Auto Trader and NZ Autocar unite to create Aotearoa’s new home of motoring
Auckland, 9 December – Two of New Zealand’s most recognisable automotive brands, Auto Trader and NZ Autocar, have joined forces to create what both describe as the country’s new home of motoring.
From today, visitors to Autocar.co.nz will be automatically redirected to AutoTrader.co.nz, where Autocar’s full editorial operation is now integrated directly into the Auto Trader platform. Readers will find news, first drives, reviews, videos and longer-form features sitting alongside New Zealand’s most established vehicle marketplace.
NZ Autocar will keep some core magazine content, motorsport and subscription sales live at www.nzautocar.co.nz
At launch, NZ Autocar’s stories will appear in a dedicated editorial section, but the partnership will quickly evolve. The two companies are building a more connected experience that leads readers from easy-to-understand, Kiwi-focused reviews straight through to relevant vehicle listings, and guiding shoppers back to the right advice when they need help making a confident choice. The aim is to create a single, seamless pathway from learning about a car to finding one.
The combined content offering is almost entirely New Zealand-made. NZ Autocar is the country’s longest-running motoring title and the largest independent automotive news outlet currently operating, attracting around 250,000 visits a month and nearly half a million page views. This work is produced by an experienced local team that includes Richard Edwards, Kyle Cassidy, Andrew Sluys, Alex Schultz and Amber Erasmus, with expert support from China-based contributor Mark Rainsford and long-time columnist Rob Scott.
Auto Trader brings a different kind of scale to the partnership. More than 300,000 New Zealanders shop for cars on the site each month, spending an average of six minutes browsing. Its email audience exceeds 229,000 people, and it delivers roughly 14.5 million targeted advertising impressions every month, not including its app audience. Together, these strengths position the combined platform as the most comprehensive motoring destination in Aotearoa.
The partnership also marks a major expansion of NZ Autocar’s video plans. Video has become a key part of how New Zealanders research their next vehicle, and the collaboration with Auto Trader will allow Autocar to produce more first-drive videos, comparison pieces and short-form social content, all backed by the increased visibility of Auto Trader’s audience.
What the partners say
Ross Logue, Managing Director of Auto Trader, says the partnership brings together two brands that have each played a unique role in New Zealand’s car-buying landscape.
“This collaboration is built on Kiwi values. Auto Trader has always helped New Zealanders find the right car, and NZ Autocar has helped them understand it. Joining these strengths gives people one place where they can read, watch, research and buy – all created by people who actually know our roads, our conditions and the way Kiwis drive.”
Richard Edwards, Managing Editor of NZ Autocar, says the move expands NZ Autocar’s reach while staying true to its roots.
“Autocar has been part of New Zealand’s motoring landscape for decades. Our stories, our tests and our opinions are shaped by Kiwi roads and Kiwi readers. This partnership simply lets more people access what we do, while giving us the tools to grow — especially in video, which is such a big part of how people buy cars today. The magazine continues unchanged, and we’re pushing deeper into uniquely New Zealand stories, like our recent look at Bruce McLaren’s legacy here at home.”
Edwards says the collaboration strengthens both brands while keeping their identities intact.
“It’s a really nice blend of scale and storytelling. Auto Trader brings audience and reach; NZ Autocar brings trusted voice and experience. Together, it forms an automotive hub that feels distinctly New Zealand.”
