand onslaught

Another huge automotive entity out of China will represent by Armstrong Group; outlets opening soon.

Read More
October 01, 2025/ Richard Bosselman/
Dongfeng
AutoDistributors NZ, Rick Armstrong, Simon Rutherford, Zhu Xun, Armstrong Group
July 04, 2025

Leapmotor baby electric incoming

July 04, 2025/ Richard Bosselman
Leapmotor baby electric incoming

B10 set to start in full battery form, but range extender expected next year.

Read More
July 04, 2025/ Richard Bosselman/
Leapmotor
Simon Rutherford, Ford, Stellantis, Armstrongs, Auto Distributors, B10
May 08, 2025

Euro, Chinese brands for former Ford NZ boss

May 08, 2025/ Richard Bosselman
Euro, Chinese brands for former Ford NZ boss

Simon Rutherford says bye-bye to Blue

Read More
May 08, 2025/ Richard Bosselman/
Peugeot
Simon Rutherford, Ford NZ, ADNZ, Auto Distributors NZ, Armstrong Group, Rick Armstrong
May 16, 2024

From fizz and phones to Ford

May 16, 2024/ Richard Bosselman
From fizz and phones to Ford

Latest head of Blue Oval’s national operation announced.

Read More
May 16, 2024/ Richard Bosselman/
Ford
Annaliese Atina, Simon Rutherford, Andrew Birkic, Ford NZ
June 14, 2023

Biturbo diesel back in Raptor

June 14, 2023/ Richard Bosselman
Biturbo diesel back in Raptor

Raptor is going back to previous choice 2.0-litre diesel as an understudy to the high performance but high cost petrol V6.

Read More
June 14, 2023/ Richard Bosselman/
Ford
Raptor, V6, bitrubo, Ranger, Ford NZ, Simon Rutherford
April 07, 2023

Battery baby Transit for NZ - but not yet

April 07, 2023/ Richard Bosselman
Battery baby Transit for NZ - but not yet

Announcement of Ford’s small electric van lends thought a passenger edition might also join it.

Read More
April 07, 2023/ Richard Bosselman/
Ford
E-Transit, E-Transit Courier, Ford NZ, Simon Rutherford
March 29, 2023

Forget Explorer, but how about Capri?

March 29, 2023/ Richard Bosselman
Forget Explorer, but how about Capri?

This famous nameplate seems set to return, this time attached to an electric car. Does NZ stand a chance?

Read More
March 29, 2023/ Richard Bosselman/
Ford
Capri, Ford NZ, Tom Clancy, Simon Rutherford, Clean Car, EXplorer, electric, hybrid
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Motoringnz

MotoringNZ reviews new cars and keeps readers up-to-date with the latest developments on the auto industry. All the major brands are represented. The site is owned and edited by New Zealand motoring journalist Richard Bosselman.

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