From the mid-1960s
Toyota sold a variety of its vehicles to its New Zealand sole agent, locally owned vehicle import-licence holder and vehicle distributor Consolidated Motor Industries incorporated in November 1965. Toyota owned no New Zealand import system or distribution or dealership chain but worked towards acquiring a shareholding in Consolidated. Consolidated Motor Industries was renamed in November 1970 Consolidated Motor Distributors. Consolidated Motor Industries (
Cable Price Downer and
Wright Stephenson later a part of
Challenge Corporation) arranged for the
completely knocked down Toyota vehicles to be assembled by
Steel Motor Assemblies in
Christchurch —first vehicle was a Corona in February 1967, and
Campbell Motor Industries in Thames —first was a Corolla in April 1968. Toyota's remaining factory at Thames became a refurbishment centre for the resale of
used imports from Japan, designated as Signature Class. During 1998 tariffs on cars imported fully assembled ended as the final step of a long-term
New Zealand Government plan for the industry. The remaining four local assemblers —
Mitsubishi (June),
Nissan (July),
Honda (August) and
Toyota (October) ==Importing==