Welcome to The Full Brief, your daily dose of automotive news. It’s May 16th, 2025, and we’ve got updates that’ll keep everyone in the industry buzzing.Let’s kick things off with today’s hot topic. Honda New Zealand has officially launched the e:N1, their first fully electric car in the market. It’s priced at fifty-two thousand dollars, plus on-road costs, and features a dedicated electric platform.Yeah, and with a 69-kilowatt-hour battery pack giving it up to five hundred kilometers of range—well, realistically more like four to four-and-a-half hundred—it’s got solid potential for the EV crowd here.Add to that DC fast charging that gets you from thirty to eighty percent in just forty minutes. That’s pretty competitive. And the design? It combines sleek aesthetics with practical touches like its spacious 348-liter opening boot.You know what stood out to me, though? The fifteen-inch touchscreen. It’s divided into zones for cameras, climate control, and more. Plus, there’s sporty leather seats and all the tech you’d expect in an EV these days.All in all, it’s a practical move for Honda as they plant their flag in the New Zealand EV market.Moving on, Chery is gearing up for a high-energy comeback in NZ. They’ve got their Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8 super hybrids launching in July. These things promise a nice blend of practicality and advanced hybrid tech.Absolutely. With over 90 kilometers of pure electric range, DC fast charging, and twin-screen displays, they’re loaded with features. Not to mention, their value proposition is pretty strong.Yeah, if you're into roomier SUVs or value-packed hybrids, these seem like a good bet. Okay, next up—Archibald Shorter North Shore. They nailed it again, taking the top JLR dealer spot two years running.And they have every reason to celebrate—three wins, including Service Team of the Year for the fifth year straight. That's some consistency right there.Absolutely. Pretty clear these folks are leading the pack when it comes to customer experience and quality.Alright, before we dive into the rest, let’s give a quick shoutout to our sponsor.Today’s podcast is sponsored by Autocheck. Stop paying too much for vehicle checks. Get comprehensive vehicle reports for less at Autocheck.co.nz, your trusted vehicle data provider.Now, for the rest of the highlights. First up, BMW is expanding its X3 lineup with a new entry-level petrol variant. Something to give customers even more options in a popular segment.Interesting move there. On another note, Tina from Turners’ well-loved actor Bubbah is moving to Samoa in June. But it sounds like Tina’s campaigns will stick around for a while longer.Yeah. Meanwhile, retail spending on cars and fuel dropped last month, and LDV's Terron 9 ute makes its NZ debut at Fieldays. Oh, and before we forget, the new VW Golf GTI is slated to go electric. It’ll still be front-wheel drive but packed with torque.Now to global EV news—Waymo’s driverless taxis are in hot water. Over a thousand cars recalled for minor collisions with stationary objects. Not great, but no injuries, thankfully.Finally, for our quick headlines: a special Defender 110 will take the Women’s Rugby World Cup trophy on a nationwide tour. Congrats to AA Auto Centre for opening in Takanini. And, young male drivers are seeing the steepest car insurance hikes—Consumer NZ recommends shopping around for the best deal.And Toyota’s focused on road safety, supporting initiatives like Ryda and Drive Coach to help young Kiwis become safer drivers. Plus, Nissan’s gone full throwback, revamping its mad mid-engine Micra 350SR for its 23rd anniversary.What a ride that is. And that’s all for today’s Full Brief. To get links to every article mentioned today, and sign up for the daily newsletter, head over to thefullbrief.nz. Catch you next time!Take care, everyone!

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NZ Automotive News - 16th May 2025