CarExpert is set to expand internationally in a joint venture with New Zealand listings site Trade Me early next year.
The partnership aims to help Kiwis navigate what Trade Me describes as a rapidly growing market of new car brands and models by providing access to quality independent reviews and expert comparison tools.
“This joint venture with CarExpert will bring together the strength of Trade Me’s audience with CarExpert’s proven expertise,” said Head of Trade Me Motors Brendan Hall.
“The constant influx of new models can make buying a new car feel overwhelming. Our aim is to make this process easier for Kiwi. CarExpert NZ will provide the high-quality, independent content needed to help car buyers research, compare, and make confident decisions about the new cars available.”
Hall said Trade Me invested in CarExpert because of the proven success the company has had in Australia, with content that engages millions of Australians every month.
“This joint venture and investment by Trade Me represents a huge vote of confidence in what we’ve built at CarExpert,” said Alborz Fallah, founder of CarExpert.
“We’ve always believed consumers deserve transparency, trust, and genuinely independent advice when it comes to buying a new car, and now we can bring that same experience to New Zealanders.”
Local talent recruitment
CarExpert NZ will immediately begin recruiting for several key roles, including a General Manager and Editor-in-Chief to lead the New Zealand operations. The company is seeking New Zealand’s leading automotive talent, including a prominent local reviewer-driver to become the authoritative face of new car reviews in the market.
Fallah said that with Trade Me’s support and understanding of the local market, the company will be able to offer New Zealanders the same high-quality, data-driven, and entertaining car content that has resonated strongly in Australia.
Multi-platform distribution
CarExpert NZ’s independent new car content and reviews will be syndicated across multiple platforms, including its own dedicated website, Trade Me, and general news outlet Stuff.co.nz.
Hall said dealerships and manufacturers will benefit from the new partnership that will attract and inform Kiwi car buyers, driving valuable, high-intent leads straight to them.
“Our immediate focus is on growing our new car audience and content for Kiwi car enthusiasts and serious buyers,” Hall said. “This is an exciting opportunity to be an attractive channel for dealers and car brands to market their offerings.”
Trade Me has been New Zealand’s largest online marketplace and classified site for 26 years, with over 1.5 million Kiwis visiting the platform every month.
Financial aspects of the deal have not been released. CarExpert NZ will launch in early 2026.
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