If you're looking to add a touch of va-va-voom to your vehicle, perhaps steer clear of tacky bumper stickers and fluffy steering wheel covers circa 2001. The newest automotive accessory has made its debut - black number plates.
Yes, black.
New Zealand number plates company KiwiPlates this week announced the launch of Black Number Plates as the latest auto accessory. While some of you may remember these black plates from back in the day, the originals - which were introduced as Government-issued plates in 1964 - were discontinued in 1986 to make way for the white variety we currently use today.
The new and customisable Black Plates will come in a range of sizes and character colours. In addition to bringing back standard Black Plates with silver characters, KiwiPlates will also introduce Black Plates with white characters for the first time, which will be available in Standard, European and Slim sizes.
The company is hoping the launch of its latest accessory will prove popular among New Zealand's motorheads, with the sale of number plates recently skyrocketing amid the country's consecutive COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020 and 2021.
KiwiPlates said it has seen a record rise in the number of people searching for, and buying, new license plates since the start of the pandemic in 2020, which they attribute to Kiwis embracing the customisation of their cars.
"New Zealanders are naturally optimistic and creative people. We see this every day in the humour and sentiment expressed when people are choosing their plates. Be it for themselves, or for someone else, it's a fun process that is all about self-expression," KiwiPlates managing director Mark Wilson said in a statement.
"Now drivers will be able to make a statement that also comes with a premium aesthetic. The visual impact of the Black Plates on vehicles is striking and takes automotive personalisation to a whole new level."
Buyers in the market for up-to-date plates can redesign their existing Government-issued combination from a white background to the new Black Plates from $199, with other options ranging in price depending on the level of personalisation. A 'restyle' is when people keep their current plate combination, but customise the design.
The release of the new Black Plates comes after a rigorous testing process with Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency and the New Zealand Police. Before any new plate design is approved for New Zealand's roads, it needs to comply with existing vehicle legislation and pass an extensive testing process. This includes camera testing in different conditions to ensure the new number plate is recognised correctly across different camera systems.
The updated plates also come with a new security feature in the form of a silver hologram forming the letters 'NZ', which is located on the bottom right corner of the plate. The security feature identifies the number plate as being authentic, which will assist the Police with on-road identification when required.
"The most popular request from our customers was for KiwiPlates to introduce black number plates. We listened to the market and have worked collaboratively with Waka Kotahi to make that happen," Wilson added.
Based on global trends, KiwiPlates expects that in time, the Black Plates could become more popular than the current white version, mainly due to the popularity of the colourway in overseas markets and black being New Zealand's national colour.
The company added that the Black Plates can make a significant visual change to the look and feel of the car and will likely prove popular among car enthusiasts, as well as Kiwis wanting to improve the aesthetic appeal of their vehicles.
KiwiPlates was appointed by Waka Kotahi in 2016 to market and sell personalised plates in Aotearoa. Their sales help to make New Zealand's roads safer, as Waka Kotahi's Community Road Safety Fund is solely funded by the sale of personalised plates.
