New Zealand Motor

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The New Zealand Motor Corporation was a licence-holder and assembler of automobiles in New Zealand, building CKD kits of British Leyland and, from the mid-1970s, Honda models. It was succeeded by Honda New Zealand in the 1980s.

NZMC was formed by several New Zealand BLMC distributors in 1971. It comprised 3000 staff, 40 retail branches and four car assembly plants. BLMC had a good market share in New Zealand in the early 1970s, however sales had dropped off dramatically by the 1980s. Combined with the increasing sales of newly allowed second-hand Asian imports, all plants (except Nelson) had closed down by 1987.

The Honda Motor Co (Japan) began aqcuiring the Honda assets from NZMC in the mid 1980's. Honda New Zealand Ltd was formed in 1988 and assembly of Honda passenger vehicles continued at the Nelson Plant until August 1998.